Opening sequence research- Children of men

Unforgettable/ inspiring opening sequences

Unforgettable/ inspiring opening sequences:

Saving private Ryan-

The opening scene of this film begins with a man visiting a graveyard; you are then taken back to the time of war and to his story. The peaceful tranquillity of the graveyard is in strong contrast to the brutal and bloody scene of war, which then takes place. This is opening I find to be particularly memorable due to the graphic scenes of war which take place from the start. They are executed excellently from all different angles, including close ups of soldiers makes the audience completely feel part of the film world and giving, in my opinion, one of the best true to life representations of what war must have been like. Following this, I feel like the tranquillity of the graveyard with the white stone heads represents heaven and purity that was taken away from all the soldiers that lost their lives. This furthers the emotive reaction from the audience gaining their attention immediately.

From this extremely emotive opening sequence I can take away the use of close up shots to establish characters and character bonds. By using this technique to identify characters at the beginning it highlights and singles out who may be protagonist characters, allowing the audience to feel a bond and emotion for them from the start, which can then follow through the film.

Lord of War-

This opening scene follows to production life and use of a single bullet. The camera is from the point of view of the bullet, so wherever it is moved the camera goes. For example it is picked up and thrown back on the production belt and the camera follows this movement. Similarly, once the bullet has reached its destination at a dock, it falls out of the box and rolls, with this the camera rolls with it.  This life of the bullet sets the premise for the film about an arms dealer. I find it an interesting alternative to straight away going into the story of the film. It sets it up and makes the audience think about what happens before a gun is pulled on someone. 

Order of titles and credits

Name of the production company: The company that made the film, or the name of investment groups that financially contributed to the film. For example Lions Gate or Warner Bros.

Name of producer and director: Written commonly as 'a film by'. For example Quentin Tarantino or John Hughes. 

Staring: The main actors and actresses of the film (sometimes these names will come before the director/producer depending on their contract). For example Jennifer Lawrence or Bradley Cooper in 'Silver Linings Playbook'. 

Films title: This is the name of the film, for example 'Winters Bone'.

Featuring: These are the featured actors and actresses, sometimes known as supporting roles. For example Christoph Waltz in 'Django Unchained'. 

Casting: This is the names of the people who cast the film. 

Music: Also known as 'music composed by' or 'Original score' (composed specifically for the movie) For example, 'Life of Pi' by Mychael Danna or 'Indiana Jones' by John Williams. 

Production design/ designer: This is the person who is responsible for the overall look and set of the film, for example William Cameron Menzies. 

There are many variations of this order, but most stick along these lines. Other common credits include: set design, costumes, make-up artists, sound recordings, visual effects, photography and writers. 

Titles and credits

Opening titles can tell the audience a lot about the film. They may indicate to genre, themes or even set the premise for the film. Some opening credits are presented over the opening sequence of a film, however some are in a separate title sequence. Different types of fonts are used and created in typography in order to convey different tones and moods for titles. For example, a typewriter font is typically used in a military film in order to convey a strict and structured tone; whereas a bubbled font may convey a soft, playful atmosphere of a child's film. Colour can be also a strong indicator of genre as it sets the mood and premise of the film. Many colours are symbolic of emotion, for example, red- danger, pink-girly; this links together the type of film with the mood which is to come. The graphics also play a large role in setting the premise of the film, for example titles which are very passive may indicate towards a serious film, whereas titles which move frantically would indicate towards a comedy or action.

In the opening credits for 'Scott Pilgrim Vs. the world' the titles are hand drawn and overlaid in a quick motion. It indicates to a comedy or teen movie as it is not too serious and involves lots of colour and 'childlike' drawings. The fast paced credits also indicate towards the film being quick paced and energetic too- which is also a theme of comedy.




 An example of when opening titles set the premise for a film is Breaking Dawn Part 2. Followers and fans of the saga would already understand that protagonist Bella has been turned into a vampire by Edward in the previous film (Breaking Dawn part 1). The titles are symbolic of this as they show the actors and actresses names changing from red- symbolising human blood, to white- ice cold like a vampire. As the text changes from red to white, icicles fall down from some of the letters, also adding to the cold nature of vampires, further setting the premise of the film. This sets the premise showing that in this movie, Bella continues her life as a vampire. The fact that all the actors and actresses are credited in the opening of the movie also indicates that it is the final movie in the saga. In Saga's or series such as Breaking Dawn, or Harry Potter use similar or the same font in order to create recognition with the franchise.

