My 5 things that I can do to contribute to the group are:
Part 1 (0:00 - 10:00)
Part 2 (10:01 - 20:02)
The opening sequence of 'Final Destination' starts off with a normal, every day scene with Alex at home packing for his trip to Paris followed by Alex asleep. It is at this point that we are shown clues foreshadowing what will later happen in the film including the fan being still, pages of books flapping and the clock appearing to read 1:80 instead of 1:00.
This dissolves into the flight board at the airport with flight number 180 and it at this point that we are introduced to the rest of the characters.
However it is not until Alex is at the desk to get his boarding pass that we are given the most clues. This keeps building up until Alex wakes up on the plane and there is a fight in the aisle of the plane.
The music creates an eerie mood throughout the film's opening which carries on after the plane crash itself.
There is a change in time within the first 10 minutes, which shows the detailed accident which is simply shown as an explosion when it actually happens. I think this is effective and could work for my own thriller, however the current idea may not fit with a change in time.
All of the 'Final Destination' trilogy have the same style of opening with a premonition that comes true, which works well for the style of film.
The credits for 'Catch Me If You Can' are very different to those for 'Se7en'. There is no actual clips from the film, everything is animated and doesn't appear to relate to the film, but once the audience has watched the film they would realise the credits told the story to them.
The credits are very cleverly displayed with the words coming from lines that smoothly go on and off the screen, and also providing a way to further the journey of the characters. The animation focuses on important changes that happen to the main male man, including getting into a lift dressed as a doctor.
The colours of the credits make it almost mesmerising, everything stands out and the transitions between colours/locations is seamless. You can also clearly understand taht there is a relationship between the men who follow the same paths, and that one is chasing the other, yet you are unclear as to why.
The opening credits for the film 'Se7en' contain a lot of the features I listed in my previous post, but displays them in an interesting way.
Between each of the titles flashing up is a small clip of the story that is currently happening, which enables the film to develop and give the audience a sense of what is going to be happening at the start of the film. The genre of the film is clearly identified through the font, which looks like a child's writing (clearly formed letters and not in a perfectly straight line) however the flashing/mirroring/movement effects used on the words is what most strongly shows the genre because it is a technique often used in thrillers.
There is a mix of the titles being on blank screens and being displayed over the film being shown, which works well yet it wouldn't be something I would necessarily want in my own opening sequence, but is a possible idea. There isn't necessarily a title with each new frame, but they come at regular occurrences.
The following list is what always and often appears in the opening credits of a film:
Always:
Film production company's name - "In association with ___"
Director's name - "A ___ film"
Title of the film
Main actors/actresses - "starring___"
Other actors/actresses - "co starring___"
Often:
Writers - "screenplay by___"
"Casting by___"
"Edited by___"
"Based on the novel by___"
Assistant director
"Music by___"
Director of photography
Other main behind the scenes people:
Silent Water
This is one of my favourite sequences because it works very well by following the rules but is still different to the others. The only diegetic sound is taht of the water, which is significant. The running water shows that the main female is still alive, yet by the time the tap is dripping she is drowing in her bath.The non-diegetic sounds of the eerie music and voice overs work very well, the dialogue explains the background to the story so that it makes sense. The music and choice of shots build up suspense, and you begin to wonder what is about to happen. The credits also help to maintain the suspense and tension, because without them the sequence might not have worked in such an effective way.
Under The Gun
This sequence was very different to 'Exposure' in several ways. Firstly, the clip was in colour and appears to be focused more on the underworld rather than voyeurism. Secondly it is very clear from the start who's side we are meant to be on.
The credits of this clip are much clearer and break up the sequence, allowing the movemnet from the hostage to a record player to cards, whichthey wouldn't have been able to do without the titles as effectively.
The dark and shadows gives teh sense that something sinester could happen in relation to crime, and the gun further connotes the thriller genre.
A sense of sympathy is created through teh choiuce of shots. Many of them are the female's POV and those that aren't often show what is happening to her. The main male character's face is oftern half in shadow, which shows that he is evil, however the female also has shadows cast over her at some points showing that she isn't innocent.
