Doing these timelines of the openings Halloween and Catch Me If You Can have helped me a lot for when I come to make my film opening. Doing a timeline of a film opening is going to help me understand how detailed an opening needs to be, it is also going to help me realise how titles are sequenced and set out. I used to think that there was no particular order or method to title in a film opening, but through doing this task I have realised that they all come up for a certain amount of time and in a certin order, now I know this I can apply it when making my film opening.
The genre of the opening of this film is very unclear as the only way you can get an indication of it is from the music, however the music is still very vague, the overall genre of the film could possibly be a drama or a thriller.
Editing
The editing in this film is very basic, there are so special effects and fade to blacks and fast cuts are used to create an atmosphere in the piece, the editing when the two female characters meet outside suggest heated conversation or an argument, helping to back up the idea that the film may be a drama or a thriller. There is also a wipe from the title to the next scene, which shows a movement of time and scene.
Sound
At the beginning of the clip there is little speech, however there is music played over the top, this music creates an atmosphere of tension and fear, also helping back up the idea that the film is a drama or thriller.
Camera
The camera angles used are mainly long or mid shots, there is a slight close up of a female character on the floor, however the camera angles in this film are very basic.
Mise-en-Scene
The mise-en-scene in the clip is very minimal, near the end of the clip when the male and female character are in the office, they are dressed in very formal clothing, this suggests that something bad has happened and that they are there because of a very serious reason.
Titles
The titles in this film are very basic, in terms of font, it is very basic and doesn’t really fit in with the idea of a film being a drama or a thriller, also the fact the titles cut away to a black screen every time they come up makes the clip overall very disjointed.
Characters
There is one main character that is a young female, how we understand from the clip, accidentally kills someone, then there is the other young female, who is killed, then we have the young male who seems to be a police man or an investigator, there is also a third young female who brings the male some documents.
Positives
A positive point about this student film is that it uses the non-diegetic music which is played over the top to create a very good atmosphere and also puts emphasis on the genre of the opening. Another positive point is that the editing used during that argument scene is very effective as it helps the audience understand what’s going on and put empathises on the situation.
Negatives
One of the main negative points I have found in this film is that everything is very basic, the editing, sound, mise and camera angles are all very basic and don't really do much in terms of skill and to put empathises on the genre of the film, the group could've challenged themselves by using more complex editing, sound, mise and camera angles to make the film look better and also help the audience understand the genre of the piece better.
Student Film 2
Genre
The genre of the opening of this film is very clear as you can tell from almost the begining that the genre is a horror or a thriller, as there is very tense music and there is a knife covered in blood near the begining .
Editing
The editing in this film is done very well, there are very fast cuts, also there is a reverse backwards which helps the viewer understand how the events in the begining happened. The titles are also done very cleaverly as the names of the people in the title spell out the production company.
Sound
At the begining of the clip there is little speech, however there is music played over the top, this music creates an atmosphere of tension and fear, also helping back up the idea that the film is a drama or thriller.
Camera
The camera angles used are very varied, there is a mixture of long, mid and close ups, this helps the audience see the scene from man perpectives and also helps them see details like the blood on the knife or the leaking tap.
Mise-en-Scene
The mise-en-scene in the clip is very minimal, there a knife and sink covered in blood this helps the audience understand what is going on in the clip and that the genre of the clip is a horror or a thriller.
Titles
The titles in this film are very well done, they use pieces of paper with the title and production company written on them, instead of going for the standard titles you'd edit over, this means the titles are intergrated and fit in with the genre of the film.
Characters
There is one main character who is a young female, how we understand from the clip, is murdered, there is also a mother, who we never see or here but is on the other end of the phone, and there is also the man standing outside, who we conclude from the clip is the murder.
Positives
The main positive of this film is that the editing, camera angles and sound used are very skilled and help make the film look very professional and of a good quality, I think the editing is the most positive part of the whole film as it really puts empathises on the horror genre and also makes the film look very professional
Negative
I think a big down side to this film is that there is minimal Mise-en-Scene, this makes it look basic in places, a good use of Mise-en-Scene could've made the film look a lot better and also would help with the genre and making the genre more obvious and dramatic.
