Opening Sequence

What is the purpose of Opening Sequences?
There are two purposes of opening sequences. The first is to set the scene by showing the viewer where it is based and what is roughly is going on in the movie or what has happened. The second is to give clues to the genre and tone of the film. In the thriller genre, the setting is a character itself!

What is the difference between Opening Credits and a Title Sequence?
Opening credits is the information of the key creative roles in the film. It is presented as text alongside some action and soundtrack. However, the title sequence is shown at the beginning before important characters are shown. The opening credits normally appear during the title sequence or after it.

What techniques can be employed in an opening sequence?
An establishing shot of the location. This is a popular approach to setting the scene giving the audience a clear view of where they are in the film world. 

An example of an establishing shot 

The style of typography ( the way letters are arranged) can hint the genre of the film.

An example of typography is Star Wars iconic scrolling text prelude

Animation and CGI allows the audience to experience various POV shots. It can be as dramatic as following a single bullet's journey to a person's forehead.

Cinematic Imagery is used to literally set the scene and the mood.

Graphic Imagery includes visual elements such as photography alongside typography.

Foreshadowing through creating a light effect done by the chemtone process.

The movie 'Taxi Driver' creates a sense of foreshadowing through the use of a smearing light effect which is used at the beginning of the opening sequence and at the end of the movie. 

Abstract openings. For instance instead of using a traditional opening an elaborate abstract title sequence. Another example is montage editing. 

–Research a modern Thriller and a Hitchcock film of your choice to use as examples.

Skyfall- Modern Thriller

Release Date: 22 November 2012 

Director: Sam Mendes 

MISE EN SCENE
There is a cutout of James Bond with numbers marked on the parts of his body which suggest it is a shooting target. This gives the impression of him being targeted. Blood flows from a hole in the cutout which parallels to him being wounded by a bullet- both clearly shows he is injured. This theme of violence helps the audience to identify the genre as action. However, those audiences who have not seen the movie series is unable to identify him as him being a hero or an antagonist at this point.

The symbolism of blood, bullet wounds, daggers and guns connotes the idea of danger. This theme is linked at the beginning and the end of the clip where the world becomes destroyed- the sea ground crumbles apart and the meteors of fire fall from above-burning everything. The colours ocean blue and blood red contrast the tone of the atmosphere. Where the ocean blue represents calmness and power, red represents death and wickedness. The colours are a symbol of the two opposing forces of the movie.

The convention of shadows is used and surrounds James Bond. Shadows represent the 'dark side' which are his enemies who he removes through shooting them with his gun. The shadows move in a spiral motion around him suggesting where ever he looks and goes he always has enemies.

There is the iconography of fire. It burns the many of cutouts of James Bond. It suggests the possibility of him being defeated which contrasts with the beginning where there is a graveyard with his name on it which conveys the idea of resurrection that portrays him as immortal and thus unstoppable. It causes the audience to wonder what will happen to him which builds a sense of anticipation. There is a numerous amount of cutouts of James Bond swarming towards the screen suggesting the idea of him being strong like an army.

- Chinese dragon is a cultural reference to china- hints the possibility of the location being in China

EDITING 

There is a kaleidoscope effect used which shows silhouettes of nude women. This is typical of James Bonds movie, it reinforces this to the audience. 

CAMERAWORK
The camera focuses on James Bond's right pupil at the start and the end of the opening credit. It suggests the audience is seeing what is happening through his eyes. It acts as a flashback.

The Steadicam motion makes the audience feel like they are moving with the camera movement, it makes the experience more realistic. It goes physically inside James Bond showing the audience his thoughts and feelings setting up his characteristics and allowing the audience to connect with him. It shows what he has experienced or will experience.

AUDIO

Begins with melancholic piano playing setting up the atmosphere and tone of the movie with Adele singing 'this is the end'. This prompts the audience to feel melancholic about the movie right from the beginning. A relationship between the music and the on-screen action is clearly shown. It gives the opening sequence a dreamlike quality contrasting to the themes of the film yet complementing the murky underwater tones.

The music transitions more upbeat that is supported by the drumming and the echo of the choir, the lyrics are 'When it crumbles we will stand tall Face it all together' creating a sense of unity.


