Genre - opening title sequence research task

 HORROR:

Halloween 2018

In this opening scene we are immediately shown shots of what appears to be a mental hospital along with a voice over of what concludes to be the hospitals doctor. The camera then pans from left to right and shows the audience the doctor along with the two reporters on either side. The director has decided to zoom out with a long shot duration. What this does is it gives the audience the representation that they are approaching something as the characters get closer to the camera. Already this is enough information that one can gather to understand what the possible narrative of this film is. Although this movie is sequel of many before, if a member of the audience had never seen a 'Halloween' movie they would easily find it inevitable that something horrific will eventually follow this scene. 

This film is rated 18, meaning that the target audience is adults. Yet you would only be able to gather this once the main character ('Mike Myers' ) is being spoken to by one of the reporters. The reason for this is because the whole time 'Mike' does not says  a word. However, as soon as that reporter takes out the mask everyone around him in the outside hospital yard starts going crazy. Which most definitely allows for the audience to understand that this movie is a horror.

We are introduced to a few character including the doctor, the male reporter, the female reporter as-well as Michael Myers. We are not told an awful lot about any of the characters in this opening scene apart from the doctor. As the reporters are interviewing him and trying to find out what he knows about Michael as well as his story as a doctor. However, from what the doctor says he still leaves the reporters as-well as the audience questioning Michael. 

One of the methods that they used to ensure that there is a suspicion is by not allowing for the audience nor the reporters to see what Michael looks like, increasing the level of suspense only showing slight side glimpses of Michael. Suspense is also created within this scene as soon as the male reporter pulls the mask out of his bag. However, in this case the suspense is created by having ambient soundscapes being played in the films soundtrack as well as having the different shot cut upon each-other faster showing the audience that there is something wrong with the character. The effect that cutting the shots between one another has is that it makes the audience feel lightly disorientated showing that Michael doesn't need to say anything to leave an impression on the audience as his presence alone is enough to make the audience feel uncomfortable.

Saving Private Ryan

In this opening scene we are first shown the American flag at the top of the flag pole in the wind taking over the entirety of the frame with heroic military instrumentals accompanying the shot which then cross fades to what is soon to be represented as the main characters family. I feel as though this film is best suited for young adults as well as adults themselves primarily due to the fact that this film is based upon war history which would only be best understood by young adults minimum as the film is rated 15. 

Yet just by indulging with this opening scene you can see that the elderly male is thrown away by all of the soldiers grave stones that are around him in the cemetery which truly shows the audience that whoever this character is. That they were most likely in the war alongside all of these men. What this does is it shows the audience that this film is going to have a large amount of drama and action as this opening scene is in the future of the past events that had killed all of the men around him. 

There is only to be one word spoken throughout the entire opening scene. However this amount of dialogue is enough to show the audience that the people who are following him are all members of his family as the the younger male says "dad" to who is clear to be his father showing that his family have come with him to witness the memorial of all his fellow soldiers that he battle along side. Yet with the use of a number of tracking shots and close ups we are able to see how the director is portraying this elderly man and his emotions as well as his current shape. Emphasising to the audience about how much it means for him to be at this war memorial.

In my opinion i feel as this was a very successful scene as it sets what the story and tone for the rest of the film is going to be like. For instance, the director have vividly conveyed to the audience that everything that the camera work is focusing on shows what the main character in this opening scene is looking which then cuts to close ups of his face showing his facial expressions to the audience showing how much these curtain things mean to him. For example, the American and French flag at the cemetery as well as the view of having all of the grave stones around him. Allowing for the director to simply create an extreme close up on the main character face allowing for a flashback to when all of these fallen soldiers were once standing. Whilst seeing him cry in the mist of all of this heavily implies that he has an emotional link to the war and intrigues the audience making them wonder as to what kind of events could have taken place to him. This is then satisfying for the audience as the flashback begins creating a successful opening scene.