Research on Hollywood marketing campaigns

In this task we had to research a big hollywood film and research and describe all aspects of its marketing campaign. I explored a wide range of areas including teaser posters, merchandise and the website. This task showed me the importance of marketing a film properly in order for the audience to respond and go as see the film. Areas such as special events and Twitter/ Facebook campaigns excite the audience and create hype around the film. This task has also shown me how much social media networks are of importance to marketing a film in todays society. Millions of people use these websites and it is the quickest way of getting something into the public eye. By using catching symbols- like the Mocking Jay, audiences can immediately identify with a film and will have their interest caught instantly.

Research on narrative

Narrative:

Tzveten Todorov, a Franco-Bulgarian philosopher and theorist looked into the linear narrative of stories, in particular folk and fairy tales, and recognised that all the stories followed a particular chronological structure. Todorov noted that in most stories a classic narrative pattern would occur, this pattern followed:

1.     Equilibrium- all is in order, ‘normal’ and happy.

2.     Disruption- disruption to the equilibrium by the means of an event or action.

3.     Recognition- there is recognition of a disruption has taken place.

4.     Repair- an attempt to repair the damaged caused by disruption.

5.     New equilibrium- the problem is solved and we return to a new type of equilibrium.

Classic narrative pattern in ‘Cinderella’-

1.     Equilibrium- Cinderella lives happily with her parents.

2.     Disruption- Cinderella’s mother dies and her father remarries an evil women.

3.     Recognition- Cinderella is not longer happy and is made to work in the house and see no one.

4.     Repair- a fairy godmother allows her to go out to a ball were she meets a prince who could free her

5.     New equilibrium- the prince finds her and they get married and live happily ever after.

    Classic narrative pattern in 'The Hunger Games'-
    This film does not fit Todorov's classical narrative structure which highlights a weakness to his theory. The Hunger Games is an example of one or many films which do not fit this as it does not start with an equilibrium, instead it starts with disruption. It shows that not all films are based upon a set classical structure and not all films are aiming to solve a problem. For example in the Hunger Games, nothing is being solved and there is no repeated structure within it's narrative.  

Vladimir Propp, another theorist who studied folk and fairy tales identified that there were always distinctive character types, for example heroes and the vulnerable. Claude Levi-Strauss developed this theory and focused on the connections between characters and themes, he named these binary opposites. They are used to construct contrasts within the narrative within a text or film to establish stereotypes and different ideologies. For example, Cowboys and Indians, good and bad, hero and villain.  

Binary opposites in ‘Cinderella’-

-Good and bad: Cinderella is good and kind as she never defies her stepmother and does all she says. The stepmothers and stepdaughters are bad as they make Cinderella work all the time and never let her leave.

In my film I will aim to follow Todorov's classical narrative structure as I feel this will work well in most genres and will be simple yet very effective to follow. Following this, if I were to make a horror opening sequence then I would incorporate Propp's binary opposites as it works will in this genre, due to the conflicts of good and bad.

Research on genre- Period/ historical

Genre: Period/ historical

Narrative/ theme: 
-Forbidden love (Wuthering Heights 2011- Cathy and Heathcliff)
-War (E.G We were soldiers 2002 - Vietnam War)
-Family

-Fighting
-Rich and poor
-Revenge
-Wealth (The Great Gatsby 1974)

Setting:
-Depending on the theme of the film depends on its setting. However, they are always set in a particular time period and therefore echo whatever that was.
-Castles/ manor houses
-Villages/ townships
-Country retreats
-Inner cities
-Palaces

Characters:
-Kings, Queens (E.G Elizabeth- The Golden Age 2007)
-The poor
-Family and extended family
-Slaves
-Army
-Socialites

Music/ sound: 
-Music of the period in which the film is set in. For example jazz music is playing in the film 'The Great Gatsby' as it was set in the 1920's.
-Orchestral

Lighting: 

-In most historical films they're set way before electricity and therefore the lighting is mostly natural. For example from the sun or from candles and fires.

Examples: 
'The Great Gatsby' (1974)
-Plot: Nick Carraway, a young Midwesterner now living in Long Island, finds himself fascinated by the mysterious past and lavish lifestyle of his neighbour, the nouveau riche Jay Gatsby. He is drawn into Gatsby's circle, becoming a witness to obsession and tragedy.
-Theme: Wealth, forbidden love, rich and poor
-Setting: East and West Egg in Long Island.
-Characters: Socialites (Daisy, Jay, Tom, Jordan) the poor (Myrtle, George)