Titles in opening sequences Analysis.

Opening sequences of films with Analysis of Titles:

Tiles are used in opening sections of films, to inform the audience the positions of people that worked on a specific film, but also their connection within the film and how they are involved whether they are displayed or not and worked on the whole construction of the film. The titles are used to inform and engage the audience in to the film itself. 

The first example is 'The Notebook'.

1) Ryan Gosling.
2)Rachel McAdams.
3)James Garner.
4)Gena Rowlnads.

Analysis:
These names appear at the beginning of the opening sequence as the film starts to engage the audience who is acting and involved in this film. But by also presenting these names as the first form of text and information, it gives the audience the fact that these four well known Actors and Actresses all have roles in this film, which also makes them recognized and the film itself more successful as this will want the public to watch, and increase the amount of people watching it. 

5)The Notebook.

Analysis: The title of the actual film itself, is presented after the main character Tile, to inform the audience what thew film is called, and what their about to watch. By using this at the beginning of the film, it makes the audience more engaged and already withholds information about what the film might be about, it already establishes the genre and wants the audience to carry on watching. 

6)James Marsden.
7)Kevin Connolly 

8)David Thornton
 Jamie Anne Brown
 Heather Wahoulist 

9) With Sam Shepard

10)and Joan Allen

Analysis: These names appear after the title to engage the audience in to what other Actors are involved, these individuals might be less well known and important in the industry of Film and Drama but these people are still participants of the film and by doing this it also highlights who they are and potentially makes them recognized. 

11) Casting by 
Matthew Barry C.S.A
Nancy Green Keyes C.S.A

Analysis: These names appear after the individuals that are characters within the film, to highlight to the audience the idea that these people are the individuals who selected the correct people to play specific characters to make the film as successful as possible. These names are presented after as a title, because they are less important. 

12)Costume Designer by
Aaron Zigman

Analysis: These names appear as a title after because these are less important, this is because they are not in such a high position that majorly acted as a role within the film. these people are presented on the screen to communicate to the audience the idea and information that this person is the one that selected the garments and clothing for the characters. 

13)Edited by Alan Helm A.C.E

Analysis: This title appears in the opening section to inform the audience on who the editor of the film is and they are displayed to the audience because this was an important role within producing and the making stages of this film to make it finished and completed to a high standard. Yet it becomes presented later on because its not as important as what titles are presented first.

14)Production Designer
Sarah Knowles.

Analysis: The title of production designer appears as a title to inform who this role belonged to and who was in this position. The Production designer consists of many responsibility and is important to be labelled on the opening sequence of this film. 

15) Director of Photography
Robert Fraisse AFC

Analysis: The director of photography is presented as a title on the opening sequence, because this is an important role, and without this the film would not be presented as clearly and successfully constructed as it is when watching this. This section is a title because this role is highly important, and is due to be labelled on the opening section of this film. 

16)Executive Producers
Toby Emmerich
Avram Butch Kaplam

Analysis: These names and the title is presented because these people and the position they are in plays an important role within the film. These are the main people that were combined together to produce the film, alongside the rest of the people that worked together. These people are important, however not as important to be presented on the opening section as first in order, as the main characters/actors are to be displayed first because that is what catches the audience eye. 

17)Produced by 
Mark Johnson
Lynn Harris

Analysis: This title, is displayed near the last of the opening section to inform the audience who produced this film and was in a near-enough of a managerial role. without these people the film would not be produced to its best quality and this is presented to carry on engaging the audience in to watching the film from start to end, but as more scenes appear it links to this, as who produced them to be displayed and performed. 

18)Based on the novel by
Nicholas Sparks

Analysis: This title is appeared as one of the least and last titles on the opening section, this is because it's one of the least important text to appear on the opening section, but also because it summarizes the context of the film in one title. As this whole film relates to the novel of who it was created by and that it is visually displayed through acting instead of text. This also is used because of more scenes that are being displayed and relates to the whole narrative of the film, because of also being conveyed in the previous novel, which was one of the main stimulus for this film. 

19)Screenplay by 
Jeremy Leven
Adaptation by
Jan Sardi 

Analysis: Screenplay titles are last because their least important title wise, but also presented last because it relates to the scenes that are about to be presented to the audience, as it informs them who created it and who was in the position of constructing the screenplay. 

Brief.

