Opening Sequence Homework

Opening Sequence Homework

The purpose of an opening sequence is to set the tone and mood of the rest of the film. Characters are introduced generally during the title sequence which helps the audience to grasp what their role in the upcoming movie could possibly be. The opening sequence also shows part of the narrative/plot to the watching audience, this helps prepare and ready them for what they are about to watch and a sense of enigma in an opening sequence also helps to prepare the audience for the upcoming trials. It should also set the atmosphere of the room- this is usually done by the music played while the opening sequence plays- for example, a thriller would have eerie and creepy music at the start o set an uncomfortable atmosphere for the audience, whereas, a rom-com would have happy, upbeat music during the opening to get the audience into a good mood. The opening sequences main purpose however is to show the audience what genre of movie they are about to watch.

In a movie, the opening credits are shown at the very beginning and list the most important members of the production. They are usually shown as text superimposed on a blank screen or static pictures, or on top of action that is going on on the screen. A title sequence however, is the method in which a film presents its title, key production and cast members,  or both, and utilizing conceptual vision and sound. It usually follows the opening credits- the main difference is that opening credits are usually just overlaying images, whereas title sequences use visuals and audio to add to it.

Many different techniques can be employed in opening sequences. An example of one would be a discrete opening sequence. This is where there is a seperately edited sequence apart from the film- like a mini film before the actual film, this helps to get the audience ready and prepared for the film, and also sets the mood of the room. It also helps to show some insight into the movie thats about to begin.The next technique is to make a stylised opening sequence. This is where the opening sequence relies heavily on editing and effects to capture the audiences attention. This is a good way to use images to imply what the mood of your movie is going to be like, for example, if words on the screen or the images have sharp edges, the designer is preparing the audience for danger and possibly violence, whereas if the editing was soft, the designer could be showing the audience that the movie is going to be light hearted- like a romance or a comedy. The same goes for colours-  if the colour red and other dark and deep colours are used, it would represent danger and violence. Colours like black, dark blue and purple would imply that during the movie a main plot will probably revolve around a power struggle, and soft colours like yellow or soft pink would show that the movie would be light hearted for example a comedy or a rom-com. Another technique that is used is credits over a blank screen. This would mean that the conveying the mood and genre of the movie to the audience would rely completely on the music choice. If the movie, for example, was a thriller, eerie and creepy music would set the tone. A comedy would have up-beat music- usually a song that is or has been popular among people. A horror may use screechy violin based music to get even creepier than a horror, and a drama may start with drum based dramatic music. Another example is narrative openings. This is when the actor/actresses name appears on the screen at the same time as the character they play on the screen does. Movie designers will generally do this if they have mainly A-List actors in their cast. The audience will see one of the famous actors/ actresses in the cast list and think for example 'surely this is a good movie because Timothee Chalamets in it'- even if its not a very well done production, people are more likely to stay if they recognise the name or face of someone in the film. Some examples of technical elements that could be put into opening sequences could be: 2D or 3D styled graphics, motion capture character animation, freeze framing, having colours or blood leak onto the screen, movie poster styled typography, fast or slow editing, glitchy effects, and live-action close-ups. All of these examples add to a movie opening in the way that they individually add to the imaging and atmosphere of the movie.

The two movies opening sequences I have decided to research are: Alfred Hitchcocks The Birds, and Jonathan Demmes The Silence of the Lambs. 

                                                      

The Birds starts off with the Universal Pictures sign in black and white with blue words on the front. The only noise that can be heard is the sound of screeching birds and no music or anything to soften it, it doesn't sound like too sinister birds, almost just like a few birds on a beach. As the opening sequence continues, however, the noise gets louder and harsher. The noise of the birds contrasts with the more common stereotypical representation of the noise of birds in movies being happy 'singing in the morning' type noises or seagulls at the beach noises, whereas these birds have a creepy, uncomfortable screech that puts the person watching the film on edge, and waiting to se what other sinister noises might overtake what they are hearing. The Universal sign slowly disappears, and a low angle shot shows large black birds flapping around almost like they're circling around prey of somesort. The low angle shot looking up also suggests that these birds have power The sound of the birds doesn't sound very different from children screaming which makes the audience possibly wander if under these flapping, screeching birds there could be someone being attacked.