TITLE
Research through Wikipedia stated that the gun barrel sequence was a significant part of the James Bond mythos because according to Media Historian, James Chapman, it is 'the trademark motif of the series' and it ' 'foregrounds the motif of looking' that is central to the spy film' which at the end of the opening credit was supported by the music transitioning to ending in a light note.

The pre-title sequence is the sequence that can relate to the main plot or fully relate to the plot. In this case, the main character falls from a source of light into water. As he falls into the water, darkness envelopes him which is supported by the use of low lighting throughout the clip. The iconography of the hand pulling him down into the depths of the water is ironic because it normally symbolises help. As he drowns it makes the audience wonder if death is coming for him or will he make it out alive.

The main title sequences incorporate visual elements that reflect the theme of the film. According to Wikipedia, Andy Green said that 'James Bond title songs. as a rule, have the name of the movie in the chorus.'

The main title sequence of the movie 'Skyfall' 

Vertigo- Hitchcock film

Release Date: 13 March 1997 

Director: Alfred Hitchcock 

CAMERAWORK

There are lots of closeups and pauses on facial features of Kim Novak character's face this mirrors the obsession that Jim Steward's character develops. As researched, there is the thriller convention of being watched which is evident. The camera pans from left to right to focus on the pupil the discomfort of the character being scrutinised is shown. This creates suspense.

EDITING

At the beginning of the opening title sequence, there is an extreme close-up of a pupil where the colour of the filter suddenly changes from black and white to bright red. The bright red creates blood-like imagery which directly links to death. The spectrum of red is unnaturally bright and takes over the screen which parallels to the scene in which a living woman becomes possessed by a dead woman, it sets up the disturbing supernatural theme. The frightening low string music that booms each time the actor's name appears strengthens the disturbing atmosphere of the film creeping out the audience.

The main title sequence of the movie 'Vertigo'

ICONOGRAPHY

The swirling vortex in the woman's pupil becomes larger- the hypnotic motion is dizzying for the audience to watch. It connects with the movie title 'vertigo' which talks about a spinning sensation. The swirl images give the impression of falling and links with the main character's fear of heights. Through research, it is clear the spinographic imagery called Lissajous waves is a 'representation of Scottie's weakness, a haunting reminder of his limitations as a detective'.

–Demonstrate how both films achieve the purpose of the Opening Sequence, and contrast their techniques.

Similarities 

Iconography- The pupil is an important symbol in both opening sequence. 

Colour- Dark colours are used in both opening sequences creating a gloomy atmosphere. 

Differences 

Camerawork- 
Skyfall uses an establishing shot with a combination of camera movements. Vertigo starts with an extreme close-up. 

Music- 
Skyfall: A leitmotif of the film is having a contemporary artist sing during the title sequence. There is a connection between lyrics and the on-screen action.
Vertigo: The heightening music builds up suspense making the film very intense.

Titles-
Skyfall: The title of the movie is simple and contains capital letters. It appears during an instrumental of the song allowing the audience to focus on the title and what is happening in the opening sequence so far.  It disappears from the screen before Adele starts to sing 'feel the earth move and then' which connects with the animation of the seafloor collapsing. 

Vertigo: The font of the movie title, Vertigo, is more detailed. There is a gradual transition of size from small to large in which 'Vertigo' fills up the entire screen taking the audience's attention towards it.  Although James Steward character is not literally in the opening scene, the title and the spinographic imagery represent him. The title tilts upwards before it disappears from the screen. 

Editing-
Skyfall: There are lot of visual effects used. The thriller conventions of mirrors and shadows are made by the visual effects. 
Vertigo: Uses a graphic match to show the link between the eye and the spiral image. 

Computer effects-
Skyfall: advanced technology is used to make CGI (computer-generated imagery) such as the sinking knives. 

CGI of sinking knives in 'Skyfall' 

Vertigo: the graphic design was by Saul Bass, there is the use of animations e.g spinographic imagery called Lissajous curve

The Lissajous curve is a graph describing the complex harmonic motion of a system of parametric equations. 

Saul Bass- Behind the names of the title

-The history of film title began with static imagery and a copyrighted image of the production name
- Saul Bass worked on symbolism. He had a thought that shaped the future of film titles which was 'why not make it move?'
- Titles summarised the backstory of a character alongside text or photographic elements and inventive animation
- Titles established the mood, tone and texture of a film