Opening scenaration - Miss Miller

In the first 4 frames we did we used many different editing styles and iconography to try and create an everyday atmosphere to also create suspense. This was because if the audience see an atmosphere they an relate to it will engage them into the scene and leave them oblivious to what else is going to happen. We used a car as many people own a car and use it on a daily basis which, like i said, makes them relate to the relevance of the scene. We also used a cell phone, this again is something that people in everyday life use. And again this puts the audience into the characters shoes and engages them which we can then use to scare them more. 

In the fifth frame we introduced the killer. In this frame we hid the identity of the killer because we do not want the audience to know his/hers identity because this creates suspense throughout the whole of the opening sequence because they wont know their identity even after the opening sequence is finished. We did this by using a POV shot so that we can see from his point of view which also allows the audience to put themselves in their shoes and make a conclusion whether they like him/her or not. We did this by using a mask and filming the scenes through the wholes on the mask which gives it that POV effect. 

In the sixth, seventh and eighth frame we introduced the wife. We did this by using things which are relative to an everyday situation, like a bath and getting changed. This creates a relationship between the audience and the wife because they can relate to her situation which also creates suspense as the audience may be waiting for something to happen to the wife but aren't sure when or what will happen to her. We can then tear apart the relationship created by killing her off which the audience may not expect and create a sad atmosphere in which is were the surprise element comes in. 

In frame 11 we used two candles to create a sad an eerie atmosphere. We did this by using them to portray the husband and wife and to create tension for the audience by blowing one out to show the wife is dead. We did this instead of showing the wife being dead as it creates suspense before hand as the audience may not know if she was dead. This also creates a relationship between the audience and the husband as they empathise with the fact his wife just died and he is oblivious to the situation which also creates suspense to whether the male character is going to die.

In frames thirteen, fourteen, fifteen and sixteen we started to introduce the male character properly. In these frames we showed how oblivious he is to the fact there is a killer in his house. We did this by showing his facial expressions clearly and showing him coming home from work just like normal and acting like nothings happened, which he thinks. His facial expressions start to change when he realises his wife is nowhere to be seen although he had just rang her and she was at home. To show how his facial expressions we used close ups on his face throughout to make it clear to the audience on his situation as well as to create suspense on whether he finds out or whether he gets killed.

Planning opening Credits- Miss Georgiou

Credits are important in films as they are there to credit people who helped during the production of the film or actually acting in the film. This gives recognition to these people and give them more of a name in the industry for future director who can look at what they've done in a film and maybe hire them. This also allows the audience to research these people if they have seen something they like.  They are usually shown as text on a blank screen or static pictures, or sometimes on top of action in the show. Some opening credits are built around animation or production numbers of some sort. By analysing different sequences we have been able to look at four main points which include:

• The colours used in an opening sequence
• The Style of Credits used
• Thriller Conventions
• Order of Appearance

The first film I will be looking at is Se7en, this film was created in 1995 by David Fincher and was a huge hit with the thriller audience. The opening sequence was very effective as the colours used suggested death, blood and plain. This was because the writing flashed out at us and is coloured white and red. Another reason these opening credits are effective is because they use a lot of conventions, such as the order in which the credits are shown, eg producer first. This is key because it gives the most important people more credit than the less key people and by putting the more important people first will always suggest they are more important.  

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OEq-4fua3lM

In this opening sequence the director uses 3 colours to portray many different ideas. The first colour used is red, this portrays death, blood, evil and sins, The director used this to let the audience decide why they used this colour and to leave them in suspense to whether what is going to come in the rest of the film. Although this could also show colours of love or romance which could also suggest this thriller may be about a romance which is destroyed by gruesome deaths or maybe a love of god which is destroyed by sins. Another colour used in this opening sequence is white, this tends to show purity and maybe innocence which could suggest that this thriller may be about innocent and pure people, lovers of god, being killed. The last colour used is black, this connotes dark and evil which could suggest this thriller has something to do with the devil or evil spirits. This colour contrasts with the white which shows the good verse the bad and also makes the white stick out more to the audience and make them concentrate more on the people in the credits

  

The next thing I noticed was the style in which the credits were written, the font of the writing was different but very conventional to the thriller genre. This is because it sticks out to the audience and makes them remember the names but at the same time the font used is one I've never seen before. In addition the writing is in a way electrified and as looks as though its Moving, shaking and pulsating. This pulsating makes the audience remember the names in the writing as well as giving them an insight to what may follow in the rest of the film. This adds effect to the thriller as the jerky movement of the writing makes us as the audience feel on edge and feel uneven about the film.

