Title Research: Speed

1. 
   
   What titles are displayed during the opening  
   sequences? 

During the opening sequences, the names of the actors are presented while the camera is moving downward what it looks like inside of an elevator shaft. It is very dark. The names of the main actors and producers of the film are introduced one by one while the camera is still moving downward, then shortly after the main characters are introduced, the title” Speed” pops up in the same font as the names. The exciting part of the title is it zooming towards the camera with “P” being the center of it. After the title is gone. More titles of other actors of the movie are presented, again in the same font. Now dramatic/ suspenseful music is playing in the background loudly. 

 

2.  
   What images are prioritized in the opening sequence? 

In the opening scene the prioritized images are the floor numbers in the elevator shaft. They are prioritized because they are bold black font and everything else in the shaft is dim. The camera also focuses on the technical parts of the elevator shaft like the ropes and stuff. However, the camera is moving downward at a constant speed and angle. The vertical lights also stand out. The numbers are prioritized because it gives the clue that the elevator is going underground because it keeps going after passing floor 1. 

3.  
   What connotations do these images carry? 

The floor numbers play a huge part and it’s connotation is that since the scene started at floor 41 and is going down past floor one shows that what is next is suspenseful. Usually elevators arent supposed to go underground. This gets the audience thinking about what is hidden underground. The suspenseful music is built up to the moment when the camera passes floor 1. Once floor one is passed, the music dies down. 

4.  
   How does the film establish a feeling of the genre from  
   the outset? 

The film gives the sense of suspense right off the bat. The shaft of an elevator is an unusual place to start a film, especially when it starts from such a high floor all the way going down. The lighting stays the same throughout the opening scene. Very dim and gloomy. The camera is very close up to the technical part of the elevator. “What is the camera hiding?” Elevator shafts are also just scary in general, even if there was no music, im sure there would still be suspense. However, The music helps give some sort of context in a way. Like the audience is supposed to be scared. 

5.  
   What strategies are used to ensure the film appeals to  
   its target audience? 

The film uses common strategies in the opening scene to appeal to its target audience. The lighting sets off the “apprehension” mood. The music suspense buildup engages the audience to know what is about to happen when the elevator gets to the first floor. The fact that the elevator goes passed the floor puts the audience on the edge of their seats. This keeps the audience entertained while the title sequences are still going. 

6.  
   How has technology been used effectively? You want  
   to consider camera angles, transitions and editing  
   techniques. 

 

What I thought was clever was that the title names went away when the huge bars cover the cameras, so when the camera gets passed the bar, a new name is appeared. That is much better than just names on the side of a screen having no transitions. The transition was very smooth and efficient when it came to the titles. I also think that the sense of NO movement of the camera made sense, its like the camera was on one of the ropes going down the elevator shaft.  

Speed 1994 Part 1