The Productions

Title Sequence:
 Storyboard-

 

Treatment - 

We open onto a pitch-black background; an animated male figure fades onto the screen, he is facing away from the camera whilst holding a glowing bronze sword. He has short black hair and is dressed in a sleek orange t-shirt and crumpled grey trousers.

At the same time as the figure appears so do two pieces of gleaming gold text, written in a bold serif font with a shine positioned diagonally through the centre of each letter. At the top of the frame is the striking text ‘Seven Half-Bloods’. This text remains in this position whilst the characters are being introduced. Towards the bottom of the screen the characters name ‘Percy Jackson’ is written in the same font.

Three seconds into the title sequence the next character fades in, standing to the right of ‘Percy’ again facing away from the camera but this time the boy is holding a bow and arrow, a quiver hangs on his left shoulder. He has the same length hair as the previous character and is wearing a purple t-shirt and dark grey-blue trousers. This character is introduced as ‘Frank Zhang’ with the name in the same position as the previous characters.

A female is the next to appear in line, holding a Roman cavalry sword. She is also wearing a purple top and lighter grey-blue trousers, her hair is dark brown and curly and her skin is much darker then the two that stand to her left. The name at the bottom changes to ‘Hazel Levesque’.

Another female appears to the right of the first with a slight gap between them. Her arms are raised as though holding something but it can’t be seen. She wears a pale blue-grey jacket over an orange shirt that can just be seen and light grey trousers. Her hair is light brown, short and has braids that frame her face. The name at the bottom now changes to ‘Piper McLean’.

Another male now appears to the right of Hazel, he again has short black hair but his skin is darker than the two other males. He is wearing an orange t-shirt, dark grey trousers and a golden coloured belt; this character again cannot be seen holding a weapon. This time the name changes to ‘Leo Valdez’.

The sixth character to appear, ‘Jason Grace’, is another male, this time with fair skin and short blonde hair. He is holding a golden Roman javelin to his chest, whilst he again faces away from the camera. He is also wearing a purple t-shirt and dark grey trousers.

Nineteen seconds in, the seventh and last character is revealed as a silhouette. From their outline we are unsure whether this character is male or female, but we can tell that they have short and slightly spikey hair. We cannot see what weapon they are holding but their arms are in the right position to suggest that they are. Their name appears as ‘Unknown’.  As this character fades in the text at the top of the screen changes to ‘Shall Answer the Call’.

All of the characters and the bottom name fade out, leaving the new text alone for a while at the top of the screen.

After the text fades out, an image of a lightning storm fades in. Dark blue foreboding clouds line the top of the frame, forked white-yellow lightning streaks down from the clouds towards the earth. When the image has been static for two seconds the text ‘To Storm’ fades onto the image at the top of the frame.

When the storm image and text disappear, the next frame and text piece opens together. The image is a drawing of a forest on fire. Bright red-orange flames spark from dark green half-dead trees into the night sky. The writing ‘Or Fire, The World Must Fall’ is written across the top the frame in the same bold serif text as the previous titles had been written in.

As the fire frame fades out the next fades in. It consists of a beaten and bloodied shadowed character leaning against an unseen wall, with one eye blacked out with blood, the other, the light having left it, stares into space with a look of desperation. His lips are parted and a dribble of blood runs from the corner of his mouth. The text ‘An Oath To Keep With A Final Breath’ spreads across the top of the frame, the title confirms our suspicions that this unknown character is dying.

The writing fades out first, leaving the character alone to continue staring before fading away to the next image.  

The next text fades in with the image of a dark brown-silhouetted army of various creatures fighting on the side of evil. They are all holding different weapons, such as spears, swords and bows. The title in gold reads ‘And Foes Bear Arms’. 

The brassy writing from the top of the frame fades away, but the image of the foes remains. Abruptly a detailed image of a large dark brown arched doorway flashes onto the screen behind the army of foes. Either side of the door are two tall light reddish brown pillars with green thorny vines that wrap up and around. Sat on the top of the pillars two menacing, yellowish, skulls stare down on any that dare to approach. On the front of the door a carved stone gargoyle perches on his stand, his eyes glowing an eerie yellow and his wings stretching threateningly to the edges of the door. Cresting the arch of the door are seven deadly grey spikes, giving a look of terror and death to the doors. At the same moment that the doors appear so does the text ‘To The Doors Of Death’ across the top of the frame in the same bold gold font. The writing fades away and then a few seconds later so do the doors, leaving the screen black and empty.