The opening sequence could link to the plot in the way that the bird noises start off sounding like they could be in the background scene- not sinister or angry. At the start of the movie, a rich socialite, Melanie gives lawyer, Mitch the gift of two birds and this strikes up their romance. Both start of calm and in no way dangerous or suggesting any thriller components, but the second half of the opening sequence links to the second half of the movie as the bird screeches get louder and louder and more and more eerie and creepy, the movies second half is also more eerie and creepy as birds start appearing out of no where and attacking people.

The editing of the words on the screen as shown below could mimick the harsh way in which the crows on the screens wings are flapping around. The letters of each word are broken up sharp and harsh almost as though they had been hit by the wings, or snipped at by he harsh beaks shown on the birds. The harsh cuts helps to represent the fact that there will be danger in the movie.

The Birds also has a dark background for their opening scene, the birds are black and white and shadows. The shadows could represent the fact that no one knows where the birds came from, and no one will know as the movie ends with the location of where the birds came from still an unknown mystery.

                                

The Silence of the Lambs begins with a lone shot of a tree, and the words 'Woods Near Quantico, VA'

                                          

The shot of the tree and the foggy background create a sinister feel to the opening, and this is added to upon the way in which the music quietly plays in the background. The violin based music adds a sense of mystery and adds eerieness to the foggy surroundings. Stereotypically, woods are the location of murders or body hiding as they are dark and hidden. People who know that the film is about two murdering psycopaths (one who's a cannibal in custody, and the other who is still on the lose who makes clothes out of his victims skin) wont know what is coming next and may be expecting a jumpfright as they see a young woman doing an obstacle course in the dark woods. As they watch, however, it becomes clear that the opening is dedicated to character development as we see the FBI logo on her shirt. The audience may start to piece together that this is the possible heroine of the movie. 

The casts names have been edited in thick black letters with white borderlines, this makes them easier to see and the black is able to stand out from the dark woods. The names stop appearing as Jodie Fosters characters face comes into view. This shows that shes an important character in the world of the film. As soon as she starts running and we see her back, more names appear on the screen.

The woman runs directly into a cloud of fog, this could represent the way in which she'll run almost blindly into her first case ever with Hannibal Lector. Character development is furthered by th way in which we see her speed and determination at the obstacle course. Her determination is also shown later when she says to one of her friends at headquaters after she gets sent back by a man wearing an FBI cap 'Hey, I got right to the end before they called me in' This could imply that it had been something she had been determined to do for a while.

The names of cast and crew is halted on the screen as the audience is shown an establishing shot of the FBI building. They then return after she gets to her superiors office. This shows the location is important to notice.

                                     

Both films achieve the purpose of the opening sequence which is to show cast and crew, and to set a tone and mood for the rest of the movies. 

Both of the films have dark colours that are used at the beginning to create a sense of darkness and mystery. They also both have moving backgrounds behind their credits which creates more interest for the audience to click into the film. The Birds focuses mainly on setting up the evil side of the movie- the birds are antagonists of the movie as they are the danger everyone is aiming to avoid. The Silence of the Lambs main objective that they are trying to do is introduce the main protagonist of the film. Although they are showing different sides of their movies, both are showing parts of the plot and character development, setting the audience up to understand the rest of the movie. Both openings have the names of cast and crew front and centre of their shots- most other movies would have the names at the bottom left or right of the screen, especially if the screen was showing someone, or something doing an action, however both of the designers decided to do large words that really stood out for both movies. 

The Silence of The Lambs has many more shots than the one in The Birds which helps the to get the story going straight away as opposed to waiting to show anything more than birds for the first 2 minutes of the movie. There is a lot more movement and action that has been incorporated into the opening of The Silence of the Lambs.

The cutaway of the words is the main focus on the screen for The Birds as the birds in the background have been shadowed and put behind. It also has a more interesting fade away with the sharp edges, whereas The Silence of the Lambs focuses more on whats happening on the screen as opposed to pulling focus to the words as they fade away more softly in Silence of The Lambs.

Although the two movies opening sequences varied, they accomplished what an opening sequence needs effectively in their individual ways.