This document analyzes and compares the opening title sequences (OTS) of two films - Manhunt: The Search for Bin Laden and True Blood. Both OTS convey the locations and settings of the films through their music and visuals. They depict isolated areas with social issues like racism and violence. However, they differ in terms of time period, with Manhunt appearing more modern due to its military focus, while True Blood seems dated. Communication may also be more difficult in Manhunt if languages other than English are used. Overall, the analysis finds both OTS establish uneasy, less developed settings where old ideas persist and some form of conflict or death is featured.

1. Assignment 2 : OTS analysis
By Sam Percy , Ben Chaisty, Ollie Whipp and Tom Baldwin

3. Manhunt: The search of Bin Laden
This text shows us that the
location of the film is mainly
going to be set in the
middle-east
shows location. looks
deserted but big with
high security.
Showing of the main
character/target ,
showing what the film is
going to be about.
The main group
that the whole
operation in the
film is planned
around
Shows those
involved/linked
with the main
character

4. What you can hear, feel and see
Hear Feel See
Middle eastern dark sounds. Very
stereotypical sounds of the middle
east.
People speaking Arabic and firing
guns in the background behind the
music track. This gives the audience
an impression that the film will be set
in the middle east, like Pakistan,
added the fact that the film will be
associated with violence.
Mysterious and tense music.
You feel tense but empty. If
something where to happen, you cant
help it. Could seem like everything
was predestined.
Keeps audience gazing at the screen
to understand the mysteriousness.
You can see plans but you cant
understand them adding to the
mysteriousness.
See all people involved and linked
with the Al Qaeda.
You can see all the people involved in
creating the film e.g. based on a
book, who its edited by, production,
directed by etc…

5. True Blood
Scene setting.
Secluded. If anything
happens to you or
someone, no one will
find them.
People praying to
give hope. To get rid
of threats. Given the
fact that the camera
angle is facing up, it
could resemble GOD
being above.
Involves sexual scenes.
This can keep audience
involved, makes them
want to watch it.
Racial orientated groups
show the
environment/location
this is set in is very
corrupt.
Linked
through
racism

6. Using children to portray
innocence but us as the audience
realise the fruit is associated with
blood which links to the name of
the series.
Shows violence and death
and again linking back to
the title of “true blood”
Links through blood
and death and
innocence Links between
death.
The larvae breaking out of its
cocoon gives a view that people are
trying to escape.

7. What you can hear, see and feel.
Hear Feel See
The soundtrack sounds very southern
American but also quite dated.
The music sounds like its from a time
where racism and violence where
common, but also gives you a feel
that, given the time we live in, this
violence and racism is carried on into
today or todays world.
The OTS has a feeling of
helplessness. The people cant escape
the violence. This is the main reason
why I think they show a bug trying to
escape. It links with the praying to
give hope to the people in the OTS
who might need it. Its trying to make
you feel sympathetic.
You can see a lot of references to
blood, which is probably there as the
series is called ‘true blood’.
You can see that the location is
either very secluded, like an
abandoned house or a forest, or its
in a urban more populated area like
a club which is also shown in the
OTS.
Also it looks very southern, the decay
of animals and society which is what
it looks like, and the men swinging
on their chairs looks like place not
from this time.

8. Similarities and differences with the 2 OTS’.
Similarities Differences
The music is designed to give you an idea of the location
in which the series or film is set.
They both involve some sort of violence, in this case they
both look fairly violent al Qaeda and the dead animals in
the true blood OTS.
They both look like they would be set in a place not very
evolved in terms of technological advances.
Both sound and look like they are set in a place where
old theories/ideas still carry one today.
The soundtrack gives you an idea of the kind of people
involved in the film or series, if they will be kind or
unhappy or evil or trying to be good to escape, short
tempered unsociable.
Set in different times. True blood looks like they would
use old methods to cause damage but manhunt will use
better technology as it’s the army hunting the most
wanted man at the time.
Languages, the communication barrier will be harder to
understand as in manhunt most people will be speaking
a different language which most of the audience may not
understand unless there are subtitles, but in true blood it
will be easier as its set in a country where they speak the
same language just a different accent.
Levels of death. In the killing of bin laden, more people
would be killed, but its more planned killing while true
blood looks more like a area with issues. If someone dies,
the person that killed is probably a psychopath or serial
killer.

9. In conclusion, in a films opening title sequence we expect to see, both areas have some moral
and social issues. Both will have some kind of violence as will both be in quite a unevolved place.
They wont seem very westernised and there theories may seem quite weird and outdated. To
show you what we mean here are the OTS’S.
True blood: http://www.artofthetitle.com/title/true-blood/
Manhunt: http://www.artofthetitle.com/title/manhunt-the-search-for-bin-laden/