Ident Research

As well as the task of producing our own opening sequence to a Horror film we were also set with the task of creating our own ident/production company name. As we were to create our own ident, I decided to do some research into other real idents for inspiration.

The dictionary definition of an ident (from dictionary.com):-

I  researched into 'Lions gate' Entertainment company:
Lions Gate Entertainment Company was formed is a North American company. Formed in 1997  in Vancouver, British Columbia. It is well known for it's success as a independent television and film distribution company. It was formerly known as Cinépix Film Properties. 

Highest grossing film has been Hunger Games (2012), but it's first ever box office hit was American Psycho (2000) which lead to popularity in distribution in films. 

Idents for Lions Gate vary as they have had many improving over the years, fitting in with the latest technology and keeping up with their audience appeal.  

Lions gate 1999

This is the first type of Ident created by Lions gate entertainment, as you can see, it is quite dull coloured and does not have a great use of technology as the technology at the time was not that advanced. It is a 'Times roman' typography in gold and a use of animation in blue fireworks/lights to shape out a lion to connote the name of the company. However, at the time the ident was relatively distinctive and popular as the use of animation and sound intrigued the target audience then.

Lionsgate 2006



This Ident was later produced by Lions gate, it shows the difference between technology available before and what was available in 2006. The metallic cogs turn with the progression of music which ascends as they turn, thereafter audience view the screen shown in POV shot going through a keyhole with a bright blue light shining and then a door opening with connotations of 'Heaven' as the sign of Lions gate is in the bright blue sky with clouds and a fan fare is played. This connotes that the audience may have made a 'Heavenly' choice of watching a film distributed and produced by Lions gate. This is fairly intriguing as the connotations are more skilled and use of animation and CGI. However, the colours are fairly dark and still feel as if they are just animated and the sound sounds ordinary, again due to the technology available at the time.

Lions gate 2013



This is the latest ident created by Lions gate. Compared to the two earlier ones created, it has a lot more use of technology and it seems more realistic compared to the other two. Also the sound of the ident has improved it ascends and goes on for longer, which intrigues audiences more. It begins as fade from black transition to a blue detailed planet coming out which then speeds to a long shot zoomed out showing an image of the starry sky and then the music ascends to lion gate title getting together covered in moving clouds, the typography has drastically improved as it looks more 3D and modern.

Lionsgate also had a different ident for their horror movies which helps distinguish the genres and fits in better with the genre, here is the Horror Genre Lions Gate Ident: 



This is a horror genre ident from 2006 so I will compare the differences between both 2006 idents. 
There is a drastic difference between the original Lions gate ident 2006 and the ident they use for the Horror genre. The original one connotes 'heavenly and goodness' with the use of skies and clouds and light colours, however the ident for horror genre uses red and orange colours to connote hell to fit in conventionally with the horror genre. 
It beginds similar as the cogs are still moving and the door opens, however they appear rusty and darker as they are not shiny as the original cogs. Instead of clouds, red smoke appears which intrigues audience even before the horror movie starts as it evokes an emotional response of fear at the first impression of the movie, which makes the audience have a better viewing of the horror movie and first impression counts. 

This research has helped me distinguish different types of idents with types of technology available over years and the differences between horror idents and normal idents. As me and my partner decided to go for the Horror genre, this will help us create an ident which will leave a impression on our target audience similar to Lions gate horror genre ident.