Friday, 21 December 2012

Research and Planning: Analysing title-sequences

Pretty Little Liars is something which is inspiring us by far as we want to build our production on Teen-drama but revolve it all around suspense. As we want to include a title-sequence for our production I wanted to look at Pretty Little Liar's one and perhaps get idea's as when I saw it there consists of tension and building suspense for the audiences which I think is effective. The title sequence is consisted of merely a small story showing a dead person and then the four characters which foreshadow playing a significant role. So they are introducing the protagonists who look like are going to resolve a dilemma by their body language and facial expressions but more so, the clue lies in the lyrics 'secret can you keep it.'

This opens with an extreme-close up that represents the character who is dead. It shows her eyes, and we can see the glittery make-up on her (costume). The audience can identify the eyes not moving which aids in showing that she isn't alive. Their consists of another close-up that shows the lip gloss being added on to her lips, it shows how pale it is this is significant as it's conveying the message to the audience which is she is dead. This too being a close up of her feet showing that someone's tying it for her, which represents yet again she's dead showing someone is in fact dressing her up. This follows on with another close-up shot of her hair being curled, then someone applying nail vanish on her nails. Using close-up is useful as the audience are clearly able to identify the expressions and body-language enabling them to identify that she is indeed dead. When this is shown their is an instantaneous transition from one shot to the next, as it's a title-sequence this engages the audience having fast shots of diverse images.

Their consists of digetic sound which emphasises the characters emotions allowing the audience to feel the same way as the characters, as it lies in the lyrics "secret can you keep it" it seems that the characters in the title-sequence are aware of the deep secret and through their body and facial expressions the audience feel nervous for them too allowing them to sympathise for them. Their consists of a violin being played as the shot's are going continuously fast creating suspense, fear and tension for the audiences and indeed the characters. Enigma and Action codes is Barthes theory which relates to the sound of the violin as enigma code is to do with narratives having mystery with unclear answers which leaves the audience at the edge of their seats allowing them to feel dissapointed. And the action code adds suspense and foreshadows an event to occur which is being taken place in this title-sequence.This allows the audience to make assumptions and would get them engaged into finding out the problem and solution which is going to be placed.


Focusing on the 'previously part' and the title sequence the time it takes for this to be taken place is only 22 seconds. The opening starts of with the actor (girl above) pleading for forgiveness for her boyfriend not to go. Having a mid-shot of the two characters allowing the audience to identify their facial expressions and boy language clearly, allowing them to be engaged and feel the sense of emotion. Then straight away from a fast cut shot the audience are encouraged to see another actor in the series having a close- up to see the emotions. Then their consists of a shot/reverse shot to the same actor in the beginning having an over the shoulder-shot of the two characters whilst this is happening their is a close-up as it get's the audience more engaged into what's been taking place as for example, their crying it wouldn't be helpful if it was a long-shot as the audience wouldn't see their facial expressions clearly having a close-up therefore makes it more so powerful. From then on the audience are invited to see a wide-shot of the three actors whilst their talking as they can see each of the actors not just one cut off making it beneficial to the audience.

Whilst the opening is being show this their is continuous use of fast shots depicting the short vital snippets of the previous series. Below it says 'previously' this is to give a short recap of for the audience's who may of forgotten some bits. And it keeps them informed and they remember 'oh that's what happened' as the media offers a wide range of programmes so this also is a 'loyalty reward' kind of thing for the audiences as they are allowed to see what happened before, this is useful as the regular audiences would continue watching it as they're depicted as loyal ones. Moreover for the previous scene their is a vast use of handheld- camera continuously this is useful as it keeps the audience engaged into watching the series. From this I'm assuming their is a continuous use of handheld-camera as the scene shows stereotypical teenagers getting into trouble, smoking, drinking etc. If this is shown with handheld-camera the audience are encouraged to follow the action. Allowing them to be in a point of view of some of the protagonists which would consistently keep them engaged

After the previous clip the title-sequence commences the audience know this is going to happen when the beat to the sequence is commending louder and louder. Eastenders E20 is influenced and from the original series 'Eastenders' the difference is the protagonists in here are teenagers were as in the original one all the actors are mainly adults. Therefore to attain the correct audience for this series the title-sequence is remixed into an upbeat 'tune' which the teenagers would prefer in this generation attaining their attention. It uses the same 'map' but in the other Eastenders the sequence is slow where as this is very fast. And whilst this happens it says the title on the screen in red, but in the background in monochrome it shows the diverse actors. For example one of the first actress we saw in the beginning she is shown in the title sequence with all the roles she plays in the forth coming series foreshadowing this to the audience, it represents their personalities in fast snippets during the title-sequence. This engages with the audience as they get an insight in the characters and get's them more so motivated. 

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