Opening sequence analysis for my media coursework.

2. Film Genre:
- Science Fiction (Sci-Fi)
How is this Displayed in the Opening Sequence?:
- Codes and conventions used:
- Space setting
- Advanced technology
- Sun flares
- Astronaut suits
- Use of white / silver / blue / grey / black
- Sans-serif font
- Non-diegetic music
- Diegetic sound / sound effects
- Film narrative – The film follows a conventional plot line, investigating solutions to the
world’s problems, and the inevitable downfall of futuristic systems

3. - This opening sequence is part of the film itself, introducing the audience to both the main character
and setting immediately. In addition, the advert for ‘Lunar Industries’ shown at the beginning of this
opening sequence provides narrative information, as it explains why the film’s main character is living
in such an abstract location.
- Location and setting are used to engage the audience within this opening sequence, as although they
are conventional to the genre, they are out of the ordinary to the audience, who will never have been
to such a place. A large amount of screen time is dedicated to displaying location/setting, giving the
audience time to get a good feel for what it might be like to be in the position of the main character,
and allowing it to appear more real to them
- The lack of information given about the main character creates intrigue within the audience about the
type of character he may be, and this will persuade them to keep watching
- The advert shown at the beginning of this opening sequence explains how one company, ‘Lunar
Industries’, has developed a solution to the Earth’s previous energy crisis. This strongly suggests that
the film is set in the future, for these are developments our current society hasn’t made in real life.
Enigmas Created in this Sequence:
- How long has the main character been there?
- How will the main character be able to return to Earth?
- When will the main character be able to return to Earth?
- How has the main character been affected by living on the moon alone for so long?
- Why is the main character alone?
- When in time is this film taking place?
- Has the use of HE3 been successful?

4. Font:
- White / grey / silver – The colour of the font changes depending on the setting/location in which the credit/title
appears. This makes each credit appear as though it is part of the action rather than placed over the top of a scene
- Sans-serif – This style is typical to the sci-fi genre
- Bold
- Capitalised
- Large in size
Positioning:
- Each credit is angled and sized to fit into the setting in which it appears. For example, some credits appear along
the walls of the base. This creates the feeling that the credits are part of the action, rather than superimposed over
the top of the footage
- The film’s title is positioned in the centre of the frame, making it the focal point, and capturing the audience’s full
attention
Movement / How Titles Appear:
- The majority of credits fade in and/or out of shots, which fits with and reflects the slow pace of the sequence. In
shots where they don’t fade in and/or out, they’re already on-screen when the shot is cut to, or they remain on
screen until either the camera moves, or there is a cut to the next shot
- When the action within the opening sequence moves (e.g. when the main character is inside of the moon vehicle
and it’s shaking), the credits will move with the action, again making them appear as though they are a part of the
film world.
- Credits appear on-screen individually, and follow the standard, basic order closely
- The film’s title fades in, which again fits with and reflects the slow pace of this opening sequence

5. Costume:
- Mismatched/unfashionable everyday clothing – This suggests that he doesn’t have access to resources such as new clothing. It
also suggests he doesn’t care about his appearance because he is alone.
- Astronaut suit – Conventional to the genre and indicates his job. In addition, the suit is old, worn, and dirty, suggesting he has
been working on the moon for a long time.
- Name tag – Indicates that he’s a professional, and links him to the company mentioned in the advert at the beginning. In
addition, could suggest that he is supposed to be one of many rather than by himself.
Setting:
- Outer space – Conventional to the sci-fi genre, and in this instance, conveys that the astronaut is isolated.
- Moon base – Another example of futuristic advancement in technology, and indicates his profession. It is practical and simplistic,
reflecting the lifestyle of the main character
Props:
- Robots / Computers / Satellites – These props are conventional to the sci-fi genre, and indicate a futuristic setting as the
technology is far more advanced than ours
- Moon vehicles – Another example of futuristic and advanced technology.
Body Language:
- Confident – Suggests that he is very good at what he does, and trusts in his own abilities, which then further suggests he has
been in that job role a long time. Moreover, it implies that he is used to his situation and environment.
Facial Expressions:
- Bored – Suggests that he finds his job repetitive, which then implies that he’s been doing it for a long time. May also suggest
loneliness as there is no one to talk to/interact with, or any form of real entertainment.
- Concentrated – Implies that his job is complicated, and requires hard work to ensure it is done correctly

6. Colour:
- Grey / black – This combination of colours suggests that he is alone, which further leads
the audience to believe that he is lonely. Furthermore, it suggests his work is mundane,
and that there is little change in routine, making it very boring.
- White / silver / blue – These colours are all conventional to the genre, and convey a
futuristic atmosphere.
Lighting:
- Low-key – Links to the grey / black colouring, and further emphasises that he’s isolated due
from any other form of life, and that his work is repetitive and tiresome.
- High-key – Conveys a futuristic atmosphere by making the moon base very bright
- Sun flares – These are conventional to the sci-fi genre, and are commonly used in sci-fi
films to help establish setting.

7. Time Between Cuts:
- The time between each cut at the beginning of the sequence (after the advert has been shown) is
long, reflecting the slow pace of the action of the narrative. In addition, it emphasises how mundane
the life of the main character is by suggesting there is a lack of excitement.
- As the sequence progresses, the time between the cuts gets shorter, increasing of the sequence, and
suggesting that it is building up to a bigger, more exciting/dramatic event.
Editing Style:
- The editing is more simplistic than you would expect in a sci-fi film, with straight cuts being the most
common type of cut used. This reflects the mundane lifestyle of the main character, highlighting the
fact that living and working on the moon has become his everyday life, not a big adventure, and that
there is no drama, action or excitement. Furthermore, the editing used give the sequence more
realism, despite it’s unrealistic setting, because it reflects how normal this way of life is for the main
character even though it’s wouldn’t be normal for the audience.
- Within the sequence, two dissolve transitions have been used. The first one appears between the
film’s title and an extreme long shot of the moon, and then between the extreme long shot of the
moon and an establishing shot of the moon base in which the main character works. These dissolves
gradually draw the audience in to the main focal point, providing a sense of scale, and emphasising
the main character’s isolation in the process.

8. Non-Diegetic Sound:
- Music – The use of piano played in minor keys throughout the course of the opening sequence creates a melancholic
atmosphere, and emphasises the loneliness of the main character. In addition to this, the music used gives the sequence an
air of mystery, as it’s mildly unsettling. Furthermore, as the sequence progresses, the music builds gradually with the
addition of other instruments (e.g. drums) and an increase in pace, creating a feeling of anticipation within the audience, as
it’s suggested something sudden/dramatic will happen.
Diegetic Sound:
- Sound effects (e.g. the sound of the airlock, beeps, the sound of the letters appearing when details of the moon base are
given) – The sound effects used in this opening sequence are closely linked to technology and space, and so work to convey
the genre to the audience, and to immerse them further in the opening sequence by creating a more realistic feel.
- Dialogue
- Main character’s voice – His is the only real, human voice we hear in the opening sequence, which implies that he is
alone, and most likely lonely as a result.
- Robot’s voice – The voice of the main character’s robot companion, Gerty, is monotone and void of any emotion. This
emphasises the loneliness of the main character, as the robot is unable to carry out a proper conversation, or display
any feelings. As well as this, the monotony of the robot’s voice reflects the monotony of the main character’s life, and
suggests it’s very boring and repetitive.
- Dialogue helps to establish a small part of the narrative by indicating that what the main character is doing is typical
to him, which further suggests he has been there a long time
- Voice-over in the advert - The voice-over used helps to establish narrative, as it explains how the Earth has changed, and
provides information as to why the film’s opening sequence takes place on the moon. Although the voice-over is listing the
successes and advantages of using HE3 as an energy resource, the voice is monotonous , and similar to that of the robot,
which suggests that it may not be the perfect solution. In addition, it emphasises the futuristic setting by implying that
everything has a technological basis, as it appears that even voice-overs are now created using robots.
- Music used in the advert – The tone of the music in this advert is hopeful and upbeat, which suggests that HE3 has been
successful, and that Earth has greatly improved. However, the music reflects that which was used in 1950’s adverts about
nuclear power, which gives the advert a satirical undertone, and makes it appear cheesy and/or fake.

9. Location / Setting:
- Extreme long shots containing the moon and satellites – These shots establish the overall setting and location in which the film will
take place
- Establishing shot of the moon base – This particular shot establishes a more precise setting and location for the film, and gives the
audience a better idea of where and how the main character lives.
- High-angled long shot of the main character driving his moon vehicle – This shot gives the audience a sense of scale by highlighting
how small the main character is in comparison to his environment. It draws attention to how isolated the main character is from any
other form of life, as it shows that there is nothing but an empty landscape for miles around.
Character:
- Close up, followed by a mid-shot, followed by a long shot, followed by another mid-shot of the main character (1:03 – 1:30) – The use
of these four shots, one after another, near the beginning of this opening sequence identifies the male character we are shown as the
main character of this film. Not only do the number of consecutive shots establish him as the main character, but he is also positioned
in the centre of the frame in each shot, which ensures that he is the point of focus for the audience.
Other Interesting Shots / Movements / Angles:
- Close up shots of pieces of technology – Technology, and especially advanced technology, is a key convention to the sci-fi genre. By
featuring many close-ups of objects such as robots, computers, and the mechanics of the vehicles, the genre is clearly conveyed to the
audience, and gives the whole sequence a much more futuristic feel.
- Match on action shots of the main character getting into and out of the moon vehicle
- Panning shots and tracking shots of the main character driving the moon vehicle
Overall:
- The camerawork in this opening sequence is slow and sedate, which contradicts the idea that life in space is fast-paced and exciting,
giving the sequence more plausibility, and making it more realistic for the audience as they are watching.
- Not only is the camerawork slow and sedate, but it’s also much more simplistic than that used in many sci-fi films. This simplistic style
reflects the simplistic, practical life of the main character.

10. Summary:
- This opening sequence works well to engage the audience’s full attention, using all four
of the technical elements to immediately immerse them into the film world
- The enigmas created throughout the duration of this sequence work to build feelings
of intrigue and curiousity in the mind of the viewer, meaning they will want to
continue watching in order to gain answers and find out what happens next
- Although there is very little dialogue used, the audience quickly come to sympathise
with the main character as it’s clear that he’s discontented with his current situation. In
addition, they are likely to identify with him, as he’s a realistic and believable character,
unlike many shown in sci-fi films