Titles - Laura

Blue valentine - http://www.artofthetitle.com/2011/02/11/blue-valentine/

• This title scene portrays the romance between the couple; a common convention of this genre, Romantic Drama. Between the different shots, we see images of them together. It represents a journey within itself, as we see different emotions within the photos, such as happiness on their wedding day, and allows us to foreshadow the journey and destination of the film.
• Between the different photos there is a black screen showing us the title. This allows us to see the title, as the institutional words are in white. As well as allowing us to see the words, it also signifies drama. Black and white are opposing colours, and so therefore this allows the audience to foreshadow that there may be opposition in the film, whether it is between the couple or other characters.
• A firework introduces the new photo every time. This conforms to the Romance within the genre, as fireworks signify romance and intimacy; therefore we then relate these connotations to the pictures that come up. Furthermore, this gives the effect that it is like a montage, as the pictures and fireworks are merged together. This has the connotations of memories, therefore allowing the audience to infer that these are memories, and that these emotions they have may now have been replaced.
• The pictures and fireworks are shown at the same pace as the song. It starts slow, and then once the title is shown, it gets faster, as does the music. This perhaps represents the pace of their relationship, and their journey together. The appearance of the fireworks also conveys this. We see that when the firework is bright and fast, there is a picture of them kissing, to therefore together signify passion. However, when the firework is slow and dim, we see one of them by themselves, therefore conveying loneliness, a clear contrast to their previous intimacy. A huge, bright firework is shown when there is the title, therefore presenting its significance. Moreover, this is where we see a firework, the title and a photo of them, whereas in the previous shots the words come after the photo and firework. This reinforces this significance, and makes the audience contemplate the meaning of the title. The meaning of the title can relate back to the opposing black and white, as we see opposition in it too. Blue has the connotations of sadness, whereas valentine signifies romance, and the colour red, which has the connotations of love. These opposing connotations allow the audience to consider why they are there; perhaps there is opposition on their journey as a couple? Therefore achieving the aim of all movie genre openings, getting the audience to ask questions. These oppositions are further seen in the photos, as they have a range of different emotions and connotations. For some memories we see that they are happy, and appear for longer on the screen, as if to savour these precious memories. However, we also see other memories where they do not look as happy, such as the one where they are standing in the rain. This use of pathetic fallacy represents their miserable emotions, and shows that at points in their relationship they are not as happy. Arguably, we can still see that their embrace conveys closeness, therefore we may say that despite opposition, they still stay together, again symbolising their journey.           

Panic Room

• The establishing shot of the high buildings creates a sense of danger, therefore allowing the audience to foreshadow that there will be danger involved, conforming to the expectations of the genre, which is not necessarily danger, but it does need to have suspense and tension in order to keep their audience on the edge of their seat. This sense of danger is further evoked with the way that the font is in capital letters, as this is often represented as shouting, therefore has an aspect of danger within it, or an aspect that makes the audience scared. 
• The establishing shot shows the iconic settings of New York, with the famous buildings and yellow cabs. This scene is stereotypically realted to crime, which is seen as a sub-genre of Thriller. The diegetic sound of the traffic reinforces this setting (shot 1 & 2) 
• The music conveys mystery and secrecy, therefore conforming to another aspect of this genre. The music gets faster as the titles carry on, this sudden pace shows to the audience the build up of tension; soon there will be real action within the opening. Added to the non-diegetic soundtrack, is a non-diegetic clock. This furhters the element of tension, as ticking clocks usually signify bombs, where there is a certain amount of time you have to achieve something in. This always gives the audience the feeling of being rushed, furhter adding to their tension, therefore this non-diegetic sound effect gives them this same feeling. There are abrupt cuts between the title names, therefore reinforcing this aspect of suddenness. After the non-diegetic sound starts, there is a shot where we can see a billboard of a couple (shot 6). This idea of happiness is juxtaposed with the dangerous high builidng with the title, and the tensional music, to therefore reinforce the danger that will bring itself onto the victim in the film.
• On some of the title sequence shots, there is a very slow zoom towards them (shot 2). Others there is a fast pan. This gives variety, allowing the audience to stay entertained during the required institutional information. Furthermore, they also add to the aspect of tension. The zoom is slow, to make it seem as if it something mysertious and secret, with the way you are slowly getting closer. Another way that it makes the titles seem secretive is by having them the same sorts of colours as the background, as though you can still see them, there is an aspect that they are hidden; moulded into the setting.
• There is a variety of angles used: straight on, high angle (shot 4) and low angle (shot 3). As well as giving this variety, it also allows the audience to feel different emotions of the characters. The hihg angle makes the title seem weak and vulnerable, which portrays us as the viallains who have power (the people who burgle the house in the film). The low angle, however, makes us feel weak and vulnerable, whereas the title is dominant, thus making us feel the same emotions as the victim in the film (the people who get locked in the panic room).
• The last shot is of a title overlooking central park (shot 5). This is the first shot were people are introduced, and it is also when the non-diegetic music stops, and there is a diegetic womans voice over top. The sudden contrast between realism and the tensional and mysterious music allows the woman to appear vulnerable, she came in when the music stopped, therefore we infer she will be the victim.

 Max Payne

• There is very fast music throughout to reflect the action that will be seen in the film, conforming to the genre expectations: Action & Crime
• There are contrasting colours within the title, the first letter is grey whereas hte second letter is red. These colours have different connotations. The grey gives the effect of metal, therefore representing all of the weapons, for example the guns that he will use. The red has similar connotations, as it signifies danger, therefore they have used both of these colours alongside each other to reinforce the impending action.
• Throughout there are animated images of explosions and guns shooting bullets. These are parts of the stereoptyical iconography within the action genre; therefore the way that they have referenced these in the opening therefore reinforces the action. Furthermore, they are also very masculine items, and so they therefore represent the protagonist who uses them throughout the film. Showing them in the title scene, then him using them in the film presents his role as protagonist. There are also non-diegetic sound effects of these guns and explosions, therefore intensifying this action along with the main soundtrack.
• We see the post-production effects of slow motion along with these icnongraphic images. We see slow motion of the fire, and the smoke that comes after it. This sense of it being slow, heightens its danger as it then appears to be faster when it comes onto the screen, heightening the danger. Moreover, slow motion is also very stereotypical of this genre, therefore they are conforming to the audiences expectations.
• Another image we see is of glass breaking. We could interpret this to be breaking in, which then conforms to the sub-genre of crime within this film. Arguably, it could represent fighting, therefore reinforcing the action that we have previously been introduced to with the guns and explosions.
• When the film title is introduced, it is all in red, therefore portraying it's signifcance as it is different to the other names. Also, this intensifies the danger connotations of the colour red. We see that it is introduced with the effect of a punch, we see this with the non-diegetic sound effect, and the way that it moves in like a hand, thus again reinforcing the action. The camera then tracks to show that the title is a gun. The title is 'Max Payne', this is a name, and we see find out it is the name of the protagonist. Therefore as his name is represented as a gun; we see he is reflected as the stereotpye of the hero.
• There are lots of bullets used in this gun, shown through the slow motion. As there are lots this intensifies the action, as it is usually meant to be fast. It then goes fast, as does the msic, therefore as we get closer to the film, we get closer to the action; the guns ad bullets continually symbolising this.