Inception (Nolan, 16/7/10, US)

In the opening sequence to the film 'Inception', the ambient sound of the waves creates a mysterious atmosphere and the remoteness of the surroundings. This can suggest to the audience that a character could be located by a coastline or that the remoteness of the location can emphasise a characters isolation. This can make the audience slightly emphasis with the character as they character is alone and isolated and cannot relate to anyone. This can also create confusion towards the audience as they also don't know why or where the character is.    

Additionally, the use of the sting used in the opening sequence emphasises the seriousness atmosphere created by the presents of that certain object. The low pitched rumble followed by the high pitched stringed instruments create a stern mood and seriousness of the object and the fact that it may have significant value or meaning behind the object. This will create mystery towards the audience as they don't know what the object is/does or means to the characters. 

In the opening sequence to the film 'Inception' the close up of the character washed up on the shore creates a confusing yet sympathizing atmosphere towards the audience. as the character is surrounded by sand and is being washed over by the sea, the audience are puzzled as to what he is doing there and how/why has he ended up there. This will make the audience ask questions such as what is he doing and who the actually character is.



Furthermore, the long shot the children playing on the beach creates a engeitic yet strange atmosphere towards the audience. As the children are happy playing and enjoying there time at the beach the audience become unaware what the male character is doing washed up on the shore and do the children know anything about him. Also the audience may start to worry about the children as they don't know where they are, what they are doing there and is it a dangerous place to be because of the washed male character.

In the opening sequence of the film 'Inception', the use of the prop of the what seems to be a 'spinny top' creates a tense and mysterious atmosphere towards the audience. As the prop/object is placed on the table by itself, it suggest the object has huge amounts of impotence or meaning  to it, this can make the audience feel involved as they are intrigued by the object and as they watch on they learn more and more about the object.

As well as this, the use of the props (fine dining e.g fine food and china) crafts an eccentric and luxurious tone towards the audience. The use of the props suggests that the male characters are all upper class and have all had a well up bringing and a very wealthy/good quality of live. This can make the audience ask questions like, what are they all doing or are they discussing thing like a businesses opportunity.

  

Some appropriate locations I found that I could use to create an opening sequence in a range of genres.

For our half-term homework assignment, we had to find 3 different locations where we could film for these three genres: Romantic Comedy, Thriller and Action Adventure and write about why it is a good location to film for that certain genre.

Genre 1 - Romantic Comedy:

Picture 1:

This location could be used in a scene during Romantic Comedy as it is a typical Bar/ restaurant where couples/characters could first meet or go on dates to.

Picture 2:

This location could be used as this maybe a place where groups of friends may hang out and then meet someone or be introduced to someone.

Picture 3:

This location could be used as the riverside walkway could be used in the film for the location for someones first date or a couples break up.

Genre 2 - Thriller:

Picture 1:

This location could be used in a scene during Thriller as it is a typical creepy ally where a chase or mysterious finding may occur.

Picture 2:

This location could be used as the creepy and frightening front of the church could symbolizes a death or mystery in the film.

Picture 3:

This location could be used as the remoteness and eeriness of the surrounding area can create a creepy atmosphere and suggest someone may go missing.

  

Genre 3 - Action Adventure:

Picture 1:

This location could be used in an Action Adventure as this is a typical shopping center/mall where a robbery could take place or chase. This could create an intense atmosphere. 

Picture 2:

This location could be used as the spiral stair case and suggest as chase and the different directions that characters can run and escape to.

Picture 3:

This location could be used as it symbolizes a typical car chase and escape route of the bad guys in the film.

Conventions of an opening sequence

There are many conventions that make up an opening sequence. These consist of setting the tone and the atmosphere, make the audience ask questions and withhold information. There is also many other conventions that must be used but this blog will only be talking about these three. Some other conventions are:

• Production/ Distribution Company
• Show the Theme
• Engage the Audience
• Titles
• First Impressions of the Character

Convention - Setting the Tone:

Example - Bradford Riots

In the opening sequence of 'The Bradford Riots', the tone of violence and aggression, is shown through the use of costume and props as the audience is shown many police officers with rioter shields and people throwing rocks in hoodies. This shows violence as the police are in large numbers and have weapons and shields showing that there is some sort of fight going on and that they are in need of protection. This makes the audience think that there is going to be this level of violence throughout the film.


 Example - Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

 

  In the opening sequence of the film 'Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire', the volume and the use of string instruments, in the soundtrack, creates a serious yet mysterious atmosphere towards the audience. The string instruments create a serious and exciting tone as the audience are excited by the opening soundtrack which will make them want to watch the film and it give away a hint that in the film, something bad or mysterious may happen, this would create  Curiosity towards the audience. 

