What is the purpose of a film opening?
The purpose of a film opening is to engage the audience and excite them to carry on watching. Usually, the film opening can introduce the main characters, the setting, and it should also establish the genre of the film whether it is horror, comedy, romance, thriller etc. However, these elements are not always introduced in an opening of a film. There are many ways in which these establishments can be introduced in the opening, the director could consider to open them using:
Flashbacks: This is used to give important background information that is relevant to the rest of the film, and could give the audience a better understanding of what the film will be about. This is also a chance to introduce the main character, and give an insight of the character's past which could be an important factor to know o understand the film. An example of this would be the film 'I am Legend' starring Will Smith.
Flash-forwards: This is used to conclude a film, and show what the ending will be like at the beginning of the film. This engages and causes to insert questions in the readers minds about what will happen next exciting them to know why it happened, and this grabs their attention.
Panning of Landscape: This is used to set the scene, and show the audience where the film is set/taking place.
Narrations: This is used to give background information on who the characters are, what is happening, what they are doing and it gives he audience an insight of what the rest of the film is about and they are able to understand the rest of the film. An example of this would be the film opening of 'Hot Fuzz' introducing one of the main characters, what he does, and what is going on. This provides them with factual information that relates to the rest of the film.
Fight/shoot out/chase scenes: These are usually fast paced openings that excites the audience and makes them want to keep their eyes glued onto the screen. The opening will go straight onto a bit of action and usually with the use of weapons and fighting scenes and this would want the audience thinking why it is happening. Also chase scenes engage the audience as they would want to know what will happen next especially after the chase as during the chase its very intense. An example of a chase scene is in te opening of the James Bond film 'Casino Royale' where the character is jumping over buildings, running and climbing walls and the audience would want to know why James Bond is chasing the other character and the wait for this entices the audience to find out why.
Title sequence: This is a method in which films present their title, key production. Just before the film starts, the production companies are shown, e.g Universal, Momentum etc.
Flashbacks: This is used to give important background information that is relevant to the rest of the film, and could give the audience a better understanding of what the film will be about. This is also a chance to introduce the main character, and give an insight of the character's past which could be an important factor to know o understand the film. An example of this would be the film 'I am Legend' starring Will Smith.
Flash-forwards: This is used to conclude a film, and show what the ending will be like at the beginning of the film. This engages and causes to insert questions in the readers minds about what will happen next exciting them to know why it happened, and this grabs their attention.
Panning of Landscape: This is used to set the scene, and show the audience where the film is set/taking place.
Narrations: This is used to give background information on who the characters are, what is happening, what they are doing and it gives he audience an insight of what the rest of the film is about and they are able to understand the rest of the film. An example of this would be the film opening of 'Hot Fuzz' introducing one of the main characters, what he does, and what is going on. This provides them with factual information that relates to the rest of the film.
Fight/shoot out/chase scenes: These are usually fast paced openings that excites the audience and makes them want to keep their eyes glued onto the screen. The opening will go straight onto a bit of action and usually with the use of weapons and fighting scenes and this would want the audience thinking why it is happening. Also chase scenes engage the audience as they would want to know what will happen next especially after the chase as during the chase its very intense. An example of a chase scene is in te opening of the James Bond film 'Casino Royale' where the character is jumping over buildings, running and climbing walls and the audience would want to know why James Bond is chasing the other character and the wait for this entices the audience to find out why.
Title sequence: This is a method in which films present their title, key production. Just before the film starts, the production companies are shown, e.g Universal, Momentum etc.
Sub-genres of horror
Action horror: This is the combination of contexts seen in horror movies with the context of action movies such as gunfights and aspects of an action genre. An example of this would be the film Blade, a vampire superhero action movie.
Body horror: Mostly to do with deformed of bodies, using graphic destructions and degeneration of bodies. This includes out of place limbs, or the creation of monstrosity out of human bodies. An example of this would be the science fiction thriller film 'The Invasion' starring Daniel Craig and Nicole Kidman.
Comedy horror: combines comedy and horror tougher. Usually not as horrific as other horror films, but the thrill of it is used to humor the audience. An example of this would be a zombie comedy film 'Shaun of the Dead'.
Gothic horror: Contains both goth and horror elements. It sometimes will contain romance and usually filled with suspense. An example of modern gothic horror movies now would be 'The Woman in Black' starring Daniel Radcliffe released in 2012
Natural horror: This genre is more to do with nature such as animals, or plants. This genre can overlap with the action/adventure genres. An example of this would be the 1975 American horror/thriller film 'Jaws'.
Psychological horror: Usually relies on the characters feelings and emotions, their guilts, fears or beliefs. Emotional instability and could consist of ghosts and supernatural figures to build tension. An example would be the 1973 horror film 'The Exorcist' about a demonic possession of a young girl. A more modern psychological horror film would be the 2012 film 'Sinister'.
Science Fiction horror: Often includes subjects about mad scientists, or abduction of aliens or experiments which go wrong etc. An example of this would be the 2011 American horror film 'Apollo 18' written by Brian Miller.
Slasher film: Usually is about a psychopathic killer stalking and killing a sequence of victims in a violent manner, usually using props like knives or axes. It can overlap with crime, mystery or thriller. An example of this genre would be 'Prom Night'.
