2. Three Films
The three openings I watched were Signs (2002), The Sixth
Sense (1999) and The Village (2004). In all three of these
openings have something in common, which gives the
director a signature style. This makes it so audiences can
recognise the director by just watching the film.
3. Signature Styles
The first similarity in these three opening credit scenes, would be the similarity in
choice of music. However seeing that each of these films are of the Thriller genre,
it would make sense. The Music that the director decided to use are all very
orchestral. for example, the use of string and woodwind instruments is found in
the opening of the Village. The audience will know that this film is a thriller
because of the intense music playing. In Signs, string instruments are used to set a
fast pace to the film. Just like the opening to The Village, Signs opens up with
calm and laid back music, then it suddenly picks up for a bit, then it slows down,
and then picks back up again and stays the same for the rest of the opening. In The
Sixth Sense, the opening also uses string instruments, however it is not as intense
as the music in Signs or The Village. The music is calm and almost relaxing,
however it still gives off the feeling of a thriller.
4. Signature Styles
The second similarity is that these films have titles that fade in and fade out. In
The Sixth Sense the titles fade in and out slowly because of the slow and calming
music that is being played in the back ground. However in the films Signs and The
Village the titles fade in and out slowly during the relaxed period of the music, but
then seem to almost dart off and on screen as the music intensifies. The titles
come on and off screen in synchronisation with the music. As a loud note is hit,
the title will fly on or off screen, which really makes an audience pay attention to
the titles. This can really build tension because you never know if another title is
going to fade in after one has faded out. Once a title has faded out, anything could
happen and appear on screen.
5. Signature Styles
A third similarity would be that the titles are being shown on plain backgrounds.
In The sixth Sense titles are shown on a black background. In Signs, we are shown
a blue background with a faded out border. And In The Village the titles are
shown on a shot of a worms eye view of tree branches in what would seem like a
forest. That is the only film that would give the audience context of where the film
is set. A blank background gives the feeling of surprise, because you never know
what is going happen next, and what and where you are going to see next.
6. Signature Styles
A third similarity would be that the titles are being shown on plain backgrounds.
In The sixth Sense titles are shown on a black background. In Signs, we are shown
a blue background with a faded out border. And In The Village the titles are
shown on a shot of a worms eye view of tree branches in what would seem like a
forest. That is the only film that would give the audience context of where the film
is set. A blank background gives the feeling of surprise, because you never know
what is going happen next, and what and where you are going to see next.
