Main Post 1: Conventions of an Opening Sequence

Our main task is to create an opening title sequence for a film. In doing this we will need to research the conventions of opening titles in order to see what I should use and what I shouldn't use in my opening sequence.

FILM 1: I started my research looking at the opening scene of The Girl with a Dragon Tattoo.

The Girl with a Dragon Tattoo - Opening Sequence

here is the title of the film of which
gets covered away halfway through
the opening sequence.

The piece is full off non diegetic music, the rhythm of the sound tract is upbeat and has a fast tempo, which creates a sense of urgency  The sound effects used add more depth to the piece and create an irregular and uncomfortable feel for the audience to experience. The music has been chosen as gives an insight to what the film is going to be about, it also suggests that the film is going to be action packed and full of unusual things. Rock music with a twist has been used, it has a strong base and is very upbeat and modern. Also as it is a well known song (a cover of "immigrant") it gives something for the audience to relate too. I feel that the music works well with the piece as it creates a quite intense effect and contrasts well, with the unique and unusual images that emerge throughout the extract - which are all synchronized with the footage in one way or another with added sound effects to make the piece more dramatic.

Through out the extract of the opening scene their are lots of extreme close ups of which have been used to enhance certain, specific objects. At the begging of the piece its starts with a master shot of the sea in deep blue and mono chrome colours, this sets the mood for the rest of the opening, as the tempo speeds up the piece becomes more dramatic and exaggerated. Most of the piece would have been done using CGI as seems to come across quite fake and unrealistic, but is effective at the same time as creates a futuristic feel.

Low Key Lighting has been used throughout the opening scene to create a sense of danger and to create a sense of not knowing whats in the darkness. The body language of the people in the footage gives of a creepy vibe and the screen shot below suggests the film is going to be quite intense. At the begging of the extract quick flashes of images appear in unison to the music - this gets the audience involved as they are able to follow the beat as well as viewing visual unconventional images and makes you pay attention to whats happening on screen, which is effective.

Here are two screen shots taken from the opening sequence as examples of the colour scheme and a suggestion of the unconventional objects.

Information about Genre:

Suspense and Crime are genre's that are included and have been based around within the Girl with a Dragon Tattoo. Crime Fiction has always traditionally been seen as a male dominated genre but since 1990's there has been a witnessed boom in the crime fiction created by women and female protagonists. This is suggested in this film as it was quite popular within both female and male audiences. I would say that that the opening sequence to this extract is very male orientated as is very suspicious and dark. But from a females perspective i appreciate this open sequence and find it very open and set the audience up and put them in the right mind set for the film there about to see.



FILM 2: Research looking at the Opening Sequence of Avengers.

The Avengers - Opening Sequence 

http://www.artofthetitle.com/title/the-avengers/

In the opening sequence for the Avengers, we are firstly introduced with intricate close ups, of moving images, of buckles and pieces of costume from the film itself.  The extreme close-ups allow the audience to be drawn closer and to get more involved with what is happening. The canted angle creates the feeling of disorientation.

The opening sequence is full of non digetic music and has a high beat consistent  the whole way throughout the sequence. I appreciate the choice for sounds and music as they come together and contrast well in a manner that they create a sense of adventure and get the audience in the frame of mind and excited to watch the film, which is the general expectation of any opening sequence. The  chosen sound tract for this opening sequence allows the audiences get involved and  creates an explicit atmosphere within the piece, when the  main bass drops it dramatists the sequence and creates the perfect opening sequence for an action adventure film.

The extreme close ups of images shown throughout the extract create the sense of the un-known and makes the audience think about what each element could be or represent, which allows the audience to get involved with the opening sequence,. The images of super hero costumes and aspects and weapons they use is effective as allows you to link each feature to main components and characters of the film. The dim lit and low key lighting used in some places of the extract contrasts with the sudden bright lights and fundamentals of the innaviative and effective piece.


Information about Genre:
 The Avengers is an Action and a Science fiction film. The Avengers is based on and around the marvel comic book series, and includes characters from each comic including Iron man, The Incredible Hulk, Thor and Captain America. All of which have come together to create an epic big screen adventure, which consists of all the comic super hero's teaming up to work together  create a dramatic, action packed film. Overall I would say this film is mainly aimed at male audiences due to it being rather stereotypical that boys/men read and have a better acknowledgement of comic books. But from watching and analyzing the opening sequence It comes across as though it was made to target female and male audiences  due to the vast amount of inative designs and views also isn't dark or daunting but quite exuberant and exciting.