Introduction
As mentioned in my pre-production structure book, we are creating a title sequence for our documentary. Title sequences are very conventional for all mockumentaries - all of our examples have one so it would seem ideal to produce one for ours.
Research into Title Sequences
Using the same examples which I've been researching, I had a look at the narrative of each title sequence and commented on how they were created. This can be seen below:
Trailer Park Boys
As you can see from this trailer, the narrative and structure is very simplistic. All we see in the sequence is the camera tracking and panning through what seems to be a trailer park (which is what you learn after watching the show), showing a couple of bits of footage which help to add to the scene. For example, children playing in the playground, riding bikes and tracking shots showing the caravans. The soundtrack itself is also very simplistic which all in all shows that the title sequence has been limited so that it simply helps to set the scene before we are even introduced to any characters and the plot. The only difference which I can pick up on is the colour tone effect - as you can see in the image the title sequence has a sepia-effect, which to me may've been used to almost recreate older documentary styles before colour was completely established. Nonetheless, this idea of a simplistic title sequence works well as it enables the audience to begin to understand the setting of the programme.
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| A print screen which shows a tracking of the caravans alongside the road in the trailer park |
The Office (UK)
Similar to Trailer Park Boys, The Office (UK) follows this idea of simply documenting on the location of the programme. However The Office uses a wider variety of establishing shots which shows the building which we believe the office to be based in. Similarly, this too also uses constant tracking and dolly shots for the sequence, helping to add a sense of flow before the audience are bought into watching the show. In terms of the soundtrack, The Office (UK) has a very motivational and happy soundtrack, which in a way can make the audience believe that the show itself will be 'happy' and 'charming'. This is quite effective as it almost contradicts against some of the humour and relationships of the characters, helping to add to the comedy of the show before even seeing it (however this is only established once you see the show). Nonetheless, it is seeming conventional to use constant flowing establishing shots to help set and introduce the scene of the show.
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| An establishing panning shot used to show what we believe to be the outside of the building. This is one of several shots used and generally allows the audience to guess where the programme is mainly going to be based. |
Summer Heights High
Summer Heights High too has a very similar opening compared to my previous two examples. Although filmed in one long shot, the opening begins by following a child run through a school - as simple as that. This very simplistic opening helps to set the scene as we are bought to believe that the school will be used as a primary location. Nonetheless, the use of a crane shot gives the opening a more dynamic view - the camera goes up, down, left and right which works well to create an effective opening. This title sequence is just over 30 seconds which helps to reinforce that this is a conventional length for a title sequence. Furthermore, we are bought to learn the prime location of where this mockumentary is filmed, however, we are not introduced to any characters which is the same as my previous two examples.
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| The beginning of the title sequence. We begin with a long moving crane shot which then ventures through into the school, following the running school boy. |
The Office (USA)
When in comparison to the previous 3 examples, The Office (USA) is the least conventional so far. Despite introducing the title sequence with establishing shots of what we believe to be the area on where this is filmed, we are introduced to the characters as well which is unconventional. Additionally, the title sequence only lasts for around 20 seconds - a third shorter than all of the other examples. Nonetheless, this could be because The Office is an American mockumentary - it is typical for programs to differ depending on the country it is produced in. Therefore, this may seem unconventional compared to my other examples due to two of them being British mockumentaries (Summer Heights High is an Australian production) This means it can be hard to define whether this is conventional or not due to it being an American based mockumentary. Nonetheless, all of these examples have this convention of establishing the location, showing that this is a crucial technique used for Mockumentary title sequences.
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| The Office (USA) includes its characters in the title sequence |
Structure & Idea of Our Title Sequence
Judging from my research, it is clear that it is conventional for mockumentaries to have a title sequence which conforms primarily to documentary standards (minus a couple of examples, such as The Office USA). For example, using establishing tracking/panning shots and generally aiming to set the scene of the primary location. For example, Trailer Park Boys uses establishing shots to show it's based in a trailer park, The Office UK uses establishing shots of outside a multi-storey building which we believe to be a story of offices. Therefore, we've decided to use this idea of 'setting the scene' for our show.
Therefore, our title sequence will help set the scene of the school hall which is our dominant location. We want the audience to learn that our show will be set in a school hall, which they will eventually learn is the location for an AmDram company to rehearse for their performances.
Below are a list of shots which we want our title sequence to include:
- A close up of the stage: in both dark and light settings
- Showing the curtains close/open to reveal/close the stage
- Close ups of feet moving: as if they are auditioning
- Tracking/panning of the stage as the lights turn on
- Close up of someone using the lighting board in the lighting box
- Panning of the piano next to the stage, which then moves to just show the stage
- Revealing the changing room, by reverse tracking out as the lights turn on
- Panning of the stage lights, turning on individually (if possible)
- Close up showing someone pull the curtains open.
My research also led me to believe that the average title sequence for the examples I used blends between 25-35 seconds, meaning we will be aiming for 30 seconds.
The Idea
Now that we have brainstormed some shots which we want to include, below is a draft script of our title sequence including how long roughly we want each shot to be:
Firstly, we want to be introduced to a pitch-black setting, which then brightens up as the lights in the hall turn on to reveal a tracking shot moving towards the stage. This shot will then continue to show the black curtains on the stage draw open, linking with a close up showing someone reeling on the rope which allows it to open. (5 seconds)
We then move to another pitch-black location, where the lights then turn on to show the changing room brighten up. This shot will be a reverse tracking shot as if the camera is moving backwards out of the changing room. (3 seconds)
Moving back to the stage, we now see a close up of someone's feet moving, as if they were auditioning. This could simply be someone moving forward then stopping, or standing on tip toes, etc. As long as the audience can learn that it could be someone in an audition then the content isn't entirely important. (5 seconds)
We then move to a longer shot which shows a panning of the piano located next to the stage. This will be in focus, blurring out the stage, before the camera pans left to leave the piano and show the stage. As this happens, the audience should be able to see a blurred shot of someone then pretending to audition on the stage. However, they don't see who the person is or what they're doing - they simply only learn that there's someone on stage. (6 seconds)
We then move into the lighting box, showing a close up of someone using the light board as if they are turning the stage lights on. (3 seconds)
This shot then moves to a close pan shot showing each of the stage lights turning on individually (if this is possible, we need to talk to a lighting director to confirm this). If we can't do this, the same shot can be used but just showing all the lights turn on together. (4 seconds)
This will then lead to our last shot, which is a light turning on and blinding the camera. Hopefully this will cause the camera to bleed white, allowing us to then add a graphic of our show's logo which zooms in and appears in the centre of the shot. (6 seconds)
Total: Around 32 seconds (Just longer than our ideal time)
Below is a shot list of the script above. This is subject to change depending on our actual shoot date, as we may come across some different ideas on the day.
Now that I've created a shot list and script, we will be filming this title sequence sometime next week in one day, as this should only take one or two hours to film. Hopefully this will be edited and confirmed in a couple of weeks, however we need to create an advert for a composer to create a soundtrack for the sequence, meaning this could take a bit longer. We aim to have the complete title sequence and sound completed around 2 weeks before our deadline, which gives plenty of time to find a soundtrack.
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