Student Film 3
Genre
From almost the very beginning of
this film you can tell quite clearly that the genre of this film is an action
film, the first give away is the setting and the music, you can clearly tell
from the establishing shot of the building that it is somewhere an action film
would be set, also the tense music helps to set the scene and helps the
audience understand that the film is an action. Editing
The editing of this film is very professional;
the student has used very good editing software which means that the film has a
very professional, skilled outcome. The quality of the film is very good and
also the continuity of the piece is very good, the shots run smoothly into each
other and appropriate transitions are used where it is necessary. Sound
The piece of music used in the film
is also very professional; it fits well with the genre and overall feel so the
piece and really helps set the tone of the opening, as well as the whole film,
while also showing that audience from the start what the genre of the film is
going to be. Camera
A very good quality camera was used
to film this piece which helps give it a professional look, also the angles and
the shots used are very good and suit the genre and overall feel of the film.
An equal amount of close, long and mid shots is used which means that you get
to see the film from many different perspectives and also adds variety, keeping
the viewer interested. Mise-en-Scene
The mise-en-scene of the piece is
also very important, the actors in the piece are all dressed in the appropriate
costume to suit the age and role of their character, they also have many props
which add to the feel and genre of the film, such as a bomb and a gun, the
lighting in the piece is very bright in places but also very dark, but the
lighting follows the mood of the piece. Titles
The titles in this piece look very
professional, the titles are motion tracked which mean they follow a certain
part of what is in the frame, such as an item, wall or person, meaning they
look very edgy, and like something you would see in mainstream film. Also the
font used for the titles suits the genre well. Characters
The characters in this film are a
young boy who seems to be on a high speed, chase through a car park from two
adult males. Positives
There are many positive points to
this film, Overall I think the film performs exceptional well in every one of
the above categories and has come out of production with a very well edited,
professional finish. I think the most positive part of the whole film opening
is the title though, as they look extremely professional and suit the genre. Negative
Personally I think the only negative
point to this film is that at points towards the end some of the titles are
harder to read than others, and also the film is slightly too long.
The opening of the film Psycho shows typical title features of a film in the genre of horror. It is a very basic, however very dramatic opening title sequence with dramatic music which adds to the overall feel of the sequece. The titles used are white on a black and green background which means they contrast a lot and also stand out a great deal. Also when the name of the film appears the titles come jagged which draws the attention of the viewer.
From Russia With Love (1963)
In the film opening for From Russia With Love the titles and the clips in the title sequence give away some of the themes which will be seen in the film, also due to the fact the titles arent fully revealed at first, they only glimpse at the name of the film and the actors, suggests that this will happen in the plot of the film, it creates a sense of mystery. Also the titles are in bright colours such as red and yellow on a background of a womans body which is very dark, this helps the titles stand out as they contrast well.
-lake -not much given away in terms of setting in opening scene.
Sound
-upbeat -lyrics start as title of film is shown -creates a sense of fear
Titles
-integrated at parts -all one font -contrasting colour to the black in clip
Analysis
At the beginning of the clip you already begin to see the genre of the opening and of the film, you can see that due to the darkness of the clip and the music used that the genre is somewhere along the lines of a horror, thriller or an action film. The narrative of the opening clip and whole of film is very vague a the opening clip is very repetitive and doesn't really show much in terms of setting and character. The only characters that are shown in the film are various men and women covered in a tar like substance, however nothing about main characters is given away. The atmosphere of the opening clip is very tense, scary and holds a lot of anticipation, this is mainly due to the music. The themes of the of the film aren't given away much either however the opening gives away potential themes of drowning, fear and even death. The setting isn't given away at all except for the fact it may be set in a lake or in water. The sound is very fast pace and fearful, it creates a lot of tension and also when the title of the film appears the lyrics of the song begin, this draws the audiences attention to the title. The titles of the film are only slightly integrated when the title appears, accept for that the credits and cast are simply overlaid.
