Title Research: ALI

  1. What titles are displayed during the opening sequences?  

- Studios 

- Director 

- Actors 

- Casting 

- Music Directors 

- Visual Effect Producers 

- Visual Effects Supervisors 

- Costume Designers 

- Assistant Directors 

- Editing 

- Production Designer 

- Line Producer 

- Co Producers 

- Executive Producers 

- Title 

2. What images are prioritized in the opening sequence?  

Priority was given to the studios involved, then directors, the star actor, followed by the title of the film in that order. The rest of the actors were presented after the title.

3.  What connotations do these images carry?  

The black background with the white lettering introduces the studios, directors, and star actor were meant for the audience to focus on. During those introductions, an announcer is heard introducing singer Sam Cooke for a show. After the title is shown, we first see Sam Cooke on stage warming up the crowd then is cut to Mohamed Ali going for a run. It cuts back and forth several times while Cooke is singing and Ali is working out preparing for a fight all while naming the actors in the scene. This does a great job of foreshadowing the theme of the movie as Sam Cooke and Mohamed Ali were friends in real life and Ali is preparing for a historic fight.

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

It previews some of the elements of the genre. Starting with the location that sets up the background for the rest of the movie it served as a strong start to a film representing Boxer Mohamed Ali going for a run. During the run, he is followed by a police car foreshadowing the racial prejudice he will experience in addition to the fight he is preparing for. 

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

This film in particular has a specific format in how the title sequence presents the whole movie. Within this title sequence, we see a boxer hitting a speedbag and running a long distance to prepare for a fight to entice boxers and athletes with the familiarity of working out.

6. How has technology been used effectively? 

The directors are successful in using a variety of camera angles like wide shots, medium close ups, tracking shots, etc. to allow the viewer to follow Mohamed Ali.