Title Design Research: Science Fiction Thriller- "Code 8": What Makes This Movie Great

 

Welcome, on this blog we will be reviewing the title sequence for the movie Code 8 (2019) using 6 different questions to understand the opening for this movie the best we can. The sequence can be found in the “Art of the Title” website. For some background information, the movie is about people with superhuman abilities and how they fit in society following this group of people with these abilities.

What titles are displayed during the opening sequence?

As the title sequence plays, they credit the companies and people involved putting the movie together.

This includes the main studio company and it’s associates or other film companies that may have been

involved. It displays the names of the producers and executive producers as well as the names of

designers for costumes, music, story, photography, visual effects, and the editors. The names of the

main cast is also presented on screen and at the end it shows the directors name and the final title

which is the name of the movie which is Code 8.

The font used for this title sequence was small and was edited over the filming aspect of the

sequence. The titles would move in a different spot on screen for each different name, it wasn’t in one

set spot. As each title changed it had a glitch effect that matched the rest of the theme of the title

sequence.

What images are prioritized in the opening sequence?

The images used are put together in a montage-like format using a bunch of clips of people living

their daily lives as the people with superhuman abilities affect business and society as a whole. The

clips are presented as if they had been recorded on a low quality camera to give it an effect as if you

are reminiscing. Some of the clips may be regular people doing day to day activities, destruction caused

in the city, people getting arrested or law enforcement on the job, news reporting both on television or

shots of newspaper headlines. Like the titles, the clips are separated by a glitch effect to distinguish

when a clip ends and begins.

What connotations do these images carry?

When these clips are put together, it gives the opening an appalling, “shocking news” type of

feeling. Since the clips are super short and change to a different clip, it gives the audience the

impression that a lot is happening since the idea of people with super abilities is new. At the end of the

sequence, the montage of clips is abruptly interrupted by the title of the movie. This gives the audience

suspense and a moment to wonder about what they had just seen on screen. Giving the urge to

continue watching the entirety of the film.

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

The science fiction thriller genre includes suspense for the thriller part and something that would

be considered abnormal in the real world for the science fiction part. This title sequence in particular is

both very visual and auditory. As the montage of clips is playing, news reports are being played in the

background for extra context. 

A way to tell that this movie is a science fiction thriller is by focusing on the clips and news reports.

In the clips you will find a woman holding a baby where the baby is able to make things levitate.

Insinuating that the baby has other worldly abilities. This is accompanied by the news reports in the back

talking about the people who have super powers. This would be the science fiction aspect in the

sequence and movie. As for the thriller aspect, there are many clips depicting some of the people with

these powers being violent and possibly causing destruction and chaos in public. Giving the audience

suspense and interest in the movie.

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

The target audience of the movie would primarily be people who are stereotyped as “geeks”.

Since geeks are people who are interested in superheroes with supernatural abilities. But this time

with a darker twist and not the traditional hero. While this movie does have violence and harsh

language, it’s most suited for a mature, possibly older audience who can handle it. The biggest strategy

used is the news report audio and clip montage combo. It appeals to people who like visuals or sound

or maybe both. The quick paced clips keep people who like action on their toes but for those who may

prefer something slower, the news reports audio works perfectly to explain what the clips cannot.

How has technology been used effectively with regards to camera angles, transitions, and editing techniques?

Technology was used a lot for this opening sequence because of the editing and transitions.

Camera angles were hard to point out and decipher because of the short screen time for each clip.

However there were some camera angles that did seem significant. One clip depicted a guy surrounded

by cops with weapons pointed at him as he was surrendering. A high angle was used to make it seem

as if they were recording on a helicopter. Showing how big the issue they are dealing with is. As said

before there was a glitching transition between each clip. The most important was editing, since it was

used for the transitions, titles, audio, and the overall quick pace of the opening.

To end this blog here is a clip from “Hero-Weezer” where everyone needs a hero because in this movie

they needed one.