research into opening title sequence: western genre

Once upon the time in the west 

The scene stats with shot of him preparing his horse there is diegetic sound of crickets and the wind blowing something in the wind that is squeaking. There are then clips of each cowboy on the ranch not only introducing characters but also helping to establish location. We can tell by the costume and location that this is a western movie. The shot duration on each cowboy is very long and the camera stays very still and close up to them allowing the audience to focus on the characters everything seems very still and calm. In the distance you can hear a train coming closer and closer. You then see a close up of one of them loading a gun and by using a shot reverse shot from the gun to his face and then to the train it gives the audience hints one what might happen. Eye contact between the cowboy's express confusion between them and then when the door opens one of the men jump to their gun suggesting that he is afraid of what might happen building suspense for the audience. The sound of the man's harmonica on the other side of the train alerts the 3 men to turn back around. A close up on the man playing the harmonica shoes the sustained eye contact between him and the other men. The dialogue between the men starts of as innocent jokes however the one man on his own is being rather serious and a close up on his face show us this. Then a wide shot is used to show the standoff between the men. Fast duration shots used in the silence before the man pull out his gun and shots all 3 men down the shot shots used to pick up the pase and show action which contrast the start. From this we have established who the main character also there maybe something about the person who was hiding behind privet stay outdoor by the use of weapons, we can tell that there could be more violence and conflict involved.


We can easily tell this is a western by their costumes for example their hats the colour pallet of what they are waring, also their guns. The location also shows us that this is a western as it's in the desert and from how isolated it is, and western films can often include violence which also link it to a western.


The target audience for this film would incudes a wider audience due to the origin of western films as there are traditionally older and made early in the 20th century this would attract an older audience. They are also properly a more male audience at the emphasis of guns would suggest this.


Long duration shots were used at the start to introduces each character properly allowing the audience to focus on each of them individual also this complements the environment the silence around the farm witch further contrasts the later part of the opening scene where there is violence.


In conclusion I believe this Is a very successful opening scene in it leaves a lot of open questions about what will happen next and why what happened happened. I will keep the audience intrigued.

  

research into opening title sequence: thriller genre

The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo

The scene starts in a courthouse diegetic sound coming from the outside news reporters jumping out and asking lots of questions. Then non diegetic sound of news anchors overplaying each other about what was going on in the courthouse. This overplaying recording is creating stress for the audience trying to work out what is going on. The rain and very dark tones are creating a mean and unhappy atmosphere for the audience. He then enters a coffee shop where the news is still playing in the background suggesting that whatever has happened is following him were ever, he goes building up anger inside of him the news then cuts to a man on the screen criticising him he then going and buys cigarettes reflecting his stress. The sound of sirens carries on the dark and stressed tone. He then enters another building where he is faced with everyone staring at him unable to get away from whatever he is trying to constantly avoid it like eyes are constantly on him.


A little later in the opening scene we see two men sitting on down at a big table separated from everyone else suggesting that they have importance and some level of a higher status. A shot revers shot from the outside to the inside revelling the girl that the men are talking about there is a big contrast between the formality of their setting and convocation and her stereotypically she looks rebellious and troublesome. Close ups of her features allowing us to create an image of what she might be like it like the producer want use to create this negative denotation around her. The tracking shots revel that in the background people are looking and staring as she walks through the office. The diegetic dialogue between the two men gives the audience an understanding of what their personality's may be like the guy on the left maybe not very understanding and follows the stereotypes as they guy on the right maybe from past experiences is trying to tell him otherwise. there is non- diegetic sound when she sits down it sounds like pulsing building tension. Lack of eye contact form the women suggest she may have a lack of respect for the men she doesn't seem like she wants to be there. This also shows that maybe she isn't treated right within their company.


From this I think that this film will include mystery and sabotage the dark tone that was set from the start tells us and the audiences that it is not going to be a happy movie there is a lot of unknown it's unclear what is happening. We can tell that most if not all the main characters have been shown in the opening scene the lead being Daniel Craig and Rooney Mara. We are first introduced to Daniels character who we think the movie will be based around we are also introduced to his love interest we are then introduced to the men sitting at the table and then finally to Rooney's character. Rooney's character is explained as a detective, but I think that she is a key part of the story line and will carry the film with her edge and mystery.


In conclusion I think that this a successful opening scene the dark tone from the begging leaves so much mystery waiting for the rest of the film the female lead also leaves many questions about what is going to happen later in the film. 