The music used for the entirety of this sequence is the first twelve seconds from a fight scene in the actual ‘Percy Jackson and The Lightning Thief’ film, titled ‘Fighting Luke’. The music is fast paced and the images appear in time with certain parts, helping to set the mood and tone to the piece.

 The End

Risk Assesment - 

ACTIVITY/MACHINE USED	HAZARDS IDENTIFIED	CONSEQUENCES  TO STAFF/STUDENTS OR OTHERS	CONTROL MEASURES TO MAINTAIN SAFETY
Drawing paper and pencils	Risks of stabbing and risk of fire, paper cuts	Pain, house fire	Keep away from flames, and avoiding tripping causing impalement
Scanner	Eye damage, electrocution	Possible blindness, death	Check plugs and for bare wires,  Do not look into the scanner whilst it is in use
Computer	Repetitive strain injury, eye damage, electrocution	Permanent back and muscle damage, possible blindness, death	Take regular breaks, work in a well lit room, check for bare wires

Logo:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6PBUNwjwD58&feature=channel

I wanted to produce an animated logo that referred to the title of 'IceHorse' productions. I used the colour pallet of greys, silvers and blues for the connection to ice.

I used the font 'Icecap' from the website 'dafont.com'. I used this one because it captured the essence of falling snow and ice perfectly.

I drew and coloured all of the images straight onto photoshop, using a Bamboo Graphics Tablet from the stores. I was really pleased with how all the images looked and how the animation progressed to look so smooth in the final export.

'Hollywood' Studio Logos'

For any small or large scale film company, the creation of a logo is a very important factor. Their logo is the first thing the audience is to see at the beginning of the studios/companies films, they need to be eye catching, riveting and be capable of carrying with them the identity and message of the studio.

Every logo has a main attraction, a caption consisting of the studios name, a short soundtrack and some really cool graphics that connect it all together. Throughout the evolution of all logos, the main centre subject tends to stays the same; it acts as the pinnacle of the design, allowing the audience to recognise it as belonging to the same company, despite the changes that develop over time to the supporting factors, such as the text and layout.

For example, over the years since 1928, the main focus of the ‘Columbia Pictures’ logo has been a lady holding a torch light in the air, standing in a pose very similar to that of The Statue of Liberty. The lady has remained in all logos, whilst the text and accompanying detail has been changed at regular intervals. The stance allows the toga dressed lady to hold the burning and sparking torch raised in her right hand, this torch continues to burn and give out an aura of light in all the logos. The base design also changes in this logo; the woman only appears from the ankles up in the design, whereas in the next a pedestal was added. After that, in the more recent logos the pedestal is updated to a series of narrowing steps.

 The colour scheme surrounding the lady in the later logos changes very little through the progression, consisting mainly of a peachy/cream colour dress with a darker purple and then blue shawl. In the first logo, the text of “A Columbia Production” is written in an embossed rounded ‘Souvenir’ font that is arranged in a curve around the woman, filling the top section of the frame. In the more recent logo designs the text appears to be in the same font, but has a bolder squarer appearance. The title – that now only consists of ‘Columbia’ is spaced out behind the woman, stretching nearly the entire width of the frame. It consisted of a bright and brassy orange/gold colour that was designed with reflection marks along the top edges; it then developed into a more Iron grey colour with the appearance of granite or stone, with heavy shadows situated to the left of the letters.

 http://myfilmviews.com/2012/01/19/the-story-behind-the-columbia-pictures-logo/#comment-5932 18/02/12

Now, let’s take a quick look at the development of the ‘Paramount’ logo: it started out in 1914 tiled ‘Paramount Pictures’ and consisted (in black and white), of a painted mountain set small in the centre of the frame, surrounded by a ring of 24 stars, the number represented the actors and actresses that the company had signed with.  The title ‘A Paramount Picture’ is written in a Majestic Script type font, with bold white letters down the centre of the frame, with all the words spaciously fitted into the ring of stars.

The 2^nd version of the logo that was developed in 1952 contained the same font and the same

composition of the ring of the starts and the text around the mountain, which was re-drawn so that it sat much larger in the frame and looked a lot more lifelike. This was the first version of the logo that was in colour, it appeared to have had a sort of blue tint added to the painting, giving it an un-lifelike colour appearance.  