John Wick:

Right from of this opening scene we see a car crash into a wall which right away sets the tone of action that could further ensue. What this does is it makes the audience question what could have possibly happened. We then see then see the driver who has clearly been shot, adding more suspicion to the events that would have previously happened. We then see the male character struggle to try and move away from the car and pulling out his phone to watch a video of what appears to be his  wife or girlfriend. We know this because of the fact that he kisses her. This tells us that there is not only action in this movie. Yet, there is also an element of drama.

The target audience for this film would be anyone of the age of 18 years of age. However, from this opening scene there are aspects that could attract both young adults as well as adults themselves. For example, the audience is show a number of graphic shots which would not be suitable for younger audience members, leaving the option for adults to have the option to watch such a graphic yet dramatic film.

 The genre of this film is set up in such a way in which the audience is shown graphic scenes and dramatic visuals as previously mentioned. 

We are introduced to two characters, the man in the car as well as his lover. They are not physically shown together however they are shown together as the male character struggles to reach for his phone and watch a video of the two of them as he falls unconscious. Firstly we are shown a tracking shot in which the car falls into frame which then cuts upon action as he opens the door to his vehicle which is taken with a hand held close up of him struggling to stand up. Giving the audience the perception that he is injured. Each and every shot that follows in this scene is then cut upon action so that audience is able to get an understanding of what it is that he is trying to do but as well as leaving the audience the suspicion of what could have happened.

Audibly there is a radio which is talking about a curtain news report which contrasts with what is visually being shown to us. However, this sound of the radio is gradually getting quieter as a dramatic instrumental which begins to fade in over the radio. Giving the audience the perception that something horribly wrong has happened and that the main character is involved.

In my opinion I feel as though this was a successful opening scene because it creates a sense of curiosity for the audience. For example, the audience has not been given any information about what happened. Although this opening scene is short we are given just enough information so that we are left wanting to know more.  

Gone Girl:

In this opening scene, a very eerie tone is set by using narration and empty spaces to create a sense of discomfort and thrill. It is evident that something has gone wrong through dialogue such as "what have we done to each other". What this does is it emphasises the idea that there is a problem in their marriage and it makes the audience question what could have gone wrong. 

The target audience of this film would be adults. The reasoning for this would be because of the fact that there are some mature topics being discussed, mainly being marriage. 

The genre of this film has been set up by having shots of the town that would normally have people around. However, in this case no-one is to be seen. This creates a sense of mystery and thrill, also at the very end of the sequence in the bottom left corner the text reads "the morning of" implying something is about to happen that may be significant towards the plot that further intrigues the audience.

In this opening sequence two characters are introduced one being a man the other being his wife. We know this as he speaks on his marriage with her in the narration. it is apparent that there is something wrong with the marriage as the dialogue connotes this and we never visually see them both together in the same shot.

The camera work in this opening sequence emphasises the title of this film "gone girl". The reasoning as to why is ay this is because of the fact that each camera shot that has been shown after the female character was lying in the bed is showing different settings. What this does is it gives the audience the interpretation that people are looking for her and that she is nowhere to be seen. The sound that is put together with each shot is different as the director is adding a suitable non-diegetic sound, allowing for a suitable atmosphere within in each of these shots. In conclusion to this, the way that these shots have been edited together enhances the audiences curiosity as to where she as and what is going to unfold. creating a dynamic that makes the audience want to figure out where, what and why this is happening to this couples marriage. 

In my opinion I feel as though this was a very successful opening sequence. As it creates a heavy sense of mystery and thrill in a unique way providing interesting dialogue through narration accompanied by imagery that subconsciously provokes the audience to keep watching.

 

Venom:

In this opening scene, we are shown a spaceship which is crashing down towards earth with too much speed. A sense of panic is created through vivid and graphic imagery through a plethora of people scurrying around in response to the crash. The existence of aliens (sci-fi trope) is confirmed through dialogue explaining that alien organisms were on board of the crashed space ship. the sense of danger and panic implies to the audience that the organisms could be a serious threat to humanity and can lead to catastrophes, giving the audience slight information so that they can presume what could possibly happen.