 

research into opening title sequence: SCI-FI genre

Interstellar 

The opening screen starts with a handheld camera moving along the bookcase which has a spaceship on, witch cuts to an elder woman sitting she is using diegetic sound dialogue almost with an interview feel talking about an event that seems to have happened a long time ago she is also talking about a person in the past thence implying that they may not be alive anymore. Then leads the viewer into the next shot where the camera is traveling through some fields. The next shot of the scene cuts to the outside of a real-life spaceship linking back to the beginning which within 27 seconds the viewer already knows what the film is going to be based around. Then cuts to the inside of the spaceship where there are short duration clips showing the chaos within the spaceship suggesting something is wrong there is also very loud diegetic sound of the spaceship plus the sound of the men's dialogue shouting. 

 
The camera then cuts to a man in his bed and a convocation with his daughter suggesting it’s a dream. Dark colours suggest a dark mood the daughters say “were you dreaming about the crash which give the audience key information about what happened to the spaceship and that something traumatic must have happened for the man to be having a dark dream about it. Long duration shots on the character contrasts the shot fast moving shot duration of him in the spaceship allowing us to focus on the character and his emotions, the non-diegetic sound goes in parallel with the man's emotions sad, confused, lonely. The women's voice plays over the top of the image of the man looking out onto the field. Then clips of other elder women taking about a dust storm coming in and ruining their crops. It is unclear for the moment how these two story's links however the man looking out onto the same filed than in the beginning indicates they will link in some way.


The target audience is prominently for ages around 16 to 25 a sci-fi thriller attracts this age range the main character is a man and there is also an attractive love interest this could also attract a male audience. In the first scene we can tell that the film will be sci-fi with the fact there is a spaceship included which is linked instantly to sci-fi films. Also, fast-moving short duration shots in the spaceship implies there could be action involved.


In the opening we are introduced to an elder woman at first which at the end of the screen we can see that there are more people for the older generation talking about an event that has taken place in an interview type of setting we are also introduced to the man in the spaceship and what seems to be his daughter having a convocation.


In conclusion I think that this was a successful opening scene it keeps the audience intrigued on what's going to happen later in the film leaves a lot of questions unanswered it keeps the audience wanting more.

research into opening title sequence: horror genre

 Get Out 

The scene starts with a darkened street and a diegetic sound of a man talking down the phone. He is taking about it being creepy and scary and he is alarmed by a dog barking in the distance showing hiss unsteady fear that something may happen. A tracking shot is used to follow him up the path he is walking on this build tension also the lack of soundtrack is also building tension as we can hear his breathing and we can really focus on what the actor is thinking. then we can see a cars head lights in a distance as the car passes the car starts to slow down and turns around the close-up shot is allowing us to still see the man face but also what is behind him building up tension for the audience watching. The man then notices the car pull up next to him. There is also diegetic sound coming from the car it is playing a happy creepy song going agents what happening in the frame. The man carry's on talking to himself acknowledging that something not good is happening. The car slowly crawls alongside him following him the man then turns around and tarts to move faster picking up the pace creating more tension for the audience wating for something to happen. He then crosses the road and then pans around his face revelling to the audience the car door opens of the car and the music coming for the car getting louder as the man turns around and realises the car door is open then we see a masked man come for behind him the music is a lot louder a handheld flow them up only seeing his feet being dragged in the frame and then an establishing shot is used at the end of the scene to show him being put in the car. The music then abruptly stops when the car door closes.


The opening scene suggest that there is something to do with a serial killer that dose similar kills with the car and the song.


This movie is targeting and attracting audiences of ages 16 up and mainly men. This movie forms the start you can tell will be horror from the stillness at the start that something was going to happen. This movie also has a realistic feal that people could relate to the fear of walking alone at night and someone in a car slowing down and being taken away it’s a common fear especially for younger people to that personal attack also expressed the horror feel. The lack of sound track also builds huge suspense for an audience and then the contest to the creepy joyful music that has no place in a street like that and the time of day at night all indicators like this relate to the horror genre.


The long duration shots holding on his face and what was behind him built on the uncertainty as the audience you are always looking for something to pop out and it leaves them on edge waiting for something to happen.


In conclusion I think that this opening screen is very successful it lays out a clear understanding of what the film will intel and you are left wating what he will do next.