Soundtrack Draft and Update

We created a draft for our soundtrack and we tried editing a little bit more on Final Cut Pro to see if we could make anymore improvements.However, it sounded very distorted and there was parts where the sounds began to echo. We would have to substantially improve this soundtrack if we decide to use it for our title sequences. With this soundtrack; there is no sign of a similarity which the soundtrack and our initial concept for our title sequence share. We may have to change our soundtrack to see if we could find specific lyrics which inherit a correlation with our concept. We would have to have a group discussion to expand our thoughts on the soundtrack; to wither change it or improve it.

Update: We have kept this soundtrack but we have an improved version which plays throughout our title sequence drafts. We are still thinking whether or not if we should change the soundtrack whilst we have time.

Principal Shoot

Myself and my group arrived together at one of our initial locations to initiate the start of our title sequence; we took a series of photographs of the location (we collected photographs of the ambience) and we also took photographs of those who will be shown in the title sequence (myself, Louis and Aiden - as planned). The photographs below are examples of what we took on Saturday 8th of February.

This is our initial location and we captured photographs and some videos for our title sequence.

Costume plan

These are the kind of ideal clothes which our characters (protagonists) will wear; throughout the shooting. The characters obviously cannot change the clothes which they wear due to it interrupting the continuity. The clothing chosen are typical pieces of clothing which teenagers usually wear. We found that these pieces of clothing would fit into our title sequence. 

Journal - Zombie make - up and first scene with the introduction of a zombie

We managed to find some fake blood which was required for the appearance of our zombie, we did not need to spend a great amount of time on applying make - up and other materials to our zombie due to the zombie is meant to be partially anonymous and discrete - our characters are not meant to be aware of a potential zombie apocalypse in early events. I applied the fake blood to Lauren's face and she interacted (viciously mauling someone in the distance) with Lucy Horton which offered her time and assistance when we needed a zombie to attack a wary person in the far background when our characters would be playing around with the sticks and objects which they find and to pretend to be characters from the Star Wars films, I asked Louis and Aiden if they would make sounds and mention quotations which specific characters state in the films. I took two videos on my phone instead of using my DSLR camera; for the simplicity of my character video recording the friends he is out with. However, the sounds which occur in the two videos will not be heard in our title sequence due to the soundtrack which plays over our title sequence.

An image of Lauren and the fake blood which I applied to her face.

Black sails - analysis practice

Black Sails

At the beginning of the title sequence, the sea could connote that pirates are a main part to the television series, dark colours are typically used in pirate films for the simplicity of the immoral times (murder, death, crime, etc). The colours that are used are dark and there is a small piece of light in the centre (could possibly be moonlight) and the text is displayed in the middle of the screen.

An ornament is presented and the symbols which are displayed on the object  could convey the following subjects: religion, nationality, class, group or even decoration to the audience.

A ship is presented and there are skulls which could foreshadow death and bloodshed. Skulls are typically used in pirate films to connote danger or death to the audience (usually displayed on sails or flags). Cannons are also displayed and are typically shown on pirate ships, could convey future events (oversea battles/war/mutiny) to the audience, horses are presented in the title sequence could represent travel to the audience.

 Skeletons are introduced in the title sequence and it could connote future death or an enemy/threat which lingers in the dark. In one of the shots; the skeleton is behind a female figure, this could convey that the concept is subtle.

Connotations of weapons are used to convey purposes of death and are typically shown to foreshadow the concept of death. The audience can interpret that piracy is a part of the film due to the previous figures of boats and other key features which signify the subject of pirates.

Figures of characters are displayed holding various weapons and all have an aggressive look on their faces; this could represent war and other occurrences which involve specific nations (war between two counties or more).

I like the layout of this image as it shows structures riding the waves; this could convey destruction oversea. In the background there is a character with a piece of material placed over his mouth, this could connote to people that are captives.

A ship is displayed sinking in the sea which could convey to the audience that battles have taken place overseas, could be a reference to pirates sinking otherships. Conflict is presented oversea and on land throughout the title sequence.


The music which is played throughout the title sequence sounds orchestral, bagpipes seem to be playing  in the soundtrack; this could convey that the film evolves around Scotland due to bagpipes being a traditional Scottish instrument.

Overall, the title sequence for this television series has intrigued me with the historical concepts which are involved in the title sequence, Connotations of subjects are clearly displayed to convey specific purposes to the audience to foreshadow future events and actions. The music which played gradually grew louder, especially with the drums which played throughout the title sequence. The designs of figures which are presented in the sequence which represent war interested me whilst the music was playing. The title sequence felt strong.

Font designs

The feedback from our questionnaires confirmed that the first font is our favourite. However, as a group we think that it is quite boring. We edited the font and played around with it to see if we could make it anymore intriguing.





















We decided to try a shadow effect for our title but we desired something else for our title, the colouring around our title (white/grey) makes it look relatively comedic; something which does not suit desired title.



















We used the same concept (shadow); we changed it so it was a dark red shadow.

• Aiden preferred this version more in comparison to the others.

we used the same shadow idea to create another rough design, we changed the shadow colour to a dark grey.

• Louis preferred this design.

In comparison to the fonts which our group has designed, I have decided that the font with the grey shadow effect is my favourite.

• Lauren is uncertain on which font she prefers. 

Post #2 - Production company

The group logo which we created for our production company; relates to the first initial of our forenames (TALL - Terry, Aiden, Louis and Lauren). Our production is established to produce films in the anticipated genre; horror and we also used elements like dark colouring to our logo to bring in the original simple ingredient.

Codes and Conventions:

• Low key lighting
• Faint images
• Foreshadowing death/bloodshed
• Isolation
• Scenary - rural
• Foreshadowing
• Psychopath/killer - glimpse of character
• Equilibrium 
• Knife - foreshadowing - physical weapons
• Medical imagery - experiments
• Dark clothing - not suits, jeans, T-shirts and trainers
• Orchestral music 
• Scrape like sounds - intensify the audiences move 
• Connotations of blood
• Connotations of weapons
• Slow paced editing - enable the audience to observe specific elements for longer durations (slow motion)
• Hand held footage
• Hand held - shaky - unbalance
• Close ups - weapons - scenary - etc
• Tracking
• Point of view shot
• Low angle (worm eye) and high angle shots
• Pan movement 
• Establishing isolation