In 1975, the 5^th version of the logo took a step away from the bright and detailed mountain logos,

and instead created a solid blue background and mountain of the same colour that was displayed by a darker blue highlighting the crevasses and filling a circle behind the mountain and between the stars. The next logo created was in 1987, it was drastically different from the 5^th logo, but

managed to keep the usual characteristics of the before logos, with the detailed mountain peak but only now, this logo has been created using CGI, and the background has changed from being mostly blue with fluffy clouds, to a sunset coloured background with more defined clouds.

From my research, I can conclude that there is a lot of work that goes into the development of a company’s logo, that every detail of the logo is influential to the audience, affecting the lead up to the film. I see it as if the creation of the first version of the company’s logo is really important, as this is the first logo that the audience is going to see and associate with the film company. I think that it is important for the creators to establish a successful main subject or object for the logo and then try to stick to this subject as closely as possible through the years. I say this because of the message that logo’s carry, when you grow up with a certain genre of films, seeing the same logo at the start of each you get a connection to them, they begin to hold your excitement. When watching these logo’s again at the start of new films you then receive the same feeling of excitement and anticipation, raising your overall expectations and enjoyment of the film.     

http://myfilmviews.com/2012/01/12/the-story-behind/  http://www.neatorama.com/2008/12/03/the-story-behind-hollywood-studio-logos/ 18/02/12

TV Title Sequence - Misfits



The title sequence for the teen supernatural drama ‘Misfits’ is really awesome. It is a 40s long cut-out style animation, with the soundtrack consisting of the song ‘Echoes’ by The Rapture. The sequence is entirely in the colour scheme of black, grey and white shades, adding to the portrayal of the darker more disturbing side of the show, the only time when colour is introduced is for when the characters are introduced wearing their orange community  service tank suits.

The sequence is very cleverly constructed, with the names of the actors and actresses appearing in time with the soundtracks beat and rhythm. The editing between each clip is also very clever, it uses animals – a cat, a rat and a wolf – as a means of frame transitions, using their path direction as an excuse to pan from one side of the frame to another.

What I found quite interesting in this sequence, is how the names for the actors don’t appear at the same time as the actors appear. The sequence runs through all of the credits to start with, moves on next to briefly explain the storyline (such as the five people being hit by lightning) and then the five people gradually appear in turn. Each of the characters owns a couple of fleeting seconds of the sequence, in which there is a brief demonstration of their powers. I must admit, I can’t quite figure out what relation the wolf has to Nathan’s power of immortality, but the other character’s power demonstrations are relatively straightforward, such as Curtis being able  to depart from himself, Alisha effecting other people actions, Simon managing to disappear and Kelly, hmm well I actually have no idea what Kelly’s original power was.

BBC > BBC 2 > Channel 4

These three companies have to withhold a high working order in the TV society, their programs have to be captivating and their reputation has to be solid. The logos for these companies have to be capable of standing strong in the public eye.

The BBC 2 channel mostly broadcasts’ factual documentaries, quite simple and un-extravagant in their execution, their logo represent the same thought process. Similarly, the BBC 2 channel also mostly broadcasts’ factual documentaries, quite simple and un-extravagant in their execution, their logo represent the same thought process. Channel 4 on the other hand, is one of the only television channels that that doesn’t have its own programs produced – instead they screen the programs that have been produced by other companies

Many of the BBC 2 logos have been designed and created by BBC Broadcast Design, a team that specialises in the production of the bbc logos and idents. And, the man responsible for producing channel 4s first logo was Martin Lambie-nairn, who has also made logos for several other channels, and is seen as an expert for these creations by many people.

He created an image of a 4 that is made up of different parts, to represent the way that the channel brings together all sorts of different programs, for different audiences. The same idea remains in the present Channel 4 idents, but they are presented more as short stories than just a short showing of a ‘logo’.

The BBC logo however, consists of three simple black squares with the bold white lettering B B C, in each one. The logo used to consist of the squares instead being ‘knocked over’ squares so that the letters fitted somewhat uncomfortably into the diagonal blocks.

