Opening title sequence 1 analysis
This is our first opening title sequence, the rough cut. We were not happy with this video as a group, as we thought that we didn't properly stick to match on action and the 180 degree rule. The length of the video is also over our limit, which was supposed to me 2 minutes and our opening title has a running time of 3.28 minutes, which is too long. Our running time was initially over 4 minutes, which led to us cutting a lot of time from all the scenes in order to reduce the running time to get is as close to 2 min as possible. This didn't work out well, as cutting time from different scenes made the whole opening title sequence confusing, it didn't make proper sense. The match on action was not right, which led to the confusion of the whole opening title sequence. We basically didn't cut properly between scenes.
In the first shot (0-7sec), the establishing shot, we decided to increase the speed of the shot to decrease the amount of time. Unfortunately this didn't give the desired effect and retrospectively we think it would of been better to remove frames intermittently. This would then have given a more stuttered effect in line with the genre of horror.
In the second shot (7-9 sec), we had a medium shot which we thought we could improve, as we didn't have the framing right of the shot, as we cut off the characters head as it was a wide medium shot and should of been a more close up shot with the focal point being on the Ouija board, as this was the main prop in our opening title sequence.
In the third shot (9-22 sec), we had a tracking/panning shot showing the characters approaching the isolated barn. We were also not happy with this shot, as the camera was firstly not 100% stable, although it was mounted on a tripod. The framing of this shot was not right , as we didn't stick to the rule of thirds and the characters were not positioned properly in the frame and were sometimes cut out at times from the frame. The diegetic sound of the characters having a conversation could also not be heard properly. This could be improved by turning the camera's microphone recording level on full. The audience or viewers will also not be able to tell what is going on if they cannot hear what the characters are saying, so it is very important for us to improve this. We also thought of improving the end of this shot by titling the camera upwards as the characters get closer to the barn, in order to show the door above the ladder where the characters will be entering to play the Ouija board.
In the fourth shot (22-40 sec), we had a tracking/tilting shot of the characters climbing up the ladder to open the door to enter the barn. We firstly didn't stick to the rule of thirds, as the characters were not placed on the third line, they were both placed in the middle. We also didn't stick to match on action, as in the shot before the character holding the Ouija board had the board in his left hand and in this shot the character suddenly had the board in his right hand. This would be confusing to the viewer. We would re shoot this shot by sticking to match on action and cutting properly between scenes. The camera was also not positioned properly on the camera, so as the camera was being titled upwards to show the characters climbing the ladder, the barn was not positioned properly in the frame, as the higher the camera was being titled, the more skew the barn became.
In the fifth shot (40-45 sec), we had a close up shot of the characters hand opening the barn door. In this shot, we stuck to match on action and the framing of the shot was good as we had the hand opening the door lock being the focal point of that scene.
In the sixth shot (45 sec -01:14 min), we had a medium shot of the one character opening the door of the barn. The beginning of the shot was good, as the match on action worked well as in the shot before the character was hitting the door and as it was about to open, and it then opened in the next shot. One negative about this shot, is that it is too long (29 sec). The length of this shot may become boring to the viewer. This could be improved by cutting some frames of this shot to speed up the scene and make it more interesting as what is to happen in the next shot.
In the seventh shot (01:14-01:33 min), we had an over-the-shoulder shot of the one character looking over the others characters shoulder to show what he is seeing and to put the audience in the same situation as if they were there and seeing that for themselves. This shot is also supposed to show the setting inside the barn to show that is has a creepy setting and that no one else is there, that they are isolated. This relates well to the genre horror,which is the genre for our opening title sequence. What also works well in this shot, is that the characters points towards the area/place where they will be setting up the ouija board to play it.
In the eighth shot (01:34-02:01 min), we had a long shot showing the characters walking towards the middle of the barn where they will be setting up the ouija board. What we as a group liked about this shot, was the low key lighting, as it adds to the creepy effect we tried to create to make it relate to horror and spiritualism. It also builds up the tension of the audience, as the further in the barn they go ,the darker it gets and the audience will want to find out what will happen next. A negative thing about this shot is that it is 27 seconds long, which is too long, as it wastes time of the whole opening sequence, whereas we could of had more, but shorter shots to show more detail of our opening title sequence and to make the audience more aware of what is going on.
In the ninth shot (02:01-02:17 min), we had a medium shot of the two characters walking towards the area where they will sit down and setup the ouija board. We as a group thought the lighting was a bit too low key, as you couldn't see much of the characters sitting down and setting up the ouija board. Setting up the ouija is a very important scene in our opening title sequence, as it is what it is about, the characters playing the ouija board and if the audience cannot see what the characters are doing, then they won't know what to expect next and they won't know what is going on. To improve the lighting, we would use a lantern. This would improve the lighting and the audience will see more of the characters and what they are doing, but we still want to have low key lighting to keep that creepy horror effect.
In the tenth shot (02:17-02:26 min), we had a medium shot of the characters passing candles to the other character. The lighting in this shot was also too dark and it is hard to tell what the character is giving to the other character. The audio or diegetic sound of the characters speaking is also too soft to understand what they are saying.
In the eleventh shot (02:26-02:44 min), we had a close up shot of the character lighting the candles. We thought this was a good shot, as the low key lighting of the candles added to the ambient/spiritual effect we wanted to create. What we didn't like was that the candle was not in focus from 02:34-02:37. For our next opening title we would have to have the camera in autofocus or we would need to focus it manually, but get the candles focussed at all times. We also liked how the candles lit up the ouija board. We thought this was our best shot to show how low key lighting can make the scene more intense and make it relate to spiritualism and horror.
In the twelfth shot (02:44-03:17 min), we had a long shot showing the two characters sitting on the floor playing the ouija board. What we didn't like about this shot is that you can't heard what the characters are saying, so the audience again won't know what is going on and won't know what will happen next. The lighting on the characters was too low, so you can't see what the characters facial expressions are and what they are experiencing. This scene is very important, as this is where things go wrong as they have started the game. The one character asked a question to the spirits "Is anyone there?"...This is when a sudden demon scream comes out of nowhere, giving the characters a freight. We have to re shoot this scene in order for the audience to hear what the characters are saying so they know what is going. What we did like was the natural low key lighting of the candles, as they made the ouija board stand out, making it the main focus of the scene. We also liked the bright natural light coming in from the outside of the door, as this shows a sense of escape for the characters. We also liked the part when the camera zoomed onto the ouija board and then a sudden demon scream appears. The zooming in on the ouija board was intended to make the audience look more closely at the ouija board, when then suddenly a scream comes out of nowhere giving the audience a freight.
In the thirteenth shot (03:17-03:18 min), we had a medium/long shot of the door closing by itself. This was supposed to show that there is some type of spirit or demon in the barn with the characters and adds even more intensiveness and creepiness to the scene putting the characters in a more intense situation, as they now have no way of escape. What we didn't like, is that we couldn't see the door closing in the last shot.
In the fourteenth shot (03:18-03:28 min), we have a medium shot of the characters running towards the door trying to open it. This shows that the characters can't open the door. This is when the audience wants to know what happens next, as this scene fades to black at the end to show it is over. The diegetic sound also shows that the characters are frightened and are in panic as they can't open the door and are screaming. The scene ends with the title " The Ouija Board" popping out in the fade in black. We also thought that this scene was too dark and you could hardly see what is going on, which we will need to improve in our re shoot.
