The document provides an analysis of the opening sequences of several films, including The Hunger Games, The Notebook, The Dark Knight Rises, Love Actually, and The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. It examines the techniques used in each opening, such as music, camera shots, color schemes, and actors featured, and how they establish genre expectations and tension for the audience. Key details like dystopian settings, intimate character moments, shattered symbols, and unsettling visuals and sounds are discussed in relation to how they immerse viewers in the thriller or romance genres.

1. KieranMorris
Film Openings Research
The Hunger Games:
Year: 2012
Genre:Thriller
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fmp8_ahaBvg
This opening of a black background with fading white text
introduces the narrative of the film, creating tension for the
audience by using phrases such as ‘Fight to the Death’. The
use of dark, sinister non-diegetic music creates a feeling of
uncertainty for the audience,enhancing the effect of the
language used.The opening shot also uses the word
‘delivered’ which implies to the audience that the
characters/’tributes’ donot have much of a livelihood. This
therefore makes the audience empathise with the characters.
This scene uses an interview style technique,using the 180
degree rule and shot/reverse shot. The ‘over-the-shoulder’
shot is also used, switching from one character to the other.
The interviewer has blue hair which implies to the audience
that this is a dystopian movie set in the future.The colourful
screens in the background suggest to the audience that the
characters are in a wealthy area.A diegetic sound bridge is
also used as one of the characters says ‘It comes out of a
particularly painfulpart of our history’. The sound bridge
suggests that the character is talking about ‘The Hunger
Games’, linking the previous two shots together. The use of
the word ‘pain’ connotes suffering and poverty; juxtaposing
the scene that is currently seen by the audience.
The film cuts to this long shot of a deprived area known as
‘District 12’. The use of the word ‘district’ suggests to the
audience that the characters living here may be ‘trapped’ and
are living in an area similar to concentration camps from
1940’s Germany.The juxtaposition between this scene and
the previous scene instantly force the audience to realise the
conditions people may be living in. The scream amplifies this,
connoting suffering and pain in a deprived place. The use of a
transport wagon also juxtaposes the previous scene with
bright lights and wealth; suggesting these characters live in a
poverty-driven place with a lack of communication with the
outside world.
The film again cuts to this scene of a medium close-up of two
girls hugging.The scream from the previous shot is sound
bridged; which makes the audience aware that these
characters are living in ‘District 12’.The audience will
therefore feelempathy for the girl screaming. A medium
close-up shot is used showing the girls comforting one
another; making the audience aware of the strong sisterly
relationship between the two characters. Cuts between the
different shots and screaming are used to shock the
audience; conforming to the typical conventions of thriller.
Dark colours are also used,which connote evil and depress
the audience.

2. KieranMorris
The Notebook:
Year: 2004
Genre:Romance
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SBRH5dOzIUM
The film cuts to Katniss getting ready to leave the house,
using a sound bridge to connect to the previous scene. As
Katniss is getting ready, the camera cuts to a black cat hissing
at Katniss. The medium close-up of the cat from a high angle
suggests to the audience that the cat has a low status
compared to Katniss the main character.This is evident
when the scene switches back to Katniss looking down on the
cat, showing higher importance and control. ‘Black cats’ are
also associated with witchcraft, night time and being unlucky.
This therefore implies to the audience that the family may be
unlucky in later scenes in the film.
The film begins with an extreme long shot of a river during a
sunset. Ryan Gosling is immediately revealed to the audience,
as he is well-known by women for his good looks and charm.
By featuring ‘Gosling’ at the beginning of the film; the target
audience of females are likely to be drawn into watching the
film and will be intrigued of what might happen.The shot is
faded in,making the setting seem peaceful; relaxing the
audience.The film also begins by using slow pace non-
diegetic music from a piano, which implies that the film is of
a romance genre, creating a feeling of peacefulness and
tranquillity within the scene. This relaxes the audiences
mind, making them more likely to enjoy the opening of the
film.
The film cuts to a long shot, revealing a boat that was hardly
visible in the previous shot. The rowing boat implies
peacefulness and tranquillity, matching the genre of
romance. The sunset and bright yellow colours also connote
peacefulness,suggesting to the audience that the characters
in this film are possibly on a date, conforming to the romance
genre.The title of the film also appears on screen during this
shot. ‘The Notebook’ suggests to the audience that the film is
about life stories of romance from an older character. The
piano music also features during this shot; continuing to
make the audience feelcalm and relaxed.
The film fades into a long shot of white birds flying across a
river and going towards a large white house. By editing the
shot so the birds are flying in slow motion and using a fade to
transition from one shot to another; it implies to the viewer
that the home is a calm, tranquilplace. This continues to
conform to the conventions of romance movies. White doves
are seen in the shot, connoting peace and loyalty. This may
suggests to viewers that the relationships that are built
during the film are peaceful,strong and show loyalty
between each character. The piano music continues to
feature in this shot, making the audience feelrelaxed.