At the beginning of the trailer you can see due to the pace and music used in the clip that the genre is either action, thriller or drama. You can also see that narrative is to do with a chase or a get away as the cartoons in the clip feature two main characters who are following each other, on a high speed chase throughout. You discover from the beginning of the film some information about the characters that are going to feature, you find out that two of the main characters are males, as they both have titles near the beginning, also the cartoons feature various different women, however men are made out to be more dominant in this clip. The music used in the clip creates and air of mystery and tension throughout, setting the mood for the film, it also adds anticipation. You know a few seconds in the main themes and settings of the opening, the two cartoon men are featured in an airport, which suggests themes of travel, they are also features in a hotel resort which has connotations of romance, they are also featured in a car chase in New York, this connotes crime. The music plays a big part in this clip as it sets the mood for the whole of the film and helps put empathise on everything else features, the music is very tense but surprisingly upbeat and happy considering the themes of the film. The titles in the film are integrated with the clip meaning parts of the clip link into the title, for example when the male cartoon gets out of the swimming pool, the ladder is part of someones name.
My Best Friends Wedding
Genre
-comedy
-romantic
-romcom
Narrative
-obsessive
-irony (caught her own bouquet)
-love
Character
-bride
-groom
-bridesmaid
-family
Atmosphere
-happy
-cheesy
-joyful
Themes
-wedding
-love
-happy ending
-ring, veil, dress
Setting
-wedding
-studio (for dancing and singing section)
Sound
-catchy song
-old fashioned
-retro
-wishing & hoping, links in with theme
Titles
-worked around the girls
-calligraphy (hand written like wedding invite)
-not integrated
Analysis
at the beginning of the clip you can already see that the genre of the film is going to be along the lines of a comedy and a romantic film, this is due to the very dramatic acting and the fact there is a bride in the clip. The narrative is also very clear, you can see one of the main one is love as one of the women in the clip is in a wedding dress and also there are bridesmaids surrounding her, also another narrative throughout the film may be irony, as the bride catches her own bouquet. You can clearly see the character that are going to feature are a bride, which obviously means there will be a groom, and there are also bridesmaids, this all suggests there will be family as well as they are normally present at a wedding. The atmosphere is very happy, cheesy and joyful, this is down to the very catchy upbeat song which is being sung and also the theme. The themes and setting of the clip are very clear, they are dressed for a wedding so there is obviously going to be a wedding setting which normally involves a church and reception, there are things like rings and veils which back this up, Also they are in a studio. The sound in the clip is a key part as it is what the clip is centred around, it is very catch and upbeat which sets the mood of the film, it links with the theme of a wedding as well as the lyrics are 'wishing and hoping', this suggest she wants the best in her marriage. The titles are completely un-entergrated from the clip, they are in a yellow colour which helps them stand out against the background of the clip, however they are very basic and discreet, they are mainly central and the font used is similar to handwriting, something which you would find on a wedding invite.
Lord Of War
Genre
-action
-thriller
Narrative
-war
-political
-violence
Character
-workers
-soldiers
-natives
-tribe
Atmosphere
-surprisingly upbeat
-slightly ironic considering someone gets shot in the head
Themes
-follows someone lives
-pain
-death
-inhuman
-doom
Setting
-factory
-abroad
-ship
-jungle
Sound
-happy music
-about war
-country theme
-upbeat
Titles
-not integrated
-structured font
-centre of screen
Analysis
At the beginning of the clip you don't really get much information in terms of the genre, the film begins in a factory however when the setting begins to change and you see that you are following a bullet, you can begin to see that the genre may be along the lines of an action or a thriller. Through out the clip you learn that one of the main narratives of the film is going to be war as the clip follows a bullet and ends up in about two different war zones. Also due to the fact you see a lot of soldiers and fighting, another narrative is something to do with politics, and obviously due to the gun shot near the end, violence. The main character in the film isn't given away in the opening scene, however you do see various different workers, soldiers, natives and a tribe, this tells the viewer that there are possibly going to be a lot of people in this film. The atmosphere of the film, considering the themes and genre, is surprisingly upbeat, this is mainly down to the music used, it is also a very ironic atmosphere, because it is seen to be happy and upbeat, even though they are in a war zone and someone gets shot. The themes of the opening clip are very clear, the fact that the opening scene follows the life of a bullet, could suggest that the whole of the film follows someones life. Other themes shown in the clip are themes of death, pain, and doom, this is due to the fact they are in a war zone. There are many settings in the clip including a factory, harbour, ship and jungle, this suggests that the whole film will have many settings. The music used is actually about war, so this backs up the fact one of the themes of the clip is war, it is also very upbeat and slightly country themed, this helps set the mood for the rest of the film. The titles in the film are not integrated and are very basic, however it is a very structured font, normally centred in the middle of the screen.