Example - Panic Room

In this score from the opening sequence of the film panic room, a tone of eeriness and danger is created. This is done through the use of a slow rhythm of the sound as well as the change of high pitched sound to a very low pitched. The use of the high pitch puts the audience on edge as it suggests that something dangerous may happen and the low pitch emphasizes the seriousness and the dangerous atmosphere.

 Convention - Making the Audience Ask Questions: 

Example - Brick 

 

In the opening sequence of the film 'Brick', the use of the shot/reverse shot between the man and the girl makes the audience wonder what has happened. due to the camera cutting from the girls lifeless body/body parts, it makes the audience ask what has happened, what is the relationship between the man and the girl and why is the man there but not doing anything. this can also bring about the questions, if he is just sitting there, did he do something to the girl, was it on purpose or was it by accident.

Example - Iron Man 3

 

In the opening sequence of the film 'Iron Man 3', the use of the dialogue/ contrapuntal sound played over the shot of the three Iron Man suits being blown up makes the audience shocking and confused to as what he is doing. The slow calm speech played over a destructive background shot would make the audience ask questions such as, why is he doing this, why is he so calm about it and what is going happen next the protagonist/hero. 

Example -  Memento 

 

In the opening sequence of the 'memento', the three shots - one of the blood running up the wall and the two shots of the objects (a Bullet and bloody glasses) - can create a mysterious atmosphere and make the audience confused as to what has happened. It will make the audience ask questions such as what has happened, who has been there, who did it involve. The audience would be drawn in to watch more to find out what is going to happen and to see what actually happened and who done it.

Convention - Withholding Information.

Example - Brick:

 

In the opening sequence of the film 'Brick' the use of the pull focus withholds information about the character such as his facial features and identity. During the pull focus, as the shot is blurry, this is hiding the characters identity. This changed as the pull focus happens and the image start going into focus, we see the characters identity slowly revealed to the audience. This will then make them as questions as then are slowly shown the characters face and identity.    

 Example - Brick:

In the opening sequence of the film 'Brick', the use of the long shot with both characters faces not facing the audience/camera hides the Characters information. This crafts a mysterious atmosphere as the audience can see two characters and are unaware what has happened. This hides both characters identity as the audience cannot see any distinct facial features to recognize the characters by. This makes the audience want to watch on as they wan to find out who the characters are and what has happened in the scene.

Example - Wallander

In the opening sequence of the TV Drama 'Wallander' episode 'Firewall', the use of a mid shot of the back of the two female characters heads withholds the identity of the two girls. As we can also see the back of the two female characters heads, will start to create on image of what the two characters look like and their personalities. As the audience can only see the back of them, they cannot picture the characters faces exactly and relate to them.    

Wallander (Firewall, 7/12/08, BBC1) Analyeses

In the opening sequence of the TV Drama 'Wallander', the use of the high pitched sting is used to create mystery towards the audience. The Sting is very high pitched, similar to a scream or a screech which grab the audience and creates a sense of mystery and eeriness. This is also done to draw attention to the two characters walking away from an object that looks like a car. This can suggest to the audience that something bad might have happened as the high pitch creates a sense of danger as well as mystery. This can leave the audience asking questions such as why are they in the middle of nowhere, what is the relevance between the two characters and the car and what has happened.

Additionally, the use of the female characters breathing deep and heavy suggests to the audience they might have done something to make then, scared, or the make then have an adrenalin rush. This is used to create mystery and to make the audience think about what they may have done or experienced to make them breath so heavily. It can either suggest that the girls have experienced something that would scared or confused them or have done something which may have frightened them or something that has given them an adrenalin rush. this will make the audience ask questions like: what has happened, what did the girls hear,witness or do and why has this happened.

In the opening sequence of the TV Drama 'Wallander', the use of a close up of the two female characters heads, shows the director is purposely hiding the characters identity which creates huge amounts of mystery as there identity is hidden, due to something that has happened. This is done as it could suggest that the characters might have witnessed something or done something. This can make the audience watch closely as they don't know who the two characters are. This will also make them ask questions such as: why are they hidden, what do they look like, what are the characters facial language/ body language and what has happened. As well as this, the red in the females characters hair can forshadow death or blood and danger in what might happen or what has happened.

Furthermore, during the clip of the close/mid shot of the two female characters comined with a tight frame suggests to the audience, as the girl with red hair is more in the frame than the other, it implies that she has more guilt put upon her for what has happened in comparison to the other girl. This is done to make the audience assume that the female character that is mostly in the frame was more involved and this can demonstrate the characters guilt building up inside. This can make the audience ask questions such as: what has she done for her the be guilty, what relevance is the other female character and what exactly has happened.



In the opening sequence of the TV Drama 'Wallander', the use of the red in one of the female characters hair foreshadows death, blood and warning. The Director has done this to suggest and give hints as to what might happen/ what might have happened already but its with holding infomation from the audience. This is done to to make the audience assume something bad might happen and draw them in as they want to find out what has happened. The connotations of the red hair are danger or blood which can emphasis the audience wanting to watch on so they can find out exactly what has happened and who is involved. this can also make them ask questions such as what did they do, who did they do it to and why has she dyed her hair.

