2. Through my analysis of film openings for different movie genres, I have
come to understand useful content that would be beneficial in helping my
group and I to create an effective film opening. The following slides
address what I have learnt and also what I need to do in order to magnify
the success of our group’s film opening.
3. Conventional Content
Most film openings contain several things to establish to the audience the
narrative as well as the fact that the movie is beginning. Some of these
include:
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A title
Credits (actors, producers)
Idents
Characters being introduced (and so narrative can be established)
4. Creating the best mood
Depending on the genre that the film is going to be, music and lighting are
essential in creating specific moods/atmospheres. If the film were to be
based on a cheerful story then we could expect to see bright lighting
(perhaps a light-coloured filter) where the film is played alongside
relaxing or merry music; this would create a more positive and jovial
mood. Whereas, if the film were to be based on a thriller/horror we could
expect a dark filter to be applied to the footage where ominous music
would play in the background, creating a negative mood whilst also a
tense and foreboding atmosphere.
5. Titles
The film openings I have looked out have proved extremely useful in
discerning how many factors have to be considered simply to introduce
the title of the film. Such things include:
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Colour
Background
Typography/style
How the text might reflect the film (e.g. Iron Man title)
Music played in the background
How the title is introduced- fade in and out?
6. Technical Construction
To create the opening of a film I have to consider all the mentioned factors,
along with what I want the preferred reading of the film to be. Camera
editing, shots and the post production of the opening scene forms
technical construction which has to be carefully researched and planned.
After having looked at several opening scenes already I can establish that
different camera shots are effective in introducing characters and setting
the narrative. By varying the editing techniques I can create different
effects on the viewer. Both camera shots and camera editing will be
planned prior to filming. Finally the post-production of the film will have
already been planned in terms of music and lightning, in accordance to the
genre. This would therefore make it easier to complete the project as
quickly but as detailed as possible.
