Film Opening Sequences

L/O: -to be able to analyse opening sequences by analysing it’s

components (looking at the key terms)-Assign 20: is to be able to analyse a set opening sequence

Key Terms

• Opening sequence• Title sequence• Teaser

• Billing– top billing

• Titles/Credits• Film title• Film credit• Opening credits• End credits

Film opening sequence

• What is it?• What are their purposes?

• What are some of your favourites? Why?

Key Terms DEFINITIONS

Film Title

FilmCredit

Billing

(Top & Last)

Opening Sequence

(Cold-open/Teaser)

Title Sequence

Opening Credits

Closing Credits

Title of film Name and/or role of person worked on film

The process of placing titles and credits in a film

The opening of a film

More modern films that set a scene in the opening which creates enigma (like a trailer) is called cold open or teaser. Example = 4-3-2-1 opening

The opening credits of a film in which the title and credits are separate from the film itself

Ex James Bond

The credits and the beginning of the film

The credits and the end of the film

Top = most important

Last = least important

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4uaYiWu7uZs&safe=active

Recent trends• Opening sequences used to just be titles (billing)

• Now there are so many styles: – Opening sequence (montage or narrative based)– Title sequence– Teaser– Short and sweet and some long and complex

• Many major American films have done away with opening credits, not even displaying the film title until beginning of closing credits– Van Helsing in 2004 – Batman Begins in 2005– High school music – scene AFTER credits– Liar Liar & Cheaper by the Dozen 2- bloopers– The Hangover (intrigued to watch pictures which answer story in film)– Slumdog Millionaire (end credits have dance routine worked in)

Genre

• Different films and genres do these different:– Introducing characters– Establishing setting/story– Graphics/titles (title sequence)– Showing titles only

• DRAMA• THRILLER• HORROR• ACTION• ROMANCE

EVOLUTION (WIK)• Some opening credits are presented over the opening sequences of a film, rather

than in a separate title sequence.

• In some films/TV shows, the title and opening credits may be preceded by a "cold open," or teaser (brief scene), that helps to set the stage for the episode or film

4321 Scream 4

Is a ‘teaser’ as it previews a section later in the filmIt cuts off suddenly to create enigma, in which the film will answer the ultimate question as to why she jumped off bridge

Next slide….

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jLrAbsppcjw&safe=active (scream 4)

No credits!!! But has a good reason….-trilogy (actors/companies and previous films already known-way to sell a film which people see as ‘typical horror/slasher”

Scream 4 opening

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3-typical convention with slight modern twists (facebook/texting)-similar to first opening sequence

-audience sees that part 1 is a like a parody of scream 1 – -however the convention of ‘unpredictable killer’ is then a parody

-they discuss stereotypical conventions of horror films- The chase/kill sequence reinforces conventions but also challenges them!

Opening Sequence Record Sheet

• Make sure you record all the opening sequences you watch over time!

• Write in chart• Eventually you will put on your blog

The opening sequences to watch……• Mothman Prophecies • Girl with Dragon tattoo• Blue Valentine• Lord of War• Ginger Snaps• Falling Down• Texas Chainsaw massacre (new version – youtube)• Mission Impossible• Evil Dead• Gattaca • Donnie Brasco• Alien• Bunny Lake is missing• Napoleon Dynamite• Cabin in the Woods• The last of us• To Kill a Mockingbird

• We’re here to help (title sequence)• Hitchcock = Pyscho (title sequence),

• + LOADS MORE OF YOUR GENRE/SUBGENRE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (should do this independently)

Art of the Title www.artofthetitle.com

This website is fab!

Has loads of great opening sequences and title sequences.

(no animated or title/credit only title sequence analysis!)

If you click on one, you can then scroll down for more info (usually from directors)

Watchthetitles.com

Model: ‘Se7en’ opening sequence

We will look at the….

• PURPOSE• CONVENTIONS (relation to genre)• CAM SAM• MES• EDITING• SOUND• NARRATIVE• NARRATIVE THEORIES

Template to fill in

• Use this to take notes as you watch a clip

Task

• To complete a group analysis on 1 opening sequence

• BUT you must individually keep researching opening sequences– Write down on the record chart to keep track of all the

ones you watch– Then put them on your blog:

• hyper link of address (from youtube/artofthetitle)• screen grabs• bullet points about how they are effective)

Task (Assignment 9)

• These are the instructions!

Groups

Groups Film to analyse(From art of the title)

1 U TURN

2 RED LIGHTS

3 DAWN OF THE DEAD

Model ‘Seven’

• Let’s do one together• Get your opening sequence template• Will watch 4 times so take as many notes as

possible

• http://www.artofthetitle.com/title/se7en/

Assignment 9: Opening Sequence Analysis

Name 1Name 2Name 3

Group names & responsibilitiesName 1 Name 2 Name 3 Name 4

‘Seven’Film Details

Genre Psychological Crime Thriller

Year 1995

Director David Fincher

Main Actors Brad PittMorgan FreemanGwenyth PaltrowKevin Spacey

Film: Se7enGenre: Psychological Crime Thriller

Template Notes

Purpose (Genre)

Thriller Crime Psychological

Purpose (Opening Sequence)

• The purpose of this opening sequence is….

1.2.3.4.

ConventionsGeneral conventions of genre Conventions in Seven

(RE-INFORCE or CHALLENGE)Similar Films

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

Camera ShotsCLOSE UPS EXTREME CLOSE UPS PURPOSE

-no mid shots or long shots -to create enigma and mystery of objects, settings and characters

• Explanation 1• Explanation 2• Explanation 3

See parts of a book but in reverse for mystery

Understand a book or journal is involved – but shot is not overhead so audience can’t see content

Can see pages of the book, not detail of writing but can see the writer is very obsessive

Camera Angles

Camera Movement

Mise-en-scene: Setting

Mise-en-scene: Lighting

Mise-en-scene: CharacterTerm Screen grab and AnnotationRepresentation

Body Language

Costume

Props

EDITING

• Diegesis• Continuity Editing• Pace• Time• Cutting• Transitions• Special Effects

SOUND• Sound scape• Diegetic• Non-diegetic• Synchronous• Ambient• Sound effects/foley• Score music• Dialogue• Volume control• Voiceover• Mode of address/direct• Sound perspective

NARRATIVESTRUCTURE TYPE ENIGMA

NARRATIVE THEORYTodorov

• Is it equilibrium, disequilibrium or new equilibrium in the opening sequence? Why?

• If you don’t know, why do you think this is?

NARRATIVE THEORYPropp

• If not applicable, WHY?

• Any similarities to character types?

NARRATIVE THEORYBarthes

Enigma Codes Action Codes Semantic Codes

Symbolic Codes

Cultural Codes

NARRATIVE THEORYCameron

Anachronic Forking Path Split Screen Episodic