2. 1) Shots types/angles/movements?
There were different types of shots such as close up of
the spears when flying through the field and it said
one of the titles on the spear, there was a natural
framing shot whilst going through the natural frame
and into the war field, it makes the audience feel like
there actually going through field and as if they were
in war, it’s very interesting compared to other title
sequence but it fits the purpose of narrative and
theme of this film. The movements of camera shots
was taking us through different parts of the battle
scene it made sense as it was going though a story in
a orderly manner.
3. The Spear says
the title “Music
by Tyler Bates”,
it’s also quite
bloody and it’s a
close up shot of
the spear
compared to
bottom picture.
This is not a close
up, but a mid-shot
of all the spears
attacking the
warriors, it shows
the contrast and
the movement but
it flows with the
story/narrative
pattern.
4. In this shot we
see the natural
framing of what
looks like a cave
but before that
it was merged
with a title and
developed into a
natural framing
shot.
Then we follow
the camera and
were going
through the
natural framing
and to the main
battle field
which makes
the audience
feel as if they
were actually
there.
5. 2) Visual style – Lighting/colour?
The characters are in a style of Japanese manga
and have a silhouette during the whole title
sequence, I think they used this type of style
because Frank Miller made the 300 comic books
so they kind of wanted to stick with the comic
novel looking idea by using it in the title
sequence. The colours used in the title sequence
were mainly black, red, orange/yellow and
white. The black was used as the silhouette, the
red for the blood, the orange/yellow of the
sunset/sun and the white to represent the moon
etc.
6. We see the white
colour which is the
moon showing the
different between
night and day as
before the setting is
during sunset.
We see the
orange/yellow colour
which represents the
day (the sunset), it
makes the contrast
of the colour feel
surreal and it fit
wells with the other
colours, it’s not to
bold but suttle.
7. All the characters are in
silhouette and in black,
because to make it in the
style of Frank Miller comic
novel as this film is based
upon that and it’s very
interesting of the way
they developed it and how
they showed the
silhouette being in action
and their dramatic deaths.
When the title appears or
when one of the characters
are dying, there’s always
blood splattered across the
screen and over the
typography which has a
great affect, red connotes
danger/death/blood which
really fits in with the genre
very well.
8. 3) Editing – fast/slow/pace/long
takes/exposition of narrative – character –
setting – time?
The pace of the title sequence was very fast, they
did this because during the war scene by using
silhouettes, they wanted to show the killing/the
war was going very quickly it’s as if you were in
the war/fight yourself which is very appealing
for the audience as they want to feel like they
are a part of the film as well, it makes it more
intriguing. This also sets the time period of all
the weapons that are used such as spears etc to
suggest that it maybe the film is set in the
Roman period.
9. 4) How does the opening suggest the
genre or the themes of the film?
The opening suggest the genre as well as the theme of it too.
The theme of the opening is murder/crime/death, from
getting these are the main themes from the opening as
there were blood splattered around the titles as well as
Japanese manga images of the characters. We also see the
Japanese manga images killing each other with props
which lead to their death. The props i.e. weapons (bow
and arrow) connotes violence which is strongly shown
throughout the title sequence, this further highly suggests
to the audience of genre of the film will be which in this
case it’s action/war and mixed with fantasy too.
Furthermore the typography is sans serif, the style of the
typography was quite droopy looking to represent blood
as well as it was the colour red too.
10. Typography:
Sans serif, colour red – connotes blood/death
and blood splattered around/droopy looking
and the font is quite big/bold to show
emphasis that this is the main name of the film
as there was also a loud crash sound which
dominated the other sounds as a whole.
11. 5) How is sound/music used to draw
us into the world of the film?
Drum beat sounds are to show the fast pace of the
war/action happening in the title sequence and show
emphasis/dramatic of the killing/war, drum beats a
usually a signal of starting something and stating that
something is beginning/happening. The type of music
that is used sounds like Greek/Arabian music stating
the historical background of the film. There is
harmonic male voice (either tenor/bass voice) which
also kind of represents the history of when the film is
suppose to be set in. When it states 300 title on the
screen, it makes huge, loud crash sound to show
emphasis on the main name of the film. There’s quite
a lot of non-diegetic sounds too.
12. 6) If the film is part of a franchise – how does it
fit with the conventions of previous title
sequences in the same franchise?
In the 300: Rise of an Empire (the sequel to the 300
film), the titles are quite similar to each other as the
pace of the titles are quite fast and how the titles are
shown to the audience are in the similar style of the
war field of the first film (the camera going through
the field). Whilst the titles are shown across the field,
the titles being the colour of red to represent blood in
the war field as well as to reinforce the action genre.
The difference between the two titles are different
location of the war field and in the second there are
more cold colours like dark blues etc whilst in the first
film there are warm colours like orange etc.
13.
14. Overall of what I found inspirational in this title
sequence of how it made me feel as an audience
to watch this, because it felt like I was there and
as if I was in some way involved in the action
which is very interesting/unique in many
different ways as for an audience it’s something
unexpected/unusual which makes it unique.
Furthermore, I like how they used silhouettes
because it linked back to Frank Miller comic
novels which is great as this film was inspired by
the comic novel, it’s quite similar to another
Frank Miller comic novel “Sin City” which you see
the same sort of styling even though they were
filmed by different directors. The typography fit
the genre of the film which I will remember to
some way use it in my own titles for the opening.
