The opening title sequence of Se7en uses dark, close-up camera shots and low key lighting to build tension and mystery. Without establishing shots, the audience does not know the location and must focus on ominous close-ups of objects like pens, paper, and scratched out eyes in a file. The dark lighting, black and white color scheme, and unidentified character creating a sinister file increase the suspense. Editing techniques like straight cuts, cross fades and fades to black further the eerie atmosphere and suggest the character's harsh and confused nature as well as the underlying darkness and evil.

1. Se7en Analysis:
The opening title sequence of se7en is a psychological thriller it is daunting and mind puzzling
creating oodles of tension and mystery for the audience.
The camera angles and camera shots in Se7en are mostly high or front facing angles which are
supported with close up shots, within the title sequence no long shots or pans were used to let the
audience member know the surroundings of the location, this meant it was hard to know what to
expect throughout the remaining opening. As most of the props within the opening sequence were
filmed close up and was filmed with no movement so the camera can focus on one thing and to keep
the object centre. Due to this it meant that the objects took up most of the frame/ screen, with little to
see and having little information it left me as an audience member guessing and imagining what
would happen next. As the beginning of title sequence only shows close ups of the props which
consisted of pens, paper, books etc… I had assumed that the characters were in an office due to all
the office like equipment or just at home. However as there is no long shots of the location at the
beginning I couldn’t be sure which created and built tension. Also as there were many close ups it
gave you the hint that there was a file being created and by the little boys eyes had been scratched
out it implied that they wasn’t making the file for the greater good, as the making of the files were so
close up it didn’t give away who was making this sinister source which caused suspense as an
audience member. Most of the close ups of the objects had used a shallow focus technique resulting
in the audience member focusing more on the what the character was doing rather than the
character, as they get distracted it causes more tension to arise. To keep this consistent tension and
suspense they had to keep with the close up camera shots as with this technique there is not one
single piece of evidence to identity the character, and by suddenly putting in a long shot or a mid-shot
as would make the tension and suspense decrease.
The shots within the title sequence are very dark and as they are set outside it has very low key
lighting, having a dark lighting in a thriller title sequence usually connotes danger and the level
seriousness, low key lighting indicates suspiciousness. The main two colours that are used repeatedly
in the thriller title sequence are black and white, black and white could symbolise the good and evil
within the character of the character. The other colour you can see at certain points within the
sequence is red, this red lighting is used when photos are being developed this does not only show
that that the photos are being it could suggest that the person on that photo could be a victim and that
the red shows danger or possibly death, it could also suggest that serious injuries could occur to
certain individuals of his choice.
There are many transitions made with the use of editing in this opening such as: straight cuts, cross
fades, fades to black. Having a transition of a straight cut in any thriller sequence it causes the
audience member to become alert and concentrate, within Se7en a straight cut could suggest clear
decisions being made by the character and it could suggest that the character is very harsh and cold.
A cross fade could symbolise that the character is confused that there are many things going on at
the same time which makes the character busy all the time, this could be considered as a clue. Lastly
the fade to black creates a very eerie sinister atmosphere for the audience because it is fading into
nothing which shows that he is overruled by darkness and that evil always takes over. The use of
slow motion is used this creates a more sombre tone and emphasises the importance of the clip. The
title that appears resembles messy hand writing which fits in with the theme of the character writing
his files and notes.

2. Thispicture showsthe blackand
white coloursbeingresembled
througha book suggestingthatthe
character can change from goodtoo
bad bythe turnof the page,in other
wordseasily.
Thisis an example of aclose upshot
where the image takesupmostof
the scree leavingverylittleof the
surroundingstobe revealed
Thisis an example of ashallow
focusaffect,thisdistractsthe
audience fromlookingatthe
characters handand insteadlookat
the writingthatis on the paper.
Thisis the photobeingdeveloped,
the dark red lightingcouldsuggest
the dangerthat man will be in
Thisis one of the crossfadesused
withinthe title sequence,itisa shot
frombefore morphingintothe next
newshot,and thiscouldresemble
confusion.
Thisis an example of how the title
came up,the messyhandwriting
couldsuggestthatthe character isin
a rush cliptwo supportsthisas the
wordsare thensmudgedoutand
movesonto the nextscene.