The target audience for this film would be young adults due to the fact that there is heavy sci-fi content. However, graphic scenes and serious undertone would make this film unsuitable for younger audience members. For example, once the paramedics find a survivor from the crash lying on the floor in a serious medical condition or when you see the alien takeover the female paramedics body, there is a graphic close up on here knee showing her injury from the ambulance crashing . The genre of the film is set with use of heavy CGi depicting a futuristic spaceship, giving the audience an immediate impression that there is going to be a large amount of CGI that will follow this opening shot. As previously mentioned in the scenario where the female paramedic gets her body taken over by the alien organism, there was a high use of CGI created in the post production to allow for this action to be created. 

We are introduced to one main character in this opening sequence, being the male character who appears to be running this entire investigation/mission. We know this because of the fact that he is asking all of the questions and making all of the commands to everyone around him . However, in the entirety of this opening sequence visually we are able to see a large amount of extras in the shot that is establishing the crash sight of the space ship.

At the very begging there is a large amount of CGI meaning that the shot itself is created in post production. However, when the audience is shown the crash sight the director has decided to use a high angled shot which is moving allowing for the audience to be presented with a clear overview of what is happening. This then cuts shots which are showing what all of the workers (extras) are trying to find until the space crew member is found in which there is use of POV shots giving the audience a sense that they are involved with what is going on at the scene. This shot is then shown in the background of the mission control room allowing for a switch in shots where the main character who is running this mission is introduced, whilst still allowing the audience to see that they are looking at the same thing that they are.

In my opinion I feel as though this a successful opening scene. Primarily due to the fact that it set the tone for what is going to follow up from this. For example, the way that the shots are arraigned moving from the control room to where the crash is going down allows for the audience to feel as though they are apart of everything that is going on, giving the audience a reason to continue watching as they are meant to feel as though they should want to figure out the reasoning behind all of these events.

  

All of these opening sequences used a different and varying combination of imagery, camera work, sound and editing to successfully set the tone and introduce the narrative of the respective films. For example, the sound used in "Saving Private Ryan" was heroic as well as dramatic. However, if we were to compare this to the sound used in "Venom" the instrumental was intense and suspenseful. Yet both of these opening sequences used their sound to incapsulate and immures the audience successfully although they are completely different genres.

In my opinion, the opening sequence that differed the most compared to the other scenes was "saving private ryan". this is due to its slower pace, as the rest of the sequences where quite fast-paced. in this opening sequence we see an old man walking on a walk way in a park with what we assume to be his family. compared to the other scenes this is quite a step down from spaceships, and car crashes. it still works well as the old man is seen crying , with the implication that he was a part of the war. when the flashback then happens this makes the audience expect to see some action and a possible explanation for his deep sadness all this time later.

In my opinion "gone girl"s opening sequence was the most successful one as it really intrigued the audience without telling them too much , whilst still not making them do heaps of work to understand what could be following the scene. apart from the shot of the narrator's wife’s head, and a shot of the narrator taking out the trash we don't see much. all we see is shots of a town in the early morning before people have started their days. this sets the tone brilliantly as it creates a sense of discomfort when spaces that are usually busy are seen completely empty, hinting that something is wrong. although we cant gather much information from this alone, the narration offers intriguing dialogue swiftly introducing the narrative to the audience and making them want more. 

Finally in my opinion the least successful of all the opening sequences is that of "john wick". this is because what is portrayed although contains some action in the car crash, and creates an interest in the audience with the man in the car being severely injured, it feels as if we are watching the end of a movie rather than the beginning of one. what makes this bad is that there is no flashback when the audience expects one.this makes the audience feel as if they are not in the beginning of a narrative, or at the peak of the narrative, making alot more work have to be done before the audience becomes invested in the film