Wallander. (Firewall, 7th December 2008, BBC1)

Wallander (Firewall, 7th December 2008, BBC1)

In the opening scene of Wallender, they use numerous techniques in the different aspects of Mise En Scene, Cinema photography, Editing and Sound. Each piece and technique used in this opening scene has a meaning and impact behind it to communicate to the audience, or a reason of why it has been presented and combined in the opening scene. There are several examples that are conveyed below that explains this in to further detail:

One example, of the sound that is used is a score at the beginning of the opening scene, this is used to build and create a tension that is used within the atmosphere and never releases. In the score, the best way to communicate the sound used is to describe it as echo sounds, this communicated the meaning of fear and mystery which constantly grabbed the audience attention and to making them feel engaged. In this moment, there is also an image on the screening of the overlay of the sea, which communicates to the audience the setting of an ocean,  the color is a dark shade of grey which means instead of complete darkness this is used to settle the audience and to inform them in a way that the opening clip and film is about to be displayed on the screen and to concentrate. This part of the opening scene communicates the emotions of darkness, seriousness, disturbance, life potentially fading away which could potentially be symbolized because of the ripples displayed in the texture and surface of the ocean, portrayed on the screening. An image is presented below to convey this moment:

Furthermore, a different camera shot is used when the camera tracks in a forward movement, using an extreme wide shot, a tight frame, and an establishing shot. These are used to communicate to the audience what is in the setting, inside the frame, what the location is and how it links to the climax of the opening scene and what engages the audience to continue watching. Wind sounds, are used to set a creepy like atmosphere and to spook the audience out so that the audience can be involved in the situation almost by not expecting what is about to happen or the sight that their going to see that could be described as frightening. This moment, shows that the location is a remote area and the theme of neglection is conveyed through this moment. As further watching in this specific moment, the audience establish that this is a countryside setting and associate the countryside with the atmosphere being peaceful which contrasts against and towards the upcoming scenes. In this moment, high pitched noises are being edited in to this moment, to creep out the audience and to continue watching to see what this tension is leading up to. The louder noises used and heard, empathizes the idea of tension constantly being felt and created throughout the opening scene. As the camera tracks in, there is a outline of a white colored figure moving towards the right hand side of the screen, this communicated to the audience already the meaning and interpretation of someone potentially trying to escape a situation or move far way of distance away from the car. A dark grey of color is used to communicate the theme of horror and mystery, and that this is a harmful and pessimistic moment used within the opening scene to make the audience feel intrigued. 

Moreover, later on in the opening scene, there is a wisp sound that is heard in the opening scene moment. This communicates the idea of ghostly noises being surrounded within the atmosphere, and this is an uncomfortable moment for the audience to experience. In this moment, the screen displays two individuals walking away from a vehicle  in this moment a mid-shot is used to communicate the back view of the two female individuals. The clothing used, is black and dark colored which holds connotations of danger, depression and negativity. The female to the right hand side, has a messy hair style which communicates that she might not be bothered about having a neat appearance or been out in a location for a long duration of time and been experiencing emotions such as being panicked and worried. This female character is a taller height that the other character, this communicates the idea that she is the character with higher status and more of a dominant character within the relationship of these two characters. The other character is a shorter height, which makes the impression to the audience of her being less important and potentially not wanting to belong in the location and situation that she is currently involved in within this moment. This moment of the opening scene, communicates the idea that these two characters are escaping from something dangerous that might have previously occurred. Therefore this already holds the meaning, that something has happened between the vehicle in a remote area and these two female young aged characters.  This moment makes the audience want to ask questions such as: Who are these girls?, What has happened? Why are they there? and Why were they involved?. 

Also analysisng the mise en scene, there is several techniques and meanings used in the opening scene. For instance, the right hand character has a dark colored hair with pieces of red coloring in her hair which is outlined and portrayed strongly within the screening. This communicates that she might have a rebellious personality, and that she is a dominant, leading and older character within the proxemics and relationship. However, the character on the other side of the screening, has normal thick appearance of a hairstyle, which conveys the meaning that she is a weaker character and potentially more dependent on others. The black costume used empathizes the meaning and idea of danger. How the camera, has used the image of the only back appearance of theme, this hides their facial expressions, emotions and hides their appearance. By doing this, in the opening scene it withholds information which then keeps the audience engaged. It also communicates to the audience that maybe and potentially inside the charters they might actually be innocent behaved characters  and dragged in to a situation they didn't intentionally want to be involved in. 