Similarly, the BBC 2 logo consists off a dark turquoise square with the three small B B C containing squares in white situated above the word Two written in white. Both BBC logos use the typically British font ‘Gill Sans’. This font has a habit of getting around quite a bit, it’s used the entire way around the London underground, a very, very large rail network that is used by probably thousands of people every day!

The BBC has managed to build up a sound reputation for its informative, interesting, sometimes exciting and always different genre of television programs. The title of the BBC covers a wide range of mediums, several television channels, and radio station, and websites and media players. The company name is well known and respected. Their simple, blunt logo demonstrates there bold, brave and to point attitude of work.

TV Title Sequence - The Fades

The title sequence for the semi-recent paranormal show ‘The Fades’; consists of a series of dark and creepy shots that have been edited together into a 30 second credit intro. The creators have introduced a theme of growing and expanding to the sequence, reflecting the ultimate purpose of the show. They have created this theme through clips such as a fungi looking substance growing up and over a man face (who has really creepy liquid black eyes) and several shots of woodland branches and other fauna growing and entangling up across the frame. Throughout the sequence there are also a lot of shots that contain arms reaching up and out of walls and pavements, and shadows lurking around corners in wood.

The production teams and actors/actresses names are displayed very creatively; they are constructed with the middle of the word appearing first with either end appearing afterwards through a crackle effect. The timing was also very well executed, with the titles coming on screen at the moment the main activity of the clip takes place, for example the moment that the crow flies up the tree tunnel. 

The accompany soundtrack for this sequence consists of a fast but rhythmic drum base track, with an intricate higher pitched track dubbed over the top, with add sound effects to accompany the visuals, such as birds wings and screams. The track starts with just the drum base and the howling screams, whilst the visuals of the face and fungi are seen, then a t about 5s in the higher pitched soundtrack starts. At around 15s in this upper track then gains speed and changes tune, along with an increase of clip edit speed. At the end, when the title appears the music abruptly fades out, leaving just a rumbling sound.

The title logo that appears at the end of the sequence continues the same theme that has been prior created. It features the title ‘The Fades’ written in a bold blocky text pale stem green in colour, with a mottled black feathery background. To continue the eerie feeling, one of the arms that were featured earlier in the sequence is positioned reaching out to the right of the title.

 I can suggest that they have tried to create a very eerie and supernatural start to the program. The title sequence leads in perfectly to the show; it grabs the attention of the audience and prepares them for what they are about to witness.

Favourite Film Company Logo: Studio Ghibli

A similar version of the described Studio Ghibli logo

My favourite film company logo has to be that belonging to Studio Ghibli. 

It features one of the studios most popular film characters ‘Totoro’ from the delightful film “My Neighbour Totoro”. The logo consists of a pale sky blue colour, with the outline of the character Totoro in white, along with the name Studio Ghibli written in Japanese and English, also both in white.

There are several film company logos and idents that contain characters, but from what I can find, all of these characters have been produced for the sole purpose of the logo/ident, such as the logos for the production companies of both ‘DreamWorks’ and the lesser known ‘Bad Robot’. The logo for Studio Ghibli stands apart from all others. It carries with it the entire identity of the studio. Like some other large company logos, such as DreamWorks, when you the audience sees this logo appear at the beginning of a film, you know even without reading the title that it’s a Ghibli film, and it’s bound to be a brilliant one at that.

The layout for this logo is relatively simple; consisting purely of the character and then the two versions of the film company’s name.  The outlined Totoro is situated slightly to the left of the centre, in a position that leads him to face off to the left of the screen, I see it as if they have drawn him in this position so that he appears intrinsically passive rather than confrontationally, for if he had been facing forward, giving the logo a calmer and friendlier appearance. The writing is then situated to the right of the character, slightly overlapping the area where the rest of Totoro could have been drawn. The Japanese translation for the company’s name ‘Studio Ghibli’ is written in bold white lines on top the English translation, written in the same way. There is also a very thin and somewhat unnoticeable white line that separates the two titles.

When looking at the logo as a whole, it appears as a very thought out, stylish and to the point logo that takes little effort to understand or to appreciate. This discussed logo is also very unique as well as stylish in its design; there are no other film company logos that I can find that contain a character from one of the company’s films. This unique and orthodox approach represents the type of material that the Studio creates; their very slick execution of their slightly crazy but very imaginative and creative animated films. 

The most well known version of the DreamWorks Logo





My favourite version of the Bad Robot Logo