Title Research: The Shining

 What titles are displayed during the opening sequences?

It first shows the title "A Stanley Kubrick Film." After this, it shows the names of the cast such as Jack Nicholson, Shelley Duval and is followed up with the title the "Shining." The titles are in call caps with a san serif font and a bright cyan color. It then shows additional cast members in the movie. 

What images are prioritized in the opening sequence?

It seems to show the Pacific Northwest region in America: bodies of water, forest, mountains, and greenery. There's also a camera tracking a car on the road in the middle of a forest and the mountains. At the very end, it shows a large building in the middle of the mountains that seems to be isolated.

What connotations do these images carry?

These images seem to establish the setting in which the characters are in. With the driving car in the road, it suggest someone is traveling or taking a trip somewhere out of a city or town, since this isn't a typical view for an everyday drive. It suggests someone is either taking a vacation or going very far away from something. With the large building on the mountains, it suggests that the characters may be staying in a hotel given how it implies that they're going on a trip. 

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

The non-diegetic sounds accompanying this title sequence establishes the eerie and mysterious tone that is most commonly seen in horror films. They do this by showcasing background music of shrill, shrieking instruments playing quickly throughout. 

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

The target audience is clearly for viewers that watches horror films. The way they attracted horror-loving viewers is embodying horror elements and conventions subtly. They may show a peaceful looking scenery of mountains and forests in the bright sunlights, but the images' sense of peace is immediately contradicted by the shrill background music, suggesting that there will be something sinister happening in the future. The ensures that horror-loving viewers will be attracted to the film as it has non-diegetic sounds common to horror films. 

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

The use of an extremely high angle and a birds-eye view alongside tracks follows a car through its journey on its trip. With the camera tracking that single car, it makes the viewer wonder, where they're going, why they're taking a trip, what they're going to, etc. With the use of high angles and camera tracking, it makes the viewers have an established sense of anticipation of what will happen next. The technologies involved for creating these camera angles and movements effectively establishes a sense of anticipation automatically for viewers.