Opening shots to British FIlm

Blurred lights streak this way and that with swipes of white and grey,
the type fading in and out in a flash, growing larger and smaller, and
then comes more: hands reaching in the darkness, the glimpse of a
tunnel, and the sinister sounds of a violin being hastily plucked. A dark
cellar full of secrets emerges through shocks of x-rays, weathered
photographs, ancient texts, equations, and newspapers. As the music
crescendos, the storm of letters and lights is swallowed by television
static and the thunder of a jet flying into view, its red lights in focus.
I like this style of title because the black and white flashes
draw me in and create an atmosphere. I can tell instantly
that this film will be scary because of the music used and
how different shot lengths are used, for example, short
shots are used a lot and almost create a flash of scary
images, e.g. Skulls and blood. Pictures and shots of x-rays
create a scary atmosphere. I like this title because it doesn’t
give anything away about the film but draws you in a lot at
the same time. Whilst I was watching this title I wanted to
watch the whole film just to see what it was about. When
the jet flies in at the en with the red light in focus it discards
the sense of scariness and replaces it with suspense as to
what will happen next. This type of title wouldn’t be used in
British social realism because it is very stylised and British
social realism films usually cut straight into the action and
show a ‘slice of life’. This title sequence has taught me that
short quick shots create a suspense and the different angles
of the text fit around the pictures so you attention s drawn
instantly to one point on the screen. In my opening two
minutes I will put titles near to were I want the attention
drawn to. Other films he as worked with:
-Buried
-Red Lights

The opening sequence to This Is England sets the backdrop for the
radicalism of the National Front and a splintered subset of skins. On
display: the women of Greenham Common, the Iranian Embassy
Siege, the nationwide miner’s strike, a bolstered Thatcher and Reagan
and of course, Roland Rat.
I like this style of title because it shows straight away what
the film is about, it cuts straight into real life, proving that it
is British social realism. The music used is up beat and
catchy, the titles fit in well with the beat of the music which
is something I’d like to try and incorporate into my film, this
is because it is quick and snappy drawing the audience in. In
the first few seconds of this opening sequence, classic
British symbols like Rowland Rat and Space invaders are
shown, proving that, again, this is a British social realism
film. As well as this, the set is established in these first two
minutes, the housing I close together and terraced, there is
graffiti on garage doors and the way in which the people are
dressed shows that the film is set in the past. I would like to
set my opening two minutes in the present so I will chose
reasonable clothing and the right setting, e.g. Birmingham
town centre where there are modern buildings and modern
surroundings i.e. up to date cars and fashion. The clothing
and shots that are in the opening two minutes are of things
past events, like Princess Diana getting married, Rowland
Rat and Space invaders, these were all common things in the
eighties so straight away I new when this film was set. Also
in these two minutes, none of the people used are known
actors, this type of film will suit British social realism well.

Screen Shots of each shot from
This Is England.

Shot 1 Shot 2
Start: 00:01 Start: 00:04
Finish: 00:04 Finish: 00:07

Shot 3 Shot 4

Shot 5 Shot 6

Shot 7 Shot 8
Shot type: Moving Shot type: Still
Number of titles: 0 Number of titles:1

Shot 9 Shot 10
Shot type: Still Shot type: Moving, establishing the setting
Number of titles: 1 Number of titles: 1

Shot 11 Shot 12
Shot type: Moving Shot type: Moving

Shot 13 Shot 14
Shot type: Moving
Shot type: Moving Number of titles:1
Number of titles: 1 Start: 00:56
Start: 00:53 Finish: 00:58
Finish: 00:56

Shot 15 Shot 16

Shot 17 Shot 18
Shot type: Moving
Shot type: Moving
Number of titles: 1
Number of titles: 0
Start: 01:05
Start: 01:03
Finish: 01:07
Finish: 01:05

Shot 19 Shot 20
Number of titles: Same title from previous shot. Number of titles: 1

Shot 21 Shot 22

Shot 23 Shot 24
Number of titles: 0 Number of titles: 0.

Shot 25 Shot 26
Number of titles:0 Number of titles: 0

Shot 27 Shot 28

Shot 29 Shot 30

Shot 31
Number of titles: same as previous shot Shot 32
Start: 01:31 Number of titles: 1
Finish: 01:34 Start: 01:35
Finish: 01:37

Shot 33 Shot 34
Number of titles: carried on from previous shot Number of titles: carried on from previous shot

Shot 35 Shot 36

Shot 37 Shot 38
Number of titles: 1 Number of titles: carried on from previous shot

Shot 38 Shot 39
Number of titles: 0
Number of titles: 0
Start: 01:53
Start: 01:55
Finish: 01:55
Finish: 01:57

Shot 40 Shot 41
Number of titles: carried on from previous shot Number of titles: carried on from previous shot

Opening shots to British FIlm

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Opening shots to British FIlm