The document analyzes and compares the openings of three gangster films - Pulp Fiction, Scarface, and Se7en - through timelines created while watching each. The opening of Pulp Fiction focuses on camera movements and angles during a conversation scene. Scarface uses explanatory text to describe the situation for audiences. The most interesting to analyze was Se7en, which had lots of action, changing non-diegetic music, credits in different fonts, and interesting camera movements and closeness. Through creating these timelines, the document benefited from seeing different approaches to creating engaging film openings.

1. Analysis of
Gangster
Films
By: Fahrin Sultana

2. I did a timeline whilst watching the opening of Pulp Fiction. Pulp Fictions opening wasn’t very
exciting. I couldn’t describe when the credits appeared because for a start there wasn’t even any.
My timeline describes mostly the camera movements and angles that happened during the
conversation between the man and woman. There are different shots for different parts of the
scene depending on what is going on. The first shot appears instantly and is a mid shot or two shot
of the two people talking.

3. I did a timeline whilst
watching the opening
to Scarface. Scarface
had a lot of text to be
read by the audience. A
lot of my timeline
mentions when these
texts appear. The text
was describing the
situation and explains
some facts and
knowledge to the
audience before
watching the film. I also
mentioned the
different types of
camera movement
briefly which we could
see in the opening. In
addition I described
roughly where abouts
the credit was made
and the way the text
was portrayed e.g. the
font of the text.

4. I created a timeline whilst watching the film opening of Se7en. This was by far the most
interesting one to write about. In such small time there was lots of action taking place. For
example the non diegetic music in the background changed pace. The credits appeared in
different fonts at different times. The camera movement changed at different times too and
the steadiness and closeness of the camera was interesting to watch.

5. I have benefited from watching these openings. By
analysing them and creating these timelines I get to
see the different approaches made when creating a
film opening. Its not always the case that the
quality of the opening gives an impression of what
the rest of the film will be about however it may be
a make or break situation that glues the audience
and interests them to continue watching the film. I
found Se7en particularly interesting as the non
diegetic music cleverly worked with the camera
effects and movements and entices me to want to
watch the film.