opening sequences
A opening sequence is the method by which films present their title, key production and cast members, utilizing conceptual visuals and sound.
why are they important?The most important thing that the opening of a film must achieve is to establish a tone so that the audience fall into the same mood as the film they are watching.Usually the most successful film openings bring a well developed sense of intrigue that will leave you settled into your seat desperate to know more about the story and the characters that are going to occupy your time for the next one and a half to two hours.this makes them successful as they achieve their goal of getting the audience to want to watch the film more.
what do opening sequences usually involve?some dramatic foreshadowing might be used which will enable the director to give you a hint at the problems that are going to occur throughout the story. it can also use a flashback this can give background into why the characters are in the situation that they are in. An establishing shot can be used to show the area that the film is taking place in. A action scene can be used as a fast paced opening to the movie which attracts the audience straight away and will make them want to keep watching. Furthermore it will alert the audience to the genre of the movie.
Dead poolAs the opening scene of Deadpool commences, the fact that this movie isn't entirely serious becomes very apparent. Many techniques have clearly been used to represent the overall themes of this film and the film opening as a whole does a great job of setting the scene for the rest of the movie.To begin with an opening shot the camera zooms slowly outwards from the inside of a car cigarette lighter and as it continues to zoom out a mans face Is revealed and it appears to have been burned, in the centre of his forehead, by the car cigarette burner.The opening shot is very chaotic as their is numerous items floating in mid air and as the scene progresses it becomes clear that the scene is in fact just a frozen moment in time that explores a car crash which we have no other information about than what we are seeing on screen. This not knowing of whats going on creates a narrative enigma as to how the car crash even came about in the first place. The opening scene is overall very dark, with the mise-en-scene containing a lot of black and dark coloured items throughout. This then leads the viewer to believe that perhaps the men in this car were not nice people and got what they deserved which automatically softens the fact that most (if not all) of the men in the car are about to die.
Charlie and the chocolate factorycharlie and the chocolate factory opens with the audience following the view of the camera as it goes down the chimney into a dark factory where chocolate is being continuously being pored into chocolate bars moulds this draws the audience in as they are made to follow the camera further into the factory where it shows the continuous repetitive stages of making the chocolate bars making the factory appear boring and dull before the audience is whisked off to the outside of charlie's run down old home. Music starts- firstly just with one instrument, then becomes more synthesised, very 'twangy' and high. Has a more sinister and tense layer to it though- representing that the film has more to it than what meets the eye and makes it intriguing.
Nightmare on elm streetThe opening of Wes Cravens Nightmare on Elm Street uses sound to create a uneasy dream-like feeling. The sinister high pitched keyboard sounds suggest mystery and a sense of someone plotting, and in this case, revenge. During the first 30 seconds you find Freddy Krueger, the antagonist in the film, creating his iconic claw like hand that he uses to kill and scare teenagers. As he is creating his weapon, the diegetic sounds of machinery and the clanking and screeching of metal all adds to the disturbing feeling of dread and danger. The opening title makes an impact as it is accompanied by a deep roar and scream sound drawing the viewer into the film. The scene then changes,and the iconic Nightmare on Elm Street theme tune begins to play. The high pitched irregular notes of the keyboard, again indicate the dream-like feeling accompanied by the viewer experiencing the fear of the unknown and of whats to come.
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