Opening sequences

What is the purpose of opening sequences?

An opening sequence is a method where films and TV programs present their title and key production and cast members, utilising conceptual visuals and sound. It usually includes the text of opening credits, and helps establish the setting and tone of the program. 

Basically the opening sequences introduces a film. This will obviously differ depending on the genre of the film, such as an action thriller; this thriller would include guns, weapons and fighting to make the genre clear to the audience.  These are the also known as 'OPENING CREDITS'. An opening sequence gives credits to the people involved in the film and the technical side such as cameraman and editor. 

So overall, the purpose of the opening sequences is 2 main things:

1. To set the scene by making it clear to the audience where it's based and roughly what is going on and what the film is about.

2. It also gives clues to the audience of what the genre of the film is as well as the mood and tone. For example the action thriller would include fighting and weapons to make it clear to the audience that the film is an action thriller. 

Difference between opening credits and a title sequence: 

An opening credit is the information of the key creative roles in the film. The opening credit is usually presented as text along with action and sound. The opening credits normally take place during the title sequence or after it.

The title sequence on the other hand is shown at the beginning before the characters are shown and sets the scene as well as give clues to the genre of the film or program. 

What techniques can be employed in an opening sequence:

The techniques employed by opening sequences are establishing shots, discrete opening sequences, narrative openings, 2D, 3D, motion capture, character animation, freeze framing, symbolic colours, effects, close ups, typography, GCI, cinematic imagery, foreshadowing, graphic imagery and abstract openings. 

There are countless techniques used in opening sequences to help capture the viewers eyes and make them engaged in the movie within the first few minutes of the film.

ESTABLISHING SHOTS: To show the location. This technique is frequently used for setting the scene, giving the audience a clear view of where the film is taking place or a clue to wear it will be placed or what place will be incorporated.\

NARRATIVE OPENINGS: The actor/actresses name shows on the screen at the same time as the character they play on the screen does. The audience will see one of the actors/ actresses and think it will be a good movie because they are in it. They help create an atmosphere and set the scene.

ANIMATION: Lets the audience experience many POV shots. It can make it be more dramatic and fun which leads the audience to be entertained and interested.

SYMBOLIC COLOURS: many different colours represent different things for example red could symbolise either relationship or death. These colours used in the opening sequences can be used to foreshadow what will happen in the play.

TYPOGRAPHY: The ways the letters and words are arranged can make the opening sequence more interesting and get the audience engaged.

CINEMATIC IMAGERY: Used to create atmosphere, set mood, set tone and set a scene for the rest of the film.

GRAPHIC IMAGERY: Photos and words help get a better understanding of what the film will be about.

EFFECTS: (eg. glitching) Foreshadow what the film will be like and help create entertaining aspects of the opening sequence.

Research modern thriller and Hitchcock film:

Modern thriller: SKYFALL

22 November 2012 was the release date for Skyfall.

The viewer is completely immersed within the mind of Bond as he sinks to the bottom of a riverbed after being shot by friendly fire during the film’s climactic cold opening. Set in the depths and ruins of his own private thoughts and memories, the sequence is a combination of many analogies: his past and current emotional state, his uncertain future, his many indistinguishable misdeeds and duties flashing before his eyes.  ---THIS IS A PARAGRAPH FROM ARTOFTHETITLE.COM

MISE-EN-SCENE:
Bond gives us the impression of him being targeted. This is because his body looks lime a target as there are many numbers on him. Blood gushes from a hole which foreshadows him being wounded by a bullet and that he is injured from the shooting. A theme of violence is used to help the audience identify the genre as action. The use of of blood, wounds, knives and guns link the idea of danger. This theme is therefore linked at the beginning and the end of the film where the world is damaged and falling apart. Here we can see everything fall from the sky and crumble to the ground. Blue and red symbolic colours are used to create atmosphere. Blue represents power and status, Where red represents death and horror. These colours contrast with each other which foreshadows what may happen in the film. A Chinese dragon is a used in this film which is cultural in china. This gives the audience a clue as to where the film may be set. This clip is set underwater and Bond is being pulled further and further down by a big hand which foreshadows death for the character and mystery as the audience does not know where he is going underwater. This links to death and ruin.

