A-level Media Pre-Production

1. Film Opening analysis – Se7en
Se7en,directedbyDavidFincher;starringMorganFreemanandBrad Pitt,isa mysterythrillerbased
on the biblical ideaof the 7 deadlysins.The overall plotof the filmconsistsof aman findingand
punishingpeople whohe feelsare guiltyof one of eachsevensins;capturing,torturingandkilling
themina waythat connectswiththeirappointedsin.The openingof thisfilmfitsinwiththe typical
conventionsthatare generallyassociatedwiththisgenre.The conventionsare notchallengedatall,
but developedandusedinawaythat fitswiththe plotof the upcomingfilm.These conventions
allowthe audience tobecome familiarwiththe genre andhintsatwhatthemestheyshouldexpect
throughoutthe restof the film. The entire openingsequencehasslightlyfadedcolouranduseslow
keylighting.Thisgivesaneerie anduncomfortablefeelingwhichimpliesthatthere willbe some dark
themesandevensthroughoutthe storyline. Inthe openingtitles,the mainactors andthe filmtitle is
shownonscreen.The fontthat is usedlooksverymessyandscratchy,and alsohas disorderly
placementwithinthe frame.There isnoconsistencyinthe positioningof the textandthere are also
irregulargapsbetweenwords.Thissetsthe vieweronedge andmakesthe frame uneasyonthe
eye. Throughoutthe opening,extreme close upsare usedonthingslike guns,bloodyfingernails,
blades,etc.,whichare all gruesome imageslinkingtightlywiththe genre of thriller,however,the
use of fastpaced andflickeringeditingandenhancesthatatmosphere of gore andhorror and
makesthe audience feeljumpyandonedge. Followingonfromthe pointof close up onhands,the
openingpartof se7enonlyshowsthe personshands,nottheirface or anythingelse thatwould
reveal whotheyare.Similarlytomypreliminarytaskshortfilm, there isalackof identitythat
increasesthe mysteryanduncertaintyof the scene.Lackof identityisapopularconventionin
mysterythrillers. OverallIthinkthatthe atmosphere anduncertaintywithinthe openingiscaused
by the director’sdecisiontoreveal verylittle,whilstincreasingthe tensionconstantly,andmaking
the audience expectantof somethingmakingthemjumpsuddenly.Alsoaddingtothisis the
inconsistencyof the wholeprocess.The timings,framing,coloursandanglesare all inconsistentand
differentthroughout,takingthe audience outof theircomfortzone.Althoughthisopeningscene
doesn’tbreakoutof the expectationsandconventions of the average mysterythriller,theyare
developedinawaythat I feel isverysuccessful andunique.Itissuccessful inputtinganaudience on
edge,yetcurious.