Later on in the opening scene, we hear a form of hyperbolic sound being heard such as footsteps being heard, this communicates to the audience the idea of someone travelling with fear and the sense of adrenaline of something that has previously happened. This is also combined with the sounds of wind and heavy breathing, this communicates the meaning that the character is terrified about something and feeling the emotion of paranoia and aware that they have done something immoral. As an audience member, in this moment we don't hear any dialogue, from this it communicates the idea that they don't want to speak and feel to vulnerable as a character to communicate with anyone in verbal communication.

Furthermore in this moment, a pull focus is used on the identity card. This communicates that the meaning of this is so that the attention from the audience is immediately focused on what is being presented in the tight frame amongst what else is being displayed. This allows the audience to gain an understanding of someones identity and individuality who has had some form of contact with the vehicle, because of it being positioned in the vehicle. In this screening, there is also a section of the screening of a hand that is positioned on the steering wheel that is used with stillness. This communicates the meaning that there is a character within the opening scene that is dead, and may have lost their life due to a situation that occurred between himself, the female characters and the vehicle. In this screening, there is also a part of the screen that displays a part where their is blood splattered across the front window-screen. This presents the idea to the audience of a violence action that has taken place and maybe the idea of someone suffering before losing their life. This makes the audience ask the rhetorical question of How can the two girls kill a man?. 

Analysis of The Brick, Johnson, 2005, US.

Analysis of 'The Brick'.

Johnson, 2005, US. 

The opening of brick uses numerous camera shots, techniques and different meanings to each scene and moment that is performed. Just by watching the opening, the film already makes the audience want to ask questions. The audience feel continuously intrigued by what is happening and constantly engaged to see what is about to happen next, or the reasons behind why something may have occurred. in the opening scene, different media techniques are used such as mise en scene, editing, sound and cinemaphotography. Furthermore, the opening scene is successful because the camera shots used, are used for certain reasons, and the audience can already gain an understanding and ideas what might happen and develop later on within the film. An example of this is, when the female hand enters the locker and then later on within the film opening, the boys' hand enters the locker. This already informs the audience that the boy and girl that are focused on in the beginning hold a close relationship, and that there is a form of trust that exists because of the girl entering a note in to the boys locker which can count for one of his personal belongings. 

'The brick' use a different range of sound in the opening scene. Sound is used effectively to communicate a meaning to the audience, as well as set an atmosphere. One moment, where sound is used effectively is when it's in the opening scene and the young girls' hand is positioned opened up, and a soundtrack is used. The soundtrack, has a medium pace to it and slow violin-like strings being played. This already communicates to the audience the feeling of death, loss and pain and that there is a peaceful atmosphere. This piece of music that is combined with the current scene that is being displayed has been well constructed. For instance, the slow paced music communicates the idea of a loss of someone, and at this moment there is a young aged girl that is laying across the hard textured pavement as well as her face positioned looking down in to the water. This then informs the audience that she is dead, as well as weak and makes the audience question why she is dead and what happened to her. The music used, has been used for a meaning, this meaning is that they want to communicate that she was a precious friend and relative to someone, and the loss of her has potentially made an impact on to someones life and this is a huge loss of someone special and that is loved and cherished by several people. 

Setting is used effectively within the opening scene  because only a couple of locations are used within the opening scene. As an audience member myself, i receive the idea that these settings have been used for specific and precise meanings. For instance, in the opening scene, the location where there is a shallow river and hard textured pavement is a location that is used often in the opening scene. One meaning could be that, this river is an important place as it is already where the young girl character has lost her life potentially in a terrible and horrendous way. The use of water being in the setting, holds the meaning that the girl is now weak and has lost her life, and also because of the water flowing. This could also symbolize the idea of her life gently and slowly flowing away from her soul. This is effective because the setting has also been used to convey that is separated from the area and what it is surrounding, this could potentially communicate the idea that she might of have not been a well known girl, yet the people she held friendship and relationships with where ones that were cherished and close to her heart. 

