This review concerns the discussion of: Episodic Online Media Format
As it turns out online media don't fit into the same genre structure most TV shows do. The shows I have selected for review (BlackBox TV, Phillip DeFranco Show and Control TV) are not directly comparable to the TV shows of the other two formats I have selected. The first show BlackBox TV fits into the supernatural horror/thriller genre but instead of it being a continuous storyline, it is more of a selection of short films of the same theme. This allows me to review the title sequence under the same rules as the horror genre of TV shows from the other formats but it leaves to question whether online can be compared with TV at all. I was struggling to find shows that follow the same rules for story telling and therefore fit in with the same categories for immediate comparison as TV shows. The two other shows I have selected for the online format are a comedy/news show, which I realise now is not at all fitting, and a reality "TV" show. I initially chose the news show because of its motion graphics title sequence, which was the first criteria for selecting title sequences for review. However, after setting the next criteria for selecting title sequences of each major genre (comedy, drama, horror) within each distribution format, I didn't alter the online shows I was going to review. Looking over them now, I realise there isn't much I can alter as the, like I said, the ways of storytelling are not the same. There are a few online shows out there that follow the reality TV genre for example, which could fit within the drama genre - that is probably the reason why I chose Control TV (reality online show) - like Quarterlife, but don't have a compelling motion graphics title sequence. Or there are online shows that have a very interesting title sequence but are i.e. a news show like Phillip DeFranco, which is a genre I haven't touched upon in the other two formats. What I am going to do is write up a review of BlackBox TV anyway, as the horror genre is the one I want to concentrate on, and then summarise the findings of the formats I have gathered from the reviews. The online genre might have produced results under different criteria but it should nevertheless reflect the rules for or the fashion of online media title sequences.
Black Box TV by BlackBox TV
• Genre: horror/thriller
• Not succinct title sequence but to the most part the same
• The one that runs through a few episodes is floating TV behind opening door
• Black and white, moody lighting
• Setting the scene for the horror genre
• Gives a summary of the short film to be watched, similar to book back, cliffhanger
• Short, no theme music but atmospheric audio
• 3D animation
• “Title card” at the end of sequence
The BlackBox TV title sequence is in black and white, reminiscent of a 1960s horror film like Psycho. The camera enters a shabby hotel room without any furniture apart from a floating, old television box near the rear end of the room. The graphics have a smudged visual and stop-motion animation effect, while the camera is moving into the room. The audio together with the short summery of the short film to follow, stimulates a feeling of anxiety. The entire environment, with its empty space, gritty surroundings and tension filled audio fuels the suspense during the title sequence before the horror film/episode starts. Not only the black and white footage but also the abandoned hotel creates an eerie effect, possibly because it creates a link to films like the Shining which takes place in an old hotel or horror films that are situated in old, abandoned public service facilities like asylums. These are the kind of places that naturally evoke a sense of unease and one of them was therefore chosen for this particular title sequence.
The Phillip DeFranco Show (YouTube)
• Genre: comedy news
• Very Short, amusing just like show
• Features a stylised shot of a monkey that turns into a logo, framed by the shows title
• Stylised 2D motion graphics
• Audio explains shows purpose
• established brand
• Audio and visuals instantly recognisable by audience
• Visuals aren’t linked to show content
• Title card at the end of sequence
• Genre: Reality TV comedy
• Stop motion/2D motion graphics animation
• Character displayed as puppet, metaphor for story in which he’s being manipulated by audience.
• Joystick in first shot symbolises that audience has the control over protagonist
• Short, featuring logo/title card at the end
• Title card at the end of sequence
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