EDITING: 

Editing in this film is quick cuts to switch from each shot. This helps create an effect that Bond is continuously being pulled down quickly while a lot of things are happening around him.

CAMERA:
The camera focuses on Bond's eyes throughout the film. This suggests that the audience is seeing what is happening through his eyes. The camera is steady  which makes the audience feel like they are moving with the camera. This makes it more realistic. This foreshadows that the audience is looking into Bond and makes the audience feel as if they are him and in the film. 

SOUND:

The film starts with a slow piano playing which creates an atmosphere of the movie. Adele is singing slow and loud which tells the audience to feel emotional about the movie.
The music transforms to a more faster drumming and echo of a choir, the lyrics are 'When it crumbles we will stand tall Face it all together'. The voice is very powerful and strong which brings emotion  just as the water is  powerful and mysterious. 

HITCHCOCK FILM: VERTIGO

1958

CAMERA:

Heaps of closeups are used in vertigo as well as long pauses or stops on the face and eyes. This helps the audience see that the movie is about obsession and suspense. This foreshadows to the film that it will be mysterious and suspenseful as Jim obsesses over Kim Novak's character. The camera pans left and right across the face and to show movement of the eyes. This shows suspense and mystery as it is clear the the audience that someone is being watched.

EDITING:

In the beginning there is an extreme close-up of an eye, Here the colours change from black to white to red. The red creates an illusion like blood which creates imagery for the audience linking to death which overall foreshadows into the future of the film suggesting that there may be death. All of the editing is used to portray a theme of obsession and mystery as well as being horrifying and worrying. Overall, this creates an atmosphere of suspense and mystery.

MIS-EN-SCENE:

The woman's eye gets larger while the swirl is inside. This reminds the audience of hypnotisation. This iconography links to "vertigo" which means "a sensation of whirling and loss of balance, associated particularly with looking down from a great height, or caused by disease affecting the inner ear or the vestibular nerve; giddiness". (google definition). This suggests or reinforces the idea of falling which overall links to the characters fear of heights.

How the films achieve the purpose of an opening sequence and contrast the techniques:

DIFFERENCES:

LIGHING:

Vertigo's lighting had a lighter hue to it compared to Skyfall which had a much darker red colour. The red used in Skyfall links to  the characters, and the more light lighting of Vertigo links to the theme of mystery and questioning. This is shown by the eye movement and facials from the characters who are less upfront and bold rather than the girl in Skyfall who is very powerful and strong which connotes to the strong colour red used.

THEME:

In Skyfall, death was a theme shwown by the iconography of knives, and guns. The spirals where the theme in Vertigo. The word 'Vertigo', means the loss of balance and "sensation of whirling". 

SOUND:

Skyfall uses a singing voice of Adele. The song connotes to the film by the lyrics and actions linking together. However, Vertigo's sound was suspenseful which made the film scary and intense where Skyfall brought emotion and feeling.

TITLES:

Skyfall was simple and sophisticated. These were in all capitals and it was spaced out perfectly so the audience could focus on both the actions and the words without felling overwhelmed. However, Vertigo's Title was in a bold font which was more detaioed. The words took up most of the screen over the face and used typography.

EDITING:

Skyfall included many visuals and imagery like him falling down the hole deeper and deeper. Shadows were editing in etc. Vertigo used more graphic imagery to show the spirals and words.

 

SIMILARITIES:

ICONOGRAPHY:

The use of eyes were used in both films. And the close up shots used to get the images of the eyes. 

COLOUR:

Darker colour or hues were used to get a more suspenseful effect along as linking to death and horror. 

SOUND:

Music and sound was used in both films, However Vertigo didn't have a voice.