Moreover, the use of the close up of the blade demonstrates the girls planned the attack on the man and was serious about their actions. this is done to show the audience and give them  another clue as to what as happened and what was used but still not giving away all of the information. This makes the audience think about what has happened. this will also make them ask questions such as why this has happened, what relevance the man is to the two female characters and what has caused this to happen. This can also sow how determined the girls where on hurting the man as it suggests that they have gone out of their way to physically caused the man a lot of pain.



In the opening sequence of the TV Drama 'Wallander', the use of the fade from black to a shot of the sea can so isolation of location and characters. This can suggest to the audience that the location is very remote and the characters that live there a very isolated and maybe even bored as they don't have many attractions. This can also foreshadow the location of the attack as it was an isolated area where for it would reflect the location the actually show is set in. This also demonstrates the intense planning the girls have done to make sure their attack was done properly and in an area isolated from many people/ built up communal areas.

In addition to this, the fast paces editing when the audience are cutting from close ups of the two female character to objects that belonged to the man/taxi driver. This is done to show the audience he was an ordinary man with a job and family. this makes the audience sympathies with him as they are unaware of why he has been so viciously attacked. This will make the audience ask questions such as what has this happened, who was he in relation to the female characters and what has he done to deserve such a brutal, near death beating beating. This can also symbolize the guilt building up inside them because of what they have done to what seems innocent man.   

Brick (Johnson, 2005, USA) Analyse

Sound

In the opening sequence, the slow pace of rhythm in the music, during the opening sequence, creates a eerie atmosphere. It is suggested to the audience that something has happened, but they are unaware of what it is, therefore it leaves the audience asking questions; what has happened, where are the characters. It also makes the audience feel worried as the eerie  atmosphere created by the slow pace makes them worry about what is happening.

The Ambient sound of the running water, suggests that the characters/location is set in a rural area, one with a running stream. It also can suggest that the area is peaceful and tranquial. This can contrast to the eerie music as it suggest that something bad might and happened in a peaceful, un-desterbed area. This can make the audience ask questions like; what has happened, why this has happened and why in that certain area.

Cinematography

In the opening sequence, the use of the soft focus shot of the boy, suggest that the director is trying to withhold information about the boy. This makes the audience ask the questions; Who is the boy, why is he there, what has happened, why is he stairing and what is he staring at. The soft focus also makes the audience look even harder a they can see the outline/basic shape of the boys face but cannot see any of his features clearly. By the audience seeing the character straight away, they would start judging him on his appearance whereas he could be the complete opposite. Also, by the director hiding the characters face, it could suggest that the character himself may just want to hide himself.

The close up of the hand in the stream can suggest the character is lifeless and dead as it is un-nervingly still. this can make the audience ask the questions; what happened to her, why is she there, is she dead. This will leave the audience worrying about the character, as she is in a rural looking area, nobody knows what happened to her and why did she end up in that location.

Mise en scene

In the opening sequence, the use of the lockers all built up next to each other suggest the characters are in school, maybe high school, therefore they would be in early to late teens. this can also suggest innocents of the characters as they are still relatively young. Therefore the audience are confused about what happened in the earlier scene as they cannot place what has happened and why, due to the characters being so young.

As well as this, the close up of the note which fell out of the protagonists locker creates a nervous why mysterious atmosphere as the character and the audience are wondering who left the note and what will happen when to two people meet. The font/style of the handwriting suggests that it is a girls hand writing, this can make the audience ask further questions, such as; who sent it, why did they send it, does the character know how sent the note, what relationship do they have if they have one at all, why did the person want to meet with the character and what did they want to do and say when they meet. this now creates a tense nervous atmosphere as the audience want to watch ahead to see who sent the note and why.

Editing

  

In the opening sequence, the use of the shot reverse shot of boy and dead girl suggests to the audience that they may have had some form of relationship. This leaves the audience asking if they actually did know each other. Additionally, this can also suggest that he may have done something to her, on purpose or by accident, and this as had serious consequences because of it. This create a stern and upsetting mood as the audience are still unaware of what has happened to the character.     

Furthermore, the graphic match of the girls bracelets connects audience ideas about the girl. There is a match between the girls hand lying in the stream and then to the girl slipping the note into the protagonists locker. This makes the audience feel as if there was some kind of relationship between the two characters. This also creates a devastating and upsetting mood as they then realize what happens to the girl but still unclear what exactly happens.   



