Dexter title sequence-analysis

Dexter

• Lots of CUs used in this title sequence--makes it intense, creates sensory deprivation 

• Jump cuts, jumpy pace to create tension, intense

• Red text, representing blood, appears suddenly quite small so it doesn't take focus off the images

• Contrapuntal soundtrack to make the audience feel uncomfortable

• Bleeding font for title of Dexter, fills up screen so audience know what the programme is called, insight into what Dexter is about, killing because of the blood

• Hidden conventions of a thriller--cutting up the meat, slicing the orange, wrapping shoe laces round fingers

Storyboard

 

Because my thriller title sequence doesn't have a narrative, my storyboard explains what camera shots, angles, effects, lighting and our soundtrack we used. Also, the order the shots and titles go in.

It starts with the Film 4 logo which isn't changed with any effects, which is then followed with the text 'Film 4 Presents...' which is hand-written with the background of a whiteboard and the light pans across text. Effects include a red tint, the text is black, another effect of 'Bad Film'. No camera movement, just light panning for each title. 'Bad Film' effect is used for every clip.
Our title sequence is full of shadows and silhouettes, so there is no particular order or story, making it hard to do an actual storyboard, so I just wrote and drew the effects, shots and everything included in our title sequence.
Some shots are distorted so the audience can't quite make out what they are seeing. For the shadows and silhouettes, we used a black and white tint for each one to create a contrast between the titles and the videos, we liked this idea from Insidious and decided to incorporate it into our title sequence but do it our own way. Orginally, we were going to use written down quotes from Carl Jung, but instead we now have them whispered in the background while other shadows are being shown, creating a more tense atmosphere and we felt it was more effective to have them whispered then showed on the screen. The camera shots used were mostly MCU, Long shots and Medium shots, this is not typical thirller shots, like CU and ECU, but we felt these shots were more effective for our idea of shadows and silhouettes. All videos have a fade in and out transition for smoothness and it is more subtle, which reflects our soundtrack. The subtleness creates a more tense and suspenseful atmosphere for the audience, which is what we wanted to create using these transitions and the soundtrack we created.



Spider Diagram of ideas

Risk Assessment

What are the hazards?	Who might be harmed and how?	What are you already doing?	What further action is necessary?	Bitmap How will you put the assessment into action?
Using a knife to film someone holding it	Millie or person holding knife, get stabbed/cut	Making sure Millie is away from person holding knife	Putting the knife down when not using it, putting it a place where people can see it and out of harm's way	If in a bedroom, put the knife on the bed so poeple can see where it is and notice it
Completed by:	Date:	Reviewed by:	Reviewer Signature:	Date: