Brick Opening Sequence

The title of the font flashes across a black background at 1:02 minutes into the opening trailer, I believe this to allow the viewers to settle into the opening whilst wondering what the name of the film is called and what has happened.

The first location revealed is the murder scene, the film is not set in this area however I see it as being the establishing shot to the film it is also very successful as it provides the audience with the knowledge of what the film is based on, obviously the girls death. This long shot shows both the girl and boy in an unknown area, it seems to be a drain or somewhere near sewers.

Props are a key to this opening as they are shown more then once, allowing the viewers to know what characters are where and when. For example, at the start of the opening sequence the boy is shown by his shoes, they are then seen again further along the sequence in a high schoool hhis face is not revealed however the audince know it is him due to his footwear. Another example of this is the girls bracelets, the last shot of the death scene focuses on her jewelery the next shot then is in school showing another close up of the girls hand and wrist. This is quite a creative way to show the characters whereabouts and actions.

There are various interesting shots in this opening sequence in Brick, the one i found particularly interesting was the close up of the boys face. At first it is out of focus but as it comes into focus the audience can make out he is examing something in real depth. This is then revealed to the audience using a long shot showing the boy watching the girl lying on the floor. This close up shot indicates the film may be based on the boy becoming the investigator for her depth due to the detail there is on his eyes and glasses connoting he will be examing further into the death.

The style of the font comes across as the typical thriller font, simple. The simple Times New Roman font doesn't give any further clues on what the film may be about. However the use of black and white could be looked into further, one interpretation may come from the saying, 'Not everything is in black and white' referring to the death, it may be far complicated or twisted then it seems.

This shot of the boys feet walking next to a row of lockers shows that the film could be set in a school, also that the people it focuses on are pupils. There is font over this shot saying, 'Two days later' they have cut back two days before the death to show the pre death events. This almost starts the story off, the real action begins.

The close up shot of the feet suggests the film is a thriller as it appears to be somewhere set back where its dark, cold, damp and slightly eeire and threatening. It also portrays a thriller as it isn't revealing much at all and it is leaving the audience guessing for a few seconds of where it is and who the shoes belong to.

Both characters are introduced with closeups.

Conventions Of An Opening Sequence

The opening sequence is an important part to a film, as it almost calms the viewers before watching the film it also introduces the film and must grab the viewers attention in order for them to want to watch the rest of the film.

Conventions include:

• Establishing shot, used to introduce the main setting and features in the film
• Clips are slow paced
• Music is generally fast paced
• Little dialogue is used
• Characters may be introduced
• Titles are shown, including producers and actors names
• For it to be successful the viewer must be hooked into 'hook' the viewer watching the whole film to find out what will happen

Deadwood is a good example of showing the conventions of an opening sequence. I believe it contains all of the conventions needed for it to be a successful opening title sequence. There is an establishing shot which is shown in the third screen shot, it sets a dark eerie atmosphere and will make the audience question why has it been shown and who is there. The clips are at a slow place so that the viewer can take in the setting and familarise themselves with the shots and content. The music is quite fast and upbeat it is almost in contrast to the dark surroundings and actions giving them a positive vibe, which will hook the viewer into watching more as they want to find out why it is like this. There is no dialogue used there is only non-diegetic music. Characters are seen however they are not shown in full view, there are close ups of their body parts or side on views of their face like in the fifth screen shot, this is effective as it doesn't reveal too much causing the audience to want to know more. All of the titles are shown fading in and out at the sides of the shots.

Conventions Of A Thriller Genre

• Simple font titles in opening
• Tense music
• Creepy, dark location
• Quick, flashing cuts
• Little lighting, shadowy areas
• Many close ups and over shoulder shots used
• Usually a running theme throughout the film eg. colour

Questionnaire results

These are the results from the question 'What music do you prefer?' 4 out of 5 of the people asked said fast paced music, although this is a small group of people the majority said fast paced which gives me the idea people watching a thriller in my selected teenage group would prefer to watch an opening sequence with fast paced music.

Questionnaire results

These are the results from the question 'Do you like the end of the film to be at the start?' As you can see 2 people said yes, 2 said no and 1 said sometimes therefore overall there are more people that wouldn't mind seeing the ending at the start however 2 people may not. This will make me consider whether I should have the ending of the film at the start or if I should show small parts which will not reveal the whole ending.

Opening Questionnaire

In this questionnaire we will be researching information about the opening of our thriller. We are gathering the information about our thriller opening so that we can establish a unique and interesting idea that will appeal to our target audience.

Instructions:

• Circle the appropriate answer
• Answer questions truthfully with your opinion

Questions

1.Do you like the end of the film to be shown at the start?

Yes No

2. Do you like a cliffhanger ending?

Strongly agree Agree Don't know Disagree Strongly disagree

3. Describe your ideal thriller opening location.

4. Do you music do you prefer?

Fast paced Slow paced

5. List 3 features you expect for the following characters

Killer:

Victim:

6. Do you like lots of titles are the start of a film?

Yes No

7. What time of day do you expect a thriller opening to be set?

Early morning Mid day Nighttime

8. Do you think the opening is important?

Yes No

Why?

9. Are you male or female?

10.What is your age?

Psycho Opening Titles

This is a remake of the Psycho opening sequence however it is very similar to the original, the main difference is the colour of the block lines that appear in the shots, in the original opening these are grey. I am posting this as I believe it is a very successful opening in terms of grabbing the audiences attention and making them focus on watching the rest of the film.

The music is the main convention that has caused me to believe this opening is effective. It can easily cause an audience to feel tense and on edge as it is quite scary due to it being loud and fast paced.

The creation of the opening titles is interesting, the lines that move in and out of the screen are sharp and fast, they seem to be using a cuttting motion which links to further events in the film of when the woman is stabbed.

I think this would be a good shot to film from when creating an opening sequence as it gives the impression that there is someone there watching. If there was a person down there it would give them a low status, they would look vulnerable. This could make a scene quite scary and tense, it would make the audience want to watch the rest of the film to find out more on who or what could be up on a higher level watching.

I believe this would be a good place to shoot an opening sequence for a thriller as it looks abandoned, giving it a strange feel. It looks like a place that someone could easily get lost in or abducted from. This could come across as quite a dangerous place to be in also not very nice to be alone in.

I think this would be the perfect setting for a thriller opening sequence as it is dark and creepy. The open gate suggests some one or someone has left or entered the house that it leads to making it quite mysterious. The bushes that are there give a tense atmosphere as there could be something hiding behind it, also the audience can't see beyond it so it would make them wonder what is there and what sort of place is it in.

I have chosen this as an idea for a thriller opening as it is quite grimy and dirty making it look like a deserted run down area. This would be good for the opening of a thriller as it looks walls are old and aged portraying the place as been around for a long time making it seem scary. The low angle gives an impression that the place has power over the person that could be in the shot.

I think this shot shows a place that is quite mysterious and it could confuse an audience as it could have many hidden meanings behind it.

This would be a good setting for the opening of a thriller as it is dark and eerie, the darkness amongst the trees would mean the audience wouldn't know what was in there. It also looks like an easy place in which people could get lost in.

I have taken this image of my open front door as a close up which means the background isn't in focus, as the background if someone was outside the audience wouldn't be able to identify the person outside.

I had the door open as it makes the atmosphere tense, the audience will wonder who has opened the door. Someone may have broken entry or someone could have been taken from the house.

The red colours in the image could symbolise anger in a person or possibly blood, connoting that something traumatic may happen outside.

This is one of my favourite images that I have taken for opening sequence ideas. I think it would be a good place to film an opening sequence as it looks like dark and mysterious, the footprints in the snow may cause the audience to wonder who made them and where the person is now. The footprints could also give a tense atmosphere as you cannot see in this low shot where they are leading. I like that you cannot see over the wall, this could leave the audience thinkning about where it is and what sort of road or place they are in.

Images For Opening Sequence Setting

I have chosen this as one of my setting ideas as it is quite creepy, the fact that it's deserted gives the impression that it is very quiet and lonely. The sense of someone being alone and cold in this place would cause an audiences tension to rise causing them to think there may be someone else around or watching.

I took the image from a side angle where the rest of the garden cannot be seen, therefore the audience will not know if the person in the shot is actually alone it may also make them question what is beyond the steps and where is it.

