Assignment 9 opening sequence analysis
- 1. Film Opening Sequences L/O: -to know what an opening sequence is -be able to use key terms to analyze an opening sequence
- 2. Key Terms • Opening sequence • Title sequence • Teaser • Billing – top billing • Titles/Credits • Film title • Film credit • Opening credits • End credits
- 3. Film opening sequence • What is it? • What are their purposes? • What are some of your favourites? Why?
- 4. Key Terms DEFINITIONS Film Film Billing Opening Title Opening Closing Title Credit Sequence Sequence Credits Credits (Top & Last) (Cold- open/Teaser) Title of film Name and/or The process The opening of a film The opening credits of The credits and the The credits role of person of placing a film in which the beginning of the film and the end worked on film titles and title and credits are of the film credits in a More modern films that separate from the film film set a scene in the itself opening which creates enigma (like a trailer) is called cold open or Ex James Bond teaser. Example = 4-3-2- 1 opening Top = most important Last = least important http://www.youtube.com/watch ?v=4uaYiWu7uZs&safe=active
- 5. 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)
- 6. 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
- 7. 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 film Next slide…. It cuts off suddenly to create enigma, in which the film will answer the ultimate question as to why she jumped off bridge http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jLrAbsppc jw&safe=active 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”
- 8. Scream 4 opening Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 -typical convention with slight modern -audience sees that part 1 is a like a -they discuss stereotypical conventions of twists (facebook/texting) parody of scream 1 – horror films -similar to first opening sequence -however the convention of ‘unpredictable - The chase/kill sequence reinforces killer’ is then a parody conventions but also challenges them!
- 9. 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
- 10. You will analyse an Opening Sequence • PURPOSE • CONVENTIONS (relation to genre) • CAM SAM • MES • EDITING • SOUND • NARRATIVE • NARRATIVE THEORIES
- 11. Template to fill in • Use this to take notes as you watch a clip
- 12. 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)
- 13. Opening Sequence
- 14. 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)
- 15. Task (Assignment 9) • These are the instructions!
- 16. Groups Groups Names Film to analyse (From art of the title) U turn 1 Chelsea Monae Laura Red lights 2 Abigail Russ Nicole gattaca 3 Rosie Marisha Helen Cabin in the woods 4 Jodie Amy Maria Dawn of the dead 5 Jhane Ingrid Fatou To kill a mockingbird 6 Michaela Rianne Pam
- 17. 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/
- 18. Assignment 9: Opening Sequence Analysis Name 1 Name 2 Name 3
- 19. Group names & responsibilities Task 1 Task 2 Task 3 Name 1 Purpose/Conventions MES Narrative theory: ___________________ Name 2 CAM SAM Sound Narrative theory: ___________________ Name 3 Editing Narrative Narrative theory: ___________________
- 20. ‘Seven’ Film Details Genre Psychological Crime Thriller Year 1995 Director David Fincher Main Actors Brad Pitt Morgan Freeman Gwenyth Paltrow Kevin Spacey
- 21. Film: Se7en Genre: Psychological Crime Thriller
- 22. Template Notes
- 23. Purpose (Genre) Thriller Crime Psychological
- 24. Purpose (Opening Sequence) • The purpose of this opening sequence is…. 1. 2. 3. 4.
- 25. Conventions General conventions of genre Conventions in Seven Similar Films (RE-INFORCE or CHALLENGE) 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.
- 26. Camera Shots CLOSE UPS EXTREME CLOSE UPS PURPOSE -no mid shots or long shots -to create enigma and mystery of objects, settings and characters 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 • Explanation 1 • Explanation 2 • Explanation 3 Can see pages of the book, not detail of writing but can see the writer is very obsessive
- 27. Camera Angles
- 28. Camera Movement
- 30. Mise-en-scene: Character Term Screen grab and Annotation Representation Body Language Costume Props
- 31. EDITING • Diegesis • Continuity Editing • Pace • Time • Cutting • Transitions • Transitions • Special Effects
- 32. SOUND • Sound scape • Diegetic • Non-diegetic • Synchronous • Ambient • Sound effects/foley • Score music • Dialogue • Volume control • Voiceover • Mode of address/direct • Sound perspective
- 33. NARRATIVE
- 34. NARRATIVE THEORY Todorov
- 35. NARRATIVE THEORY Barthes
- 36. NARRATIVE THEORY Propp
- 37. NARRATIVE THEORY Cameron