The opening scene, wanted to make the audience already want to ask loads of questions. For instance, when the scene is of the girl dead laying and positioned in the river, it makes the audience feel intrigued and wanting to know several questions relating to what they can see. Some of these questions could be the following:

• How did she die?
• Why is she in this location?
• Did she want to die?
• How old is she?
• Who is she?
• What was the meaning behind her death, if there was any intention behind this, what was it?
• Does she have family?
• Why did she die?
• Will someone find her?
• Who was the cause of this death?
• What is going to happen next?
• How does this moment relate to the meaning or moral of the film?

The opening scene itself, is constantly withholding information, the different scenes and aspects used drip-feeds the audience clues but never in a moment fully reveals them to its full meaning or the answer to why?. This is a technique used within the film, which makes the audience intrigued to continue watching, assuming that their questions are going to be answered and so that they can get a developed understanding along the way of watching it. As an audience member myself, watching the scene and moment where the camera conveys to the audience the scene of where the girl is dead, there is different clues drip feeded to us so that we can then discover the meaning behind of this moment. Some of the clues involved are, that the hand is positioned in her personal space but stretched across the surface that she has been placed on. This intrigues the audience, but also has them guessing things like, was she asking for help? was she trying to escape?. 

The Sixth Sense ( Shyamalan, 1999, US)

Media Homework

At the beginning of their sixth sense, there is an opening. Within this opening, it starts off with distribution company names, this informs the audience the different companies that have helped produce the film and there company names ECT. This is placed in the middle of the frame with serif font, which is presented and gives the lettering a posh and elegant appearance. As this is occurring, every few seconds there is a blank screen of darkness displayed, this is used to settle the audience and create a calm atmosphere so the attention is focussed on to what’s being displayed on the screen. The text appears at a medium pace, this is so that the audience don’t lose focus and interested by what appearing on the screen.

A moment of where Mise En scene is used successfully is when the female character has come down to the basement and is selecting a bottle of wine from the wall holding numerous bottles of wine. In this moment, crane shot is used to see what is behind the wine rack and to see the characters movements and gestures that are performed. In this scene you can see the bases of the bottles of wine, which already communicate the atmosphere being dark and surrounded by echoes. In this moment, because of what the colour of darkness, communicates a scary emotion towards the audience. Because the audience associate darkness, with pitch black, night time, not being able to see and potentially being afraid of something they are unable to see. A screen grab is below to present this moment:

The editing in this moment has a crane shot used. This is so that the audience can gain an understanding of whets happening and what is in front of the character. The use of the camera being behind a wall of wines, communicates that the basement she is in is used often as well as the idea of it existing for a long duration of years. As well as a crane shot being used, the camera is also using a close up to communicate her facial expressions to communicate how she’s feeling in this setting as well as selecting the correct bottle of wine for a later event. This camera work and editing used makes the audience ask questions like, why she might be down there. Why is she on her own? Who does the basement belong to? Is she collecting wine for herself or for several people? 

One example of how the camera is used effectively is a close up of a light bulb which is conveyed within the opening sequence. This is mise en scene, as well as camera work that has been used effectively. By having this included in the opening sequence, it constructs the idea of the viewing of the light bulb foreshadowing the idea of something being awake and living, that potentially the audience and viewers might not be aware of. As well as this idea being portrayed, it also communicates the idea of spiritual elements belonging in the room, and because of this it engages the audience, and changes the atmosphere so their experiencing similar emotions and shockness.

Sound:

The sound used in the opening scene when font is appearing for the first couple of minutes, sounds spooky. This is to engage the audience in to what’s happening and communicates the genre of horror/naturalistic acting. This also sets a creepy atmosphere and wants the audience to feel hooked on to the film and question might what happen next. A Sting is used in the opening scene, which reduces the atmosphere and emotions of fear, and makes it in to more of a friendly feeling for the audience to experience whilst watching the opening scene.

Memento (Nolan, 2000, US) Opening sequence Analysis

The meaning is created through different types of media languages. Some of these are the following: Cinemaphotography, Sound, Editing and Mise En Scene.