Splatter film: Focuses on gory, graphic scenes of violence. Special effects used and blood and guts shown a lot. An example of this would be the independent horror film 'Saw'.
Zombie film: Creatures usually portrayed as reanimated corpses or dead humans. An example of this would be the post-apocalyptic science fiction horror film 'I am Legend' starring Will Smith.
HORROR FILM OPENINGS RESEARCH
To help us with our film opening ideas, in class we were shown several film openings filmed by the previous year
This film opening is based around the social networking site, Facebook along with a horror element to it. You can see this straight away in the beginning, starting of with relaxed, slow piano music to go with the typing sound on Facebook and when the girl is running away but when we see the the criminal, the music changes to an upbeat, fast tempo music, and I really liked their choice of music as it fit in perfectly with the clip. I really liked their use of effects too changing the scene colour into a dark, misty, grey colour to compromise with the scene being filmed in the forest which I thought was very clever. Also, they had good use of camera shots, like the shot when the camera is going round and round the girl victim which is also faded in with the forest trees which was very interesting to find out how they edited that in because that was one of my favourite shots in the clip. Also, the shot when the criminal drags the victim across the forest was a very effective shot, they focused on the girl's bag blurring out the background before they then focused entirely on the dragging of the body across the forest. Another shot they did very welll, was when the man is walking in a sort of warehouse and the lights are flashing on and off and their use of camera was very effective throughout the clip. The only criticism I have on it overall is that the clip consisted of too many jump cuts and there were about three different scenes in the clip resulting in it looking more like a trailer than an actual film opening, so this helped us as a group to try and not make the same mistake.
|
This was my favourite film opening out of all the openings we watched together in the class. Even though though this film opening was not of a horror genre, it still influenced us on how we would like to film our opening. The genre of this clip was action/thriller and included murder scenes, money and hid from the stereotypical ideology of dominance in the males with a film genre like this, but they challenged this stereotype and we could see that it is the woman who holds the dominance in this clip. Immediately, I was drawn to the clip when the female was putting on her lipstick as there were fades to different scenes, and the camera angle as she was adjusting her scarf I thought was very effective. The non-diagetic soundtrack went very well with the scene, and the sounds that were used throughout the clip were very effective in making the clip more appealing to the audience. Our group particularly liked the lift scene, it flowed very well with the sound and we found it very interesting as the lift closed to when she strangled him with her scarf. The car park scene was my personal favourite scene in the whole clip because of their use of camera angles which were extremely efficacious. My favourite part of the scene is the camera angle from underneath the car and all you can see are their feet. This shows that they really planned their filming out, everything ran smoothly and they really thought about how it would appeal to their audience, especially using the film company Paramount which was a great film company to use as it matched the genre of the film. Overall, the film opening was very productive in filling out every aspect of their film genre, their mise en scene, sound, editing and especially their use of camera showed it to be a success. My group and I will definitely will look over this clip to influence us with our ideas.
|
AMITYVILLE HORROR 2
When looking at this film's opening, we realised that the opening was too long and a little boring because it is focusing on one area however, it did mean we got a main idea of what this film would be about, and that it would focus on the house and left me with questions about why the house as been highlighted through this opening. I liked the music choice of the opening because it fitted in well with the atmosphere and miss en scene. In the film opening, the presented company is shown ''Dino De Laurentiis Presents'' and then the title of the film 'Amityville Horror 2' followed by introducing the names of the names of the characters. This is known as a title sequence which is also included with the effective use of sound and visuals.
Also this is a planning of landscape as it shows the setting of the film, and where it has mainly been filmed and taken place in which is the house as it has been promoted a lot in the opening. The establishing shot in this film gave us ideas of our establishing shot and where it should take place as it would give the audience an idea of where it is.
THE WOMAN IN BLACK
I really like the idea of this opening as it leave such an effect on the audiences. I liked the use of slow motion of the three little girls playing with their tea cups and dolls. Great use of miss en scene and props indicate the context of the film e.g. . The 3 girls who are playing with tea cups are wearing old fashioned girl dresses which signified that the context of the film was from the past because it’s based on the 1983 stage play which was also based on the book written in 1983, and this film starring Daniel Radcliffe film was released in 2012. Sound choice was effective as it went with the scene. Great opening and this could influence our main task. The opening I think is narrations giving a little bit of background information, what is going on, how it has happened etc. we are also introduced with the woman in black herself on the right corner, so it gives the audience a little information about the film. The choice of music during the opening scene was very affective as it went with the atmosphere of the film. There were a lot of creative parts with the opening and it was very well planed out and camera shot was good because they use lots of different shots for example close ups, panning shots and mid shots and over the shoulder of of the women in black. The screen shot above shows a good use of how they have placed the actor on the left hand side of the screen with the woman in black placed over his shoulder on the right hand side of the screen.
An establishing shot is common in horror films as it tells the audience of the area in which a certain scene is going to happen in. This is the establishing shot from The Woman in Black. The use of a creepy house adds tension and atmosphere to the audience as they know to expect something next which will be aimed to scare, and the use of an establishing shot in a creepy house finishes the overall feel of the moment.
P2
This opening gave me a lot of ideas; it introduced the setting which was based in a car park. The use of camera was used well, not many cuts which so it didn't give away too much in the scene. