1. AS Media Studies
Extension Exercise
‘Watching’ Documentary on Film Openings
The ‘Watching’ Documentary is in the Thriller folder on any of the Media
macs. It is half an hour long. ‘Answer the following questions as you watch
it.
1) What does Thomas Sutcliffe mean when he says “Films need to
seduce their audience into long term commitment. While there are
many types of seduction, the temptation to go for instant arousal is
almost irresistible”
2) According to Director Jean Jacques Beineix, what are the risks of
‘instant arousal’?
3) Explain why “a good beginning must make the audience feel that it
doesn’t know nearly enough yet, and at the same time make sure
that it doesn’t know too little”
4) What does critic Stanley Kauffmann describe as the classic opening?
Why does this work?
5) Why is Kyle Cooper’s title sequence to the film Seven so effective?
6) What did Orson Welles want to achieve with his opening to the film A
Touch of Evil? What did Universal Studios do to it? Why?
7) What is meant by “a favourite trick of Film Noir”? What is the trick?
8) How does the opening to the film The Shining create suspense?