In this opening sequence there are many conventions which are used, many which are used a lot by many other thriller films. The first convention used is the colours used, this is because as i said before they represent may different things like death and blood, this is conventional as death and blood are things that tend to be used alot in thriller films. Another reason the colours are effective are because they are contrasting which make the writing pulsate out at the audience which is conventional as most directors want the audiecne to notice these peoples names and give them credit for what they have done. Another convention used is the low key lighting, this is used throughout the whole opening sequence and is used to show evil and gloom over the audience. This is conventional as many directors use low key lighting to portray doom and gloom aswell as to create shadows. It also is conventional as it creates suspense as the audience cannot see much happening apart from the main prospects. Another convention to a thriller is the sound. With it being diegetic sound it creates a realistic atmosphere over the film as well as an unrealistic atmosphere at the same time. The sound makes everything more intensifying and makes the audience feel like they are in the thriller. This is conventional to a thriller as it engages the audience into the scene as they can put themselves into the scene as it seems realistic.

The Se7en opening credits are in a simple order which tends to be used by many of films.

• Title and Production
• Characters - Brad Pitt & Morgan Freeman
• Title of film - Se7en
• More actors involved
• The Director
• Producers
• Company Name
• Actors (2)
• Title
• Director (Twice)
• Music Producers
• Costume Designers
• Editors
• Production Team
• Camera Operators
• Co-Producers
• Producer
• Written By
• Director

We can see that the directors name is said twice which is used to show his significance in the production in the film aswell as the main actors are mentioned first to show the audience who the main characters are and imply their importance as well as the directors.

The next film I analysed is The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, this film is very similar to se7en as it uses alternate colours and used both white and black. It also uses many conventional items like low key lighting to portray different things aswell as giving away ideas about what may follow.

The first thing i noticed was the colours used by the director. He uses white and black which are alternate colours and make the writing clearer to the audience which is just what the director wants to do. These colours contrast with each other as they make everything more bold and it makes it stand out more so that the audience take more notice of the people in the film and the people who produced it. This is used as it is very conventional aswell as being very effective at making the audience remember the names of the people involved. The colour white suggests the innocence of the victim, that is brutally taken away when they are murdered. And the colour black suggests the evil nature of the villain in the film or the way he kills his victim.

In the background of the opening credits we can see a lot of ink flying around which relates to the title of the film, The girl with the dragon tattoo, this is used to show the audience that the name has relevance to the film as is something they should remember. Another reason I believe they used this in the background is because ink has a dull colour and could suggest the films villain is a dull person and may have weird ways of killing people. In addition we also see fire in the background, again this shows the relevance of the title as the fire could resemble the dragon tattoo which lets the audience know what the film to follow will include.

The Writing in the opening credits looks hand written and is very small. This is because the cast of the production is very big and the director didn't wanna waste a lot of time mentioning everyone's name one at a time. Another reason small writing is used is because the director did not want to cover the things which were going on in the background, like the fire and ink, which are key into creating suspense for the audience. I believe the credits were made to look hand written because this creates a sense of reality for the audience which then creates suspense as they are waiting to see what happens in the film in which they can relate to. This is also very conventional to the thriller genre as many thriller credits tend to create a sense of reality for the audience so they somewhat feel reassured but then are surprise with what actually happens in the film.

 

The order in which the production roles are set out is simple and is very simular to the se7en credits;
 

production company first

director

actors

title

actors

Filmer

costume designer

co-producers

sound man

music man

Editors

Production designer

director of photography

executive producers

producers

screen play

director

We can see again, just like in se7en, that the directors name is mentioned twice to show his importance to the audience and to make them remember his name and to maybe research him and buy some of his other work. In addition we can also see in these credits there are two lists of actors, first being the main actors to show their importance and then followed by the less important but still important actors a few frames after.

Group discussions of research and what your credits will say

Analysis of fonts/ Styles/ Colours of own credits.