Kiva LeFors



Countess

Motion Title Sequence / Storytelling

Title sequence design for a screenplay I am currently writing. A passion project I’ve kept on the back burner for a few years as I focus on design school. A modern adaptation of the infamous Vampyros Lesbos (1971)  by Jesús Franco. 
The Original Movie


Vampyros Lesbos (1971) Plot Synopsis

Linda Westinghouse is an American living in Istanbul. After having a recurring dream in which she is seduced by a gorgeous vampire, Linda is sent to a small island for her work. There, she meets and is actually seduced by Countess Nadine, a dark, beautiful nightclub owner whom she immediately recognizes as the seductress from her dreams. When the conniving Dr. Seward learns of this, he contacts Linda, hoping to use her to become undead himself.






My Version

I saw a bigger story here. A struggle of loving someone who manipulated you and knowing it and still loving them. I attached themes I’ve gone through from a story I knew deserved better.  I wanted to make a movie I wanted to watch over and over again.


Countess Plot Synopsis

After the infamous real estate mogul, club owner, and the oldest vampire alive known to society, Count Dracula has finally faced his untimely death. A shy and timid NYC probate lawyer, Helena, is tasked with settling his will, to which all of his assets will go to a sole beneficiary. The Countess Nadine, a mysterious lady harboring dark secrets, mostly keeps to herself up in her castle with her posse, no interest in the modern world. Helena must travel to Transylvania to meet with the Countess to settle the will and find out why she’s the sole beneficiary of this world renowned vampire. Seduction, love, deceit, and darkness awaits her and who knows if she’ll come back alive?








MoodboardThis adaption explores the themes of sexuality, identity, manipulation, potential and the loss of it. Count Dracula took Nadine’s life as a human when she was 22, a young woman filled with potential and aspirations. Decades later, she has grown with vengeance and bad habits as she lives on. Until she falls for Helena, someone she’s deceived into loving her.






Style Frame

Bleeding type, trees acts as veins, manipulating images and videos to become something unlikely. Helena’s mind is being manipulated into thinking of Countess Nadine. Distorted bodies and places while the dance floor flashes in and out, until we’re forced to think about a particular castle.




Typography

Neue World was chosen for it’s condensed serif evoking a sense of timeless elegance.




Colors

Wanted to keep the palette limited, working in mainly duotone of red and black with the cream’s role as highlights. 



Storyboard

 

Title Sequence

CreditsClub Clips: DJ Boywife
Model: Claire Culwell
Song: Générique by Alain Goraguer from the La Planète Sauvage Soundtrack