3. KieranMorris
The Dark Knight Rises:
Year: 2012
Genre:Thriller
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZDpjSr9VhG0
The film opening fades into a medium shot of an old woman
looking out of the window. Her facial expressions suggest
that the character is ‘lost in her thoughts’,implying to the
audience that ‘The Notebook’ may be a film reflecting on her
love life. This makes the audience empathise with the
character, as she may possibly hope to feelyounger. The shot
also says that the film is based on a novel. This improves the
viewer’s expectations of the film, as they would believe the
book would have only been made into a film if the book was
popular. By featuring Nicholas Sparks (the novelist) in the
opening of the film, viewers whomay have not read the book
but know who he is, will have improved expectations of the
film due to his popular work.
The film opening sequence ends by fading into a zooming,
medium-long shot of the river, whilst approaching the boat.
The colours have become darker since the beginning,
suggesting that the setting is changing to night time. This
change may suggest to the audience that the peacefulness
during the opening may change to something darker, similar
to the change in time. The piano music ends in this shot,
ending on high notes which make the audience relaxed.‘Nick
Cassavetes’ is credited during this shot. If viewers know who
he is, their expectations of the film are likely to improve.
The opening introduces the film institution by showing the
Warner Bros. Pictures logo. This logo usually uses a blue and
yellow/gold colour scheme; however for this particular film
black and white has been used.The use of these darker
colours connotes darkness, danger and thrillto the audience,
matching the conventions of a thriller film. The institutional
logo appeals to the audience as Warner Bros. is renowned for
making popular,successful films. The film also starts by using
non-diegetic music, using a fast pace and increases in volume.
This has been done to make viewers feel‘on-edge’ and
uncomfortable as the film begins.
The institution is established again during this shot, in order
to remind viewers of the production institution and how
successful they are. The use of a close up shot makes the
audience feeluncomfortable from viewing the film from an
un-naturalisticshot; implying to the audience that the film is
going to be uncomfortable to watch. The use of darkcolours
continues to connote danger to the audience,making them
feeltense and uneasy.The non-diegetic fast pace music
continues, this time including more drumbeats.This
enhances the tension already produced by the shot;
continuing to make the audience feeluncomfortable and
conforming to the thriller genre.

