Obsession Title Sequence - 2

This video is an updated version of the first opening sequence. It has been edited and improved along with the help of peoples' feedback. Some people, after watching this clip, were asked to answer  a few questions to help me with  my next steps.
Even though there is still no audio in this clip, as it still needed some adjustments, the audience were quite impressed and pleased with it, due to there being effects to help entertain people as well as make it interesting to view.

Music Tutorial

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vc2oYF2eVKA

For my first time on Garage Band, I looked up some tutorials, such as the one listed above, and then started experimenting on the programme. In one of our later Media lessons we also had one of the music teachers go through the programme further,  allowing us to be better able to develop our own audio for the opening sequence.


My first attempt at Garage Band

Props and costumes

The audience should be able to relate to the characters, therefore they will wear up to date clothing. As the film will be set in Autumn time with weather changing from day to day, like peoples' friendships, they will tend to wear: warm coats or jumpers, tops with thin fabric or short sleeves beneath, jeans of mid or dark tone, shoes fit for rain or shine like boots or convers shoes and the main character will occasionally wear a scarf, gloves or a hat, of which one of these items will 'disappear'.

The props are mainly everyday objects that will be used in the opening sequence as a way of linking the victim to the villain. This will be done by having the main character appear in one shot holding/using a prop and then cut to a different shot where the same prop has been put onto a table with the other props, under the light of a candle to give a dark atmosphere and give the impression that something is not right about by the way it is all laid out.


Setting and props







Obsession Opening Sequence - Rough Cut - Evaluation

After having posted this video on youtube and sharing it on my Facebook, I asked people to watch it and comment their likes and dislikes. Not all of the comments proved to be helpful as it wasn't clear that there intentionally was no audio, apart from three small scenes. Therefore many people kept saying comments similar to: "Maybe you could add some creepy music in the background to build tension" or "Same on the creepy music, but definitely keep in the loud and sudden sounds (like the straw being cut and stuff)". As I still had not added the audio, theses were not the comments I was hoping for although, they did not go to waste as they would help me with my next updated video. Therefore I was more prepared with the type of music people were expecting.

Some of the comments of the footage was reassuring and helped me decide how much of it to use. For example: "The candles and the burning paper thing was amazing"and "Ooooh creepy! Especially loved the candles being lit at the beginning and going out at the end!". From these comments I have decided that the candle scenes will be the main feature in the opening sequence. Due to the candle scenes signifying the present and the other scenes in the park signifying memories and the past, the present scenes have to be clearer and more focused than the others. However, they need to still represent the person's unsteadiness, so there will be the occasional flash or distortion. 

Second Time Filming - Video Diary

Some things I have failed to mention in the video diary are that, although the actors and the lighting didn't go as I originally intended, lots of close ups had been a part of the plan. So the fact that I was unable to achieve a long shot of the group actually helped in making the main focus clearer, due to there being confusion as to who is who and enforcing the idea that you can't always trust what you see and think to be true.
Most of the lighting was natural but there were some torches nearby in case things became darker than planned. The shade of the trees in the park meant that there wasn't direct sunlight, which would have made things unfocused and fuzzy.

Lighting Analysis

 

When preparing for Location 2, as it was in an open area, the lighting was harder to achieve but not impossible. I made sure to check the location at different times of the day to see how the sun's light would affect the shots. However, due to the trees based around the play area I had selected, I had enough shade to block out the direct sunlight while still having enough to highlight people's features and the props. After finding out what time the sun would set I had the chance to work around the light in a way that was convenient for me. In addition, I would bring along

The Missing Title Sequnce Analysis

'The Missing' title sequence explains the plot of the series perfectly through every technique used.
Even without the music the viewer is able to understand the concept of the series, however the music does truly help when setting the scene by starting off with a bang that fades out, insinuating something has already happened. Then a woman begins to sing how they 'pray each day, may you come home and be okay'. Clearly showing that someone has gone missing. The tone of voice has a dreamlike effect as she sounds distant, while the sounds we hear beyond her voice are unusual and unnerving, to create tension, and finish with a ringing sound that intensifies at the end.

The footage we see nearly all refers to a child. Such as the low angle shot in the car, to demonstrate the point of view a child would have or the swing, teddy bear, drawings and so on. Some are more direct, for instance the child disappearing into the crowd to imply that he may have been taken in plain sight. Furthermore there are shots of locations: the woods, houses, a pool... these hint at where the child was taken from or where he has been taken to. The car driving around adds to this idea as there is a toy bear in the car and, as before, the low angle shot of the car window.

Effects have been used to give a dreamlike effect by either layering footage or making the colours appear faded with usual outbursts. Some shots tend to go faster than others, giving the impression that time is running out for the child. It is also to make the viewer feel disoriented, as the child most likely would be. Other shots are slower, to give the audience the time to understand the significance of the shot. The yellow ring in the pool is even repeated several times to emphasise it's importance, although it doesn't become clear until the audience watches the show.
The titles are white and in capitals to represent the child's innocence and the urgency in being found. Most titles blur into focus to convey how everything will fall into place and make sense as the series proceed.

After watching 'The Missing' title sequence, I have found the dreamlike effect in the editing influential and have decided to incorporate it into my own opening. I found that it brings another dimension and meaning to the sequence which will work nicely the villains point of view.