Title Design Research: Manhunt

The first movie is Manhunt. The title sequence is a minute long and it is a thriller. We used the https://www.watchthetitles.com/ website.  

1. How many titles are displayed during the opening sequences to the film? Which ones?  

The beginning is about one minute. It includes 12 titles. These twelve titles include the Studio (The Mill+), Designer and Creative Director (Manija Emran), Executive Producer (Stephen Venning), Post-Production VFX (The Mill LA), VFX Producers (Adam Reeb and Lusia Boryczko), Animators (Justin Sucara, Victor Duncan, and Andrew Marks), Junior Animator (Kyle Moore), and Coordinator (Krissy Estrada). Also, Manhuny Director (Greg Barker), Agency (HBO Documentary Films), Production Company (A Passion Pictures & Motto Pictures Production) and, Music (Black Snowflakes by Max de Wardener).  

2. What connotations do the images carry? 

The images resemble “clues” in a mystery and make you feel suspenseful and/or uneasy. The images are all real-life people and the thought of that may spook some people. There are also images of pieces of real newspapers or articles. This creates suspense and that uneasy feeling. There are some element, such as names and ripped pieces of paper that symbolize the “clues”. 

3. How is genre reinforced through symbolic and technical codes from the outset? 

The genre in this film is reinforced throughout the title sequence. In the background there are pictures, names, articles, and information. All of the information is accurate and it is being pieced together throughout the 1 long sequence. Thriller are made to make the audience feel suspenseful and this one does. Also, the way the titles pop up appear mystery and may leave an uneasy feeling. The font the titles are in give a “scrapbook” appearance. 

4. What conventions are used to ensure the film appeals to its target audience? 

The director wanted to do an ‘unusual’ twist on the film. He wanted it to be intimate, obsessive, detailed, dedicated, and personal. He still wanted to give the audience information ‘gradually’ and little by little. They challenged conventions by using a different approach which is how the film was going to make the audience feel. Also, a lot of research was put into the film making process. Everything in the title sequence was factual. Most thrillers make up things but a select few actually show some sort of accurate information. Additionally, the title says the word “man” and the letters in the word “hunt” start to space out. The director thought it would be a good idea to do this because it isn’t something that is normally seen, and it represents “the chase” that the movie is going to bring.