4. KieranMorris
This shot introduces the titles of the film to the audience:
‘The Dark Knight Rises’. The use of the word ‘rises’ suggests
that The Dark Knight becomes stronger and more powerful,
compared to the previous film. The close-up shot along with
the movement of a scientific slide suggests to the audience
that the character is experimenting.There is also a flash of
light, suggesting that the slide is being focused on by a
microscope. This therefore suggests to the audience that The
Dark Knight is dangerous.The music continues from the
previous shots, continuing as fast paced and upbeat; making
the audience feeluncomfortable. These features continue to
follow the thriller genre; creating a sense of fear.
The opening sequences cuts to this medium close-up of shot
of a picture of a man being held by a sharp object and being
dropped in water. This implies to the viewers that this
particular character has possibly been the other character’s
victim. This makes the audience feeluncomfortable,
suggesting that the audience are in danger from also being
harmed.The man in the picture is wearing a suit, connoting
wealth and authority. This may imply to viewers that the
character holding the picture may be/have been jealous of
the characters lifestyle. The music from the start continues,
increasing in volume and tempo.
The opening jump cuts to a close-up of a microscopic slide
with the name ‘Anne Hathaway’. Hathaway is a well-known
American actress, well-known for appearing in popular films.
By crediting Hathaway in the opening sequence; viewer’s
expectations of the film are more likely to be raised,
attracting the audience’s attention. The shot continues to use
the dramatic, upbeat,non-diegetic music used throughout
the film. The microscope theme continues to be used,
implying to the audience that Hathaway’s character may be
in danger; therefore making the audience question the
upcoming plot. Making the audience question the narrative is
a typical theme of thriller movies.
The opening cuts to a close-up shot of a shattered batman
symbol. The close-up allows the audience to recognise the
infamous superhero; which improves the audience’s
expectations of the film, particularly for batman fans.Despite
this, by showing a shattered batman symbol; it implies that
the character controlling the objects is enemies with batman
and may ‘destroy’ batman. This therefore continues to make
the audience question the movies narrative; following the
conventions of a thriller film. The music begins to use a faster
pace and increases in tempo, making the audience feeleven
more uncomfortable than previously.

5. KieranMorris
Love Actually:
Year: 2003
Genre:Romance
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cUoxXpqof8A
The film opening of ‘Love Actually’ uses diegetic sound of voice-over/narration to
introduce the genre of the film – i.e.: ‘Love actually is all around’.By repeatedly
using the word ‘love’ throughout the opening two minutes; it is implied that the
film is of the romance genre as ‘love’ is a common attribute to romance movies.
Non-diegetic sound is also used in the background of the action, which has a slow
pace and is downbeat. The film is also edited so the displays of affection that people
show to each other are slowed-down for the audience to witness. Both the music
and the editing make the audience realise the importance of love, suggesting to the
audience that this is a romance movie. This represents British people as loving and
caring to one another; enhancing the importance of love. The institutional
information is also provided at the very beginning of the film. ‘UniversalPictures’ is
a well-known production company for making popular films. By adding the
institutional information at the beginning of the film; the audience’s expectations
are likely to be improved.

6. KieranMorris
The Girl withthe Dragon Tattoo:
Year: 2011
Genre:Thriller
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sY4f_83t_rw
The film opening uses non-diegetic sound in order to create tension and hint at the
genre of the film. The rock music suggests to the audience that the film may be
quite disturbing, implying that this is a thriller movie. This is accentuated by the
mise-en-scene in the opening segment; for example, close-up and extreme close-up
shots of a black and white body and ‘black water’ make the audience feeldisturbed
and ‘on-edge’.The colour scheme of shiny black and white connotes danger and
darkness, common themes of thriller movies. The extreme close-up shots also give
the audience an un-naturalistic perspective of the narrative, making the audience
feeluncomfortable and tense. The title of the film also appears in the opening,
however then disappears due tobeing ‘swallowed’ by darksmoke. This implies to
the audience that the film and its characters are powerful, continuing to make the
audience feeluncomfortable; again suggesting this is a thriller film. Daniel Craig
also features during the opening segment as the main actor, despite the title
suggesting that the main character is ‘The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo’. This has
been done so the audience’s expectations of the film are improved. The film has
also been edited so various shots ‘flicker’. For example,when the face of the
character is fully revealed to viewers in a mid-shot; the screen flickers as the head
is raised, emphasising the power and control the character may have over the
audience.By also using the Brechtian technique of ‘breaking the fourth wall’;
viewers are more likely to feelin danger and tense,both which are regular themes
of thriller movies.