Panic Room
Genre
-action
-thriller
Narrative
-not much is given away
Character
- a woman is the only character featured in the clip
Atmosphere
-tense
-eerie
-sinister
-fast pace
Themes
-mystery
-crime
-everyday lives of people
Setting
-new York city
-inner city
Sound
-mystery
-changed when the main title appears
Titles
-titles run with and alongside the city scape
-metal
-metallic balloons in the city
Analysis
Due to the fact that all you really see in the opening scene is the titles and the city it is set in it is hard to draw from the clip what genre the whole film might be, however the eerie and tense music used helps the audience find that the film is an action and a thriller. The narrative of the film isn't given away at all, which adds to the air of mystery and suspense. The only person featured in the clip is a woman right at the end, this suggests that a woman may be the or one of the many characters. The whole atmosphere of the clip is very tense, eerie and sinister, this is mainly due to the music. The themes of the clip are hard to draw but due to the fact it is in a city, it may have something to do with peoples everyday lives, it also may have something to do with crime and mystery, because of the music that is used. The only real clue you get given in terms of setting is the fact it is set in New York. The sound used plays a very big part in the clip and setting the mood of the film, it is a very eerie and tense piece of music meaning that the rest of the film is probably going to be as well, also the music changes and become even more mysterious when the title of the film comes up, meaning that the words 'panic' and 'room' obviously play a big part in the plot of the film. The titles of the film are actually made from helium balloons, the titles run along side the city scape and are completely integrated.
There are many factors in a film trailer which helps you tell it apart from a film opening. One of the main factor is the way a trailer tells you some brief information about the plot and story line without giving away the key elements of the film, doing this makes the viewer excited and makes them want to go and see it. Another factor is part of the editing, alot of fade to blacks are used in a trailer, this shows how the film and the clips are switching to and from scenes, also giving you a brief overview of the plot and storyline. Another big factor is the fact a trailer is normally in montage form, meaning it switched from scene to scene using small clips and sections of the film, this also helps give the audience some clues about the plot and storyline. Normally in a trailer the title of the film and the name of the featured actors are near the end, this means that the audience will watch the whole of the trailer so they can see the title and actors. Also the trailer will normaly feature a tagline, this gives the audience something to remember for when they go to see the film. The logo of the institituon that is making the film is always at the start of a trailer, this is to show the audience who is making the film, this may help the audience relate to other films that that company has made that they may have enjoyed. All of these factor come together and are used overall to grab the audiences attention and make them want to see the film.
FOREST GUMP TRAILER
The trailer for Forest Gump is a perfect example of a film trailer, it gives the viewer a brief overview of the characters and the main story line of the film, it also uses come fade to blacks, it is also in a montage form, flipping to and from differen scenes and time periods. It has the institutions logo at the begining and it gives information about the main actores in the film, and the trailer ends by telling the audience the name of the film.
Opening
In a film opening, unlike in a trailer, it is used to set the scene and give the audience information about the intitutions that are involved and also the cast and crew. The film title normally features a few minutes in and the main cast and crews names are listed out on the screen. The opening of a film normally gives away a lot about the setting of the movie and the main characters and plot, however some films have very vague and basic openings to help create a sense of mystery and tension, however most openings are just scene setting the titles and casts names going over the top. Normally the pattern and style of editing is echoed in the rest of the film, so the trailer gives you some hints to what the rest of the film may look like. Sometimes the opening of a film may be a flashback or scene in the past, this may be done to help the viewer have a better understanding of what is going to happen in the rest of the film. The opening of a film is used to set up for the rest of the film, preparing the viewer for watching the rest, and not giving them a brief overview of the whole film like a trailer.
FOREST GUMP OPENING
The opening of the film Forest Gump is a good example of an opening because it sets the scene of the film and introduces you to the main character of the film. It also uses titles to tell the audience who made the film, whose in it and the name of it. It has the logo of the institution at the beginning of the clip and the titles and cast names are not intergrated with the scene making it a very simple opening scene.
