There are different aspects which make up an opening sequence, such as codes you would expect:
Visual
Auditory
Written
These have different branches which make up each category:
Title/ credits- Crew details, Actors name etc.
Plot- an idea of what the film is about
Characters- Protagonist (person setting the scene)
Location- where it is taking place, could be established though iconic monuments, flags, road sign or even yellow cabs.
To create an opening an opening sequence Micro and Macro elements are introduced.
Micro- Analyse what makes up the film...
Camera
Sound
Lighting
Mise-en-scene
Editing- special effects
Macro- Builds up meanings from the information portrayed at the micro level...
Representation: Event
Location/ place
Person Character
Camera elements
· Shot sizes (Establishing)
· Framing (rule of thirds)
Focus- the depth of a field area that is in focus at any one time.
Pulling focus (drawing audience attention to an object)
· Angle of shot- Low angle= Big/ powerful
High angle= Small/ insignificant
· Movement- Tracking, Panning, Tilting, Jibing
· Hand held
· Zoom
There are more advanced way of moving the camera, for example:
Dolly- The camera can move in many different ways/ directions.
Hitchcock zoom- Tilting in, but zooming out.
Crane- Camera placed on a crane from a height. (Usually identified by a scooping shot- high to low).
Steadicam- a very steady hand held movement.
Sound elements
· Diegetic- Character can hear the sound
· Non- diegetic- Character cannot hear the sound
Sound track
Orchestral score
Genre
· Synchronous- in sync/ time
· Asynchronous- out of time (mouth moves differently from sound)
Sound effects:
Sound motif- able to recognise a character through sound
Sound bridge- changes the scene/ location
Voice over- mode of address, usually the narrator
Hyperbolic sound- enhance/ increase the sound
Describing sound- Dynamic
Tempo
Pitch
Lighting elements
Three Point Lighting-
Key Light- This is the main light. It is usually the strongest and has the most influence on the look of the scene. It is placed to one side of the camera/subject so that this side is well lit and the other side has some shadow.
Fill Light- This is the secondary light and is placed on the opposite side of the key light. It is used to fill the shadows created by the key. The fill will usually be softer and less bright than the key. To achieve this, you could move the light further away or use some spun. You might also want to set the fill light to more of a flood than the key.
Back Light- The back light is placed behind the subject and lights it from the rear. Rather than providing direct lighting (like the key and fill), its purpose is to provide definition and subtle highlights around the subject's outlines. This helps separate the subject from the background and provide a three-dimensional look.
Mise-en-scene elements
Lighting- Meaning of characters
Create atmosphere
Natural or artificial
Day or night
Costume- representation of a character
Time period
Props- incorporated objects in a scene which may need to be used, or are there for decoration to make a set look more realistic.
Set design- what the location is meant to look like, for example a cafe or a stage.
Make-up and hair- create a character
Character movement- body posture
facial expression
the mood of the character changes how they move, e.g. angry, stomp feet
Editing elements
Continuity and non- continuity
Transitions of images and sound
- Fade in/ fade out (white- flashback, unconscious. Black- end, new scene)
- Dissolve
- Superimpose- layer images (one image over another which is not 100% there)
- Slow motion
- Ellipsis and expansion of time
Cutting- getting from one shot to the next
Shot reverse shot
Eye line match
Match-on-action
Jump cut (physically moves the camera in)
Parallel editing (cutting between two narratives in the same time period)
Cut away
Visual effects
Example of an opening sequence from two films...
‘This is England’
As the film is set back in the 1980’s but realised in 2006 they needed to make the opening credits fit in with the time period. To do this Chris Wyatt (editing director) used short clips or images of different pieces of footage associated with England and the time period, for instance flags, war and fighting as it was the time of the Falkland’s war. Because of this the audience were able to establish the location, however not the characters as they do not appear (although this does not seem a major concern). Whilst the visual scenes were being shown a song was played throughout, this gave a non- diegetic approach so that the audience would focus on the pictures. However the soundtrack chosen is ironic to the film as it is meant to be promoting England, especially white national groups such as the National Front. Yet at the same time links as the film also illustrates the skinhead subculture, whose roots are associated with Jamaican culture, (especially ska, rocksteady, and reggae music). However during the film a major sense of racism is shown which makes the music chosen ironic in some ways as White’s are discriminating against Blacks yet are listening to their original music. The sequence helps create the narrative as it gives the viewer an idea of what is going to occur in the film but at the same time not giving too much away, making the audience want to continue watching.
http://www.thisisenglandmovie.co.uk/#
‘Lord of the Rings, the fellowship of the rings’
The opening for ‘Lord of the Rings’ is very different from ‘This is England’ as it sets the scene for the film by starting with the stories past occurrences which lead to the present day.
To change the time the screen fades to black which creates the narrative enigma, also the sound alters with each scene which makes it more interesting and intense. We are quickly shown the location by a map which is used also to change scenes as it is referred to when entering a new place.
As the sequence is quite long and in depth there are many shots used. For example and aerial shot, panning across the army to show how vast it is and the amount of people ready to fight for what they believe in. Another is the low angle shot on the evil monster to show his height and power.
The auditory effects play a very big part in creating the intense impact, especially with the use of instruments and choir, singing notes. However the sound effects with the hyperbolic elements truly enhance the scenes as the exaggeration of the fire and arrows, etc, make a bigger impact and show power and danger. Also as the story progresses it gains texture, as we begin to hear the characters. This helps build up the structure as well as the ‘Lord of the Rings motif which is repeated throughout. We establish the fantasy genre within the opening sequence as we see that supernatural forms are used as the primary element of the plot, and setting, as it is set in a fictional place where magic is common.
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