Cinemaphotography:

One successful moment where an aspect of Cinemaphotography is used is a low angle shot. This is successful because, as an audience member you can see what the characters appearance is and what’s happening to him. Also having a camera view like this as an audience member I can gain a developed understanding of what the facial expression is that the character is communicating to the audience. This communicates the meaning of anxiety, and also a threat to obviously what is happening but as an audience member watching this I gained an understanding that he was about to murder this individual because it was for a reason-this could have been to protect someone or prevent something bad from happening. This makes the audience respond in a way that they feel engaged to what’s happening and question what is going to happen next, and the reason why this character is about to shoot this character and what has lead him to doing this. Using these characters in this scene, makes the audience gain an understanding about the characters and relationship, this is because the audience members can see a full display of who the character is and how they make an impact to the audience throughout the whole performance. Using this shot, also communicates to the audience the authority that this character has and how dominant he is presented compared to other characters that are in this Momento piece of work.

Sound:

Watching the clip of Momento, it made me a feel a range of different emotions before watching the clip. For example, I felt a range of emotions and expectations to what could be happening before actually seeing it. Here are some of the following guesses I made:

·         Anxious

·         Historical

·         Intrigued

·         Memorial

·         Funeral

·         Death

·         Lost

·         Proud

·         Sad

·         Slow sombre

·         Sad

·         Sympathetic

·         Upset

·         Power

·         Slow

·         Lonely

·         Weak

·         Loss of someone special

·         A sad moment

However, when watching this clip I felt engaged to what was happening and a little bit of sympathy to the character that was shooting the character. It communicated the meaning that the character didn’t want to shoot someone, but felt the need to inside that he needed to do this for himself and potentially other people. This makes the audience respond in a way that they feel shocked and intrigued by what was happening, and intrigued because from watching it from the start and hearing the slow sombre sounds, then hearing a loud shot noise it contrasts and engages the audience. This is effective because it never loses tension within the atmosphere and feels like its constantly building up to a climax to keep the attention from the audience hooked on to what’s happening within this moment. Using these different sounds in this clip, makes the audience gain a developed understanding of what is actually happening in this moment and the impact it creates on the audience. Sound throughout the whole performance, is always and continuously at a depressing tone and communicates emotions through each piece that is played throughout the different scenes.

Furthermore another type of sound that was used in the opening sequence within Memento, is incidental music, this type of sound was used in the moment just before the male character gets shot. By using this form of sound it engages the audience in to what is happening as well as creating an understanding for the audience to feel and experience towards what is being displayed. By using incidental music, it is effective because it has the meaning, that the intention within this moment is to foreshadow an upcoming event, that makes an impact on the movie throughout and will later be conveyed within a section in to further detail. By using this, it creates the mood within this moment to change from sadness to secrecy, which then engages the audience to see what happens next. 

Another final example, of a form of sound that is used effectively is a sting, the moment with the male character screams before getting shot. This emopathises the idea of the character feeling pain, as well as being in the atmpsphere of danger and not wanting to experience what is happening. by using a sting as a form of sound, it engages the audience as well as creating the understanding that tension is increasing and the character is going through a horrifying experience. 

Editing:

One successful moment of editing that is used is using the different scenes that have happened previously and putting them in a structure and order that is reversed. The editing here communicates a meaning as well as the purpose of numerous scenes. Because of the editing and the way the structure of the performance has all been reversed, it communicates to the audience what happened step by step and how it lead to the male character being shot in the head. This type of editing engages the audience, so that they can gain a developed understanding in what’s happened and how it lead to the end result of what is shown in the beginning image of the photograph displaying a scene of blood and a man’s head positioned on a cold dim coloured flooring. The use of this editing leaves the audience to ask questions, to why the character was left dead and why he was even shot for in the first place. This is all a part of the performance which engages the audience to what might happen next and to follow on in the story.

Mise En Scene:

There was various successful ways that Mise En Scene was used in this opening clip. For example there were photographs throughout the opening scene which communicated to the audience what was portrayed on them and how this communicated a meaning of how someone’s life got taken by being shot. Furthermore, another example that was used was a male on his knees who had shot a male character within the performance; this communicated his identity and the emotions of feeling weak and emotionally and physically unstable within this moment. His levels used were a key moment that communicated his status within this opening scene and that he is a weak but dominant character within this moment. Another factor of Mise En Scene that was used was low key lighting this communicated tension that was built and the different depressing emotions that were being felt by the male characters.

What is a convention? And how and why are they used to make a successful opening to a film?

Codes and conventions are the recognizable and predictable forms and techniques used by the media industry’s to communicate firm ideas or to show a desired impression. Technical codes consist of camera angles, sound, and lighting. Symbolic codes include the language, dress, and actions of characters.