 

                                                                  







The Sixth Sense Analyses

Sound:

In the opening sequence of ‘The Sixth Sense’, as the title screen is playing, with all the names of the actors and producers ect, there is an eerie piece of music played over the background. This creates a mysterious and eerie atmosphere and sets the mood for the rest of the film. The eeriness also suggests what genre the film is. As well as this, it makes the audience think about what is going to happen in the film and is it something bad (which is suggested by the music).

Further on in the sequence, the load footsteps of the woman walking into her basement. The load footsteps create a sense of isolation and her being alone. This makes the audience fell fear towards the woman as the loud steps create an eeriness and can also make them think that something bad might happen to her while she is down there alone.

Cinematography:

In the opening sequence, the extreme close up of the light bulb turning on crafts a sense of mystery as it stars of pitch black but can see the outline of a shape, then as the bulb begins to light up, the audience then see what the object actually is. Moreover as the audience see the bulb lighting up slowly, it suggests that someone might be in the basement and has time to hide until the character enters.

Further on in the sequence, the crane shot of the women looking up and down the wine rack make the audience feel worried for the women. As the camera watches the characters pick out a wine bottle it makes the audience feel like there is someone it something watching her. This will make the audience think about what it is that is watching her and what is going to happen to her.

Mise en Scene:

In the opening sequence, the low key lighting of the basement implies danger and mystery to the atmosphere of the basement. It immediately shows that something isn’t right about the basement and that the character doesn’t want to spend a lot of time down there. This can also relate to the audience as many people have a basement and they know how eerie and creepy they are, therefore they understand and can relate to the characters feelings about the basement.    

Additionally, the vast number of wine bottles in the wine rack suggests the character and her family are quite wealthy. This can infer as she has a high status, she shouldn’t be afraid of the basement as they are well educated and know there isn’t anything down there and to think there is would be preposterous. But as the character is worried and doesn’t want to be in the basement, it shows a possibility that there could be something or someone down there. This makes the audience become even more scared for the character and they are starting to think that there is something or someone down there too. 

Editing:

In the opening sequence, right at the beginning during the title sequence, with the titles fading in and out slowly creates a spooky mood and set the atmosphere for the film. It also make the audience wonder what is going to happen in to film as it fade in and out slowly creating tension and suspense.

Furthermore, the text type ‘Serif’ suggests the seriousness of the film and the danger of what might happen in it. It makes the audience think about what’s going to happen and makes them feel anxious about the film.  

Memento (Nolan, 2000, USA)

Sound:

The score at the beginning of the sequence, demonstrated by the soft use of violins creates a gloomy and melancholy atmosphere. As the audience doesn’t have much to look at visually, the sound crafts a sombre and melancholy mood towards them as they expect the rest of the scene to be filled with depression or eve death. This will also make the audience feel sympathy even though they haven’t visually seen anything to signal this. 

The diegetic sound of the camera shutter changes the mood from a sombre to a mysterious atmosphere. This leaves the audience asking the questions: what’s happened, why has the mod changed from sombre and mysterious and what has caused this to happen. 

Editing:

With the use of the scene playing backwards/ rewinding, it demonstrates how the director is immediately challenges the audience and prepares them for how the film will go on. This makes the audience confused at first but after they have realized and seen what has gone on, they will understand why the mood has changed.

Also, at right of the beginning of the sequence, as the man is looking at the picture, the shot goes on for a longer duration, therefore very slow paced. However as the scene moves on and we see different objects, the scene becomes much more fast paced towards the build-up of the climax. This relates to the seriousness of the situation as the fast paced sequence relates to the danger and damage that has taken place. It leaves the audience thinking why and what happened to the man being shot.   

 Cinematography:

Right that the beginning, the extreme close up of the picture demonstrates something bad has happened due to the amount of blood splattered everywhere and leaves the audience not know what has gone on. Furthermore as this it creates a tense atmosphere and makes the audience anxious as they are unaware of what has happened.

  

Conversely, this long shot of the car pulling up to the abandon building creates an intense atmosphere as the audience are left to wonder where this building is, what is its purpose and what’s going to happen when inside. This also may confuse the audience and make them wonder what the build is in relation to the characters and what its purpose is. 

Mise en scene:

In this extreme close up, we see and pair of glasses covered in blood. This reveals that something has happened to the owner of the glasses. The amount of blood plant an idea of death, towards the owner. Also the idea of the glasses can create a sense of vulnerability towards the character as glasses can be a symbolize of weakness and a power imbalance. This makes the audience feel sympathy towards them, and are asking the questions: what happened and why did it happen to him, was it something he did or was it because of who we was.

Moreover, the extreme of the of the Polaroid camera adds an element of mystery to the sequence. It gets the audience thinking about, what is the protagonist doing with the camera, why does he use/need it and what relevance does it have to do with the character. It also covers the characters face, also creating mystery as the audience kept waiting even longer to take their first look at character. This also creates tension ad the director has waited a long time to reveal the protagonist so the audience and link the objects to the character and what situation he is in.