Sixth Sense Opening

I have taken screen shots of the main shots that relate to the 9 different techniques and aspects I am going to discuss. I have also chosen these separate nine shots from the Sixth Sense opening as they make it a creative and interesting opening that would cause the audience to want to watch the rest of the film.

The first shot is of the 'Hollywood Pictures' logo, this is the the company that produced the film. This is important to have at the very beginning of an opening sequence as it gives the viewer knowledge of who produced the film they are about to watch.

The very first filmed shot in the opening sequence is of a light bulb slowly getting brighter, this now dim light reveals a cellar. I believe this is an extremely effective way of opening a thriller as it is slightly eerie, it also creates a tense atmosphere automatically as the audience are waiting to see where the bulb is and what is in the room that it is lighting up.

I have chosen my third screen shot to be of the couple sitting on their sofa in their jumpers, this is creative they have wrapped up after complaining their house is cold this gives the audience the impression the couple are not alone and there may be another presence in the house. I also believe the glass of wine could connote blood or death due to its deep red colour.

The fourth screen shot shows one of the first camera shots, I liked this, it is used as an establishing shot showing the area in which the first few shots are filmed. I believe it is very creative as it is filming from behind the shelves in the cellar this leaves the audience wondering

what is behind the shelves and around the dark spaces in which their content can't be seen.

The film titles are in a simple blue coloured Times New Roman font on a black background, this sets the opening to be quite creepy, the blue of the font gives the impression the film will open with a cold icy atmosphere/place.

The opening sets the story to be quite dark and unrevealing, having the light bulb slowly getting brighter brings a sense of uncertainty about what is in the house. The fact that in starts in complete darkness connotes their is something hidden, unknown or secretive that may run through the opening or the whole film. The eerie darkness about the house will cause the audience to what more as they are waiting to find out what may happen.

I believe the opening suggests to an audience that it is a thriller as it begins with the shot through the shelves. With the character on the other side of the shelves it appears to the audience that something or someone is looking through the gaps and watching her. This is comes across as quite creepy causing tension to rise as the audience do not know what is there.

The characters are first introduced using long shots possibly connoting they are distant and far from the truth, they are unaware of what is happening inside the house. This long shot doesn't reveal much about the character adding to the thrill of mystery.

I liked this last screen shot as it reveals that the woman isn't in the house and she is with a man, this man isn't shown at first and all the audience sees is a mid shot from is waist down. In this shot you also see the woman entering the room as she is coming back from the cellar with the bottle of wine. I like this shot as the camera is still being used in ways to be secretive to the audience, the characters emotions cannot be seen this leaves the audience in suspense wanting to know what the woman feels like after being in the cellar.

What Titles Are Used?

I have looked at the Sixth Sense opening sequence in order for me to list the titles used in an opening sequence.

• Hollywood Pictures
• Spyglass entertainment
• Actors names eg. Bruce Willis, Olivia Williams, Toni Collette
• Film name, Sixth Sense
• Casting by
• Costume Design
• Music by
• Edited by
• Production design
• Director of photography
• Executive producer
• Produced by
• Written and directed by

I like the Sixth Sense title sequence as it is plain and simple, the titles are clear and they are over a black screen therefore they do not distract the audience from any action. They set an automatic cold and dark atmosphere due to the black background and frosty ice blue coloured writing.

Why Is Memento A Good Opening Sequence?

Memento proves to be a good opening sequence as it calms the audience whilst they are waiting to watch the rest of the film. The simple font title and soft music allow the audience to have time to emerge themselves in the opening and prepare for what is coming up. Once the music gains pace the audience will feel tense and anxious however this is the thrill to a thriller, if the audience experience this they will automatically be intrigued in the film. The close up is also makes it a good opening sequence as it doesn’t reveal to the audience who the person is and why they are at the murder straight away, this would cause the audience to want to watch more of the film to gain the knowledge of who the person is and why they are there.

It fits the conventions of an opening sequence as it doesn't give away what is going on, it is also quite slow paced keeping the audience in suspense. This hooks the viewer as they will want to watch the film to find out why someone has taken an image at a murder scene, also who it is and why they have been murdered. There is no establishing shot needed as the picture coming into focus is almost explaining and showing the setting. There is no dialogue used which also fits the conventions of an opening sequence.