Opening Title sequences

Opening Title sequences

The opening sequence is very important, it is the first thing the viewer sees meaning that it need to be interesting and also needs to draw them in. Despite being only two or three minuets long, this often contains a lot of information. e.g. this will inform the viewer of the location, genre and this also establishes the scene.

This is important as if the audience don't like the opening sequence, they may not watch the rest of the film, this also is important as this sets the tone for the rest of the movie, if it doesn't succeed in setting a good tone, the whole movie may suffer as a result.

 

_________________________________________________

 

This can be made effective despite not being very long...

 

_________________________________________________



The opening sequence of  Razorback...

 

This film has a very effective opening sequence.
The establishing shot has a shot of some helicopter blades spinning, this is ironic due to the name of the film 'Razorback', this is an enigma code that something may be about to happen.
We then see the production company on the screen, 'wonder classics presents', this informs the viewer of the production company, this may be a selling point in which the viewers interest is taken depending on the company.



At the end of the action we get to know the name of the film 'Razorback', this then informs the viewer of the name of the film as well as telling the reader that the action has finished.

This opening sequence is an effective horror opening sequence because it uses the 5 elements...

Mise en scene - Throughout this sequence, a lot of it has a red glow, this connotes danger meaning it may work as an enigma code to suggest that something is going to happen. There is a kangaroo hopping away from the house, this could be to represent the man as the kangaroo is not accomplice by a child, the kangaroo looks back at the house. this similar movements to what the man makes later in the sequence. The man is holding a gun, this could be an enigma code that something bad is going to happen. This since is made worse after a long shot reveals how insulated the house is, as a result this tells the audience that if anything is going to happen, they are unlikely to get help.
There is also a sand storm which could suggest that a storm is coming. this puts the audience on edge even more as they at this point will be fairly sure that something is going to happen.
We then meet a small child who is cuddling a toy rabbit, this shows innocents in the child, the rabbit may represent him as he is small and hopeless and can't fight for himself, where as the kangaroo is real meaning that it can fight for itself unlike the toy rabbit. When the action happens, the house is on fire, this shown danger and heat, showing that the decisions that they make in the 'heat of the moment', could be consequential in the rest of the film.

Camera - This opening sequence has a lot of unconventional shots. This their for makes the film unique, this could act as a selling point in the film. however despite this, there are also a few conventional shots used. for example, an extreme long shot is used to show the sun descending down, this could show a loss of hope, this shot also highlights how isolated they are as you can see nothing but the windmill (where they are), and sand. A tracking show is used to follow the man into the house, however this never gets any closer, this could suggest that somebody is watching and is ready to lunch their attack. There are a lot of long shots to emphasise to the viewer that they are isolated and 'alone'. In the house their are a lot of medium shots used to show what the characters are doing, this is also close enough for you to see the emotion on their face allowing the viewer to gain sympathy for the characters, there are also the used of close up at significant moments to allow the audience to she the shock/fear on the characters face, this then makes the mood worse when something happens to them.

Editing - The modernity of editing used in this sequence are strait cuts, this keeps the audience engaged as it is the fastest transition available to cut the scene to the next. this also takes the audience away from the action for a short while to give details of the production company, etc. therefor this cut is effective as it quick and doesn't distract the audience from the story when this information is given. When the title comes onto the screen, it fades to black around meaning the scene is still happening behind, this allows the reader to know the title of the film without letting them forget the mood of the scene, if the mood is lost, this may effect how the audience feel about what happens in the next meaning that the viewers may watch this differently than intended.

Sound - At the beginning of the scene there is an helicopter blade sound, this is fast paced and gives the impression of rain, this could there for suggest that h fast and intense storm is coming. There is also the sound of wind, this sounds like it isn't reflecting of any objects there for suggesting that they are lonely and isolated. In the house there is no storm sounds, however there is a quiet but high pitched sound that could show that a storm is on its way, as a contrast to outside as the storm is already there. The child in the scene is crying showing the innocence of the child, this build sympathy for the character, this sound could also suggest that the child knows that something isn't right, this could there for be an enigma code to show that something is going to happen. The gun loading sound shows that the character is ready to fight, this therefor help to confirm suspicions that something is going to happen. The screaming of the character helps the audience to know that the character is in distress, there is also a clutter of different pitched of music that doesn't blend well at this time, this informs the audience that what they have just seen is a chaotic and distressing scene.