Opening Sequences

What a film opening should consist of

When watching a film opening it should consist of varies elements.

An opening sequence should give the audience a little insight of what the film is actually going to be about and what genre it is. It should also consist of credits to tell us who is going to be staring in the film, only the most famous actors and actresses will get recognition in the first opening credits as they will play your protagonist in the film - the least famous people staring in films will be in the closing sequence.

The opening should tell you what the name of the film is. The name of the film is a key part as if it didn't tell you you wouldn't know what you're watching. The film title is going to play a significant part of the film as is should give you a bit of an idea of the film. For example: The film 'The house of the left' is about who which is all on its own which sits on the left hand side of the street, if you read into the name it can find of tell us that this film is going to be a mystery or horror film as it is in an isolated area.

Analysis of film openings

Genre: Horror

It follows

The film I reviewed was called "It follows" which approaches the opening scene with a slow build where is depicts a a lost woman  -who has been framed for the male gaze - looking in despair, lost and tired which is shown in a desolate street where not many people are to be seen.

Sound:

Immediately, we here diagetic sound of wind and birds tweeting giving a juxtaposition to the genre and what is going to happen later on. Sirens are ringing in the background which build the tension and the chaos which is going to happen. Dogs barking in the background giving realism to the opening as it shows a very normal suburban area. Waves crashing against the shore is heard when she sits at the beach crying to herself.

Non-diagetic sound comes in where build up music is used to show the realization and panic of the woman who we first meet in the opening scene.  Tension music if used and is quiet at first acting as just a build up. A hitting sound is added to the non-diagetic sound when she runs out of the house this conveys her panic and how she is just wanting to get away from this 'unknown' follower. A Thudding noise is played which firsts stays at a constants speed but soon speeds up.

Dialog: Dialog is used the first time when someone from her house asks her what she's doing, once again adding to the realism and making us wonder what she is running from as she seems to be the only one who can see the unknown thing which is following her.

Mise-en-scene:

Lighting - A dull natural lighting is established in our first shot giving us clues to the atmosphere and how the plot is going to carry on throughout the film. The next part cuts to her in the car where is it night, this adds to the unknown aspect as night suggests mystery.
The character first presented to us as very vulnerable as she is seen in promiscuous clothing and seen running away from this unknown 'monster'.

Positioning:

A woman is standing in the middle of the road looking down with a panic stricken look presented on her face, as soon as she is in the street we see a very quiet road in a large surrounding which is then contrasting her size to the open street showing she is small compared to her surroundings. From this we can infer that what she is running from is much greater than her as established by the setting.

Editing:

Tracking shots are used through out the whole first half of the opening as it is following a woman running in the suburban streets. Panning is used from the car to her sitting on the beach as it depicts her sitting in a ball crying. A medium shot is used it shows us her crying more close up - this is the first time in the sequences we can fully see her face.

Genre:

Immediately we are introduced to the horror/thriller genre as depicted when we see as vulnerable woman running away from an unknown source that we do not discover in the opening sequence.

Location, Era and Mood:

The opening scene is set in an outdoor location where we are first cast in a suburban street which depicts a distressed woman, the next scene shows us a beach where it is completely silent, this is set in present day as we can infer from costumes and location. The mood given in the opening scene is a very isolated and makes us feel weary of whats going on.

Genre: 

Psycho (1960)

Sound:

The non-diagetic music used is classical 60's music as is it set in that era showing us that it is not modern day but when this film was released (In 1960) it would have modern day and represented that time period well. The music used is very dramatic in the beginning then becomes quite low key  but then starts to build once again into a mysterious setting for us as we don't know what is going to happen next soon to fade out.

Mise-en-scene:

Immediately we are introduced to the setting which depicts and the city Phoenix in the 60's with the busy streets with cars and the tall buildings, then zooming in on one apartment window which we can infer is going to be where our protagonist lives.

Genre:

The genre of this film is thriller but at the beginning has a juxtaposition of a rom-com as is has 'sweet' classical music used to present our setting.

Mood:

The mood given is a very mysterious edgy vibe as we know the film to be a thriller but is coming off as a normal film showing an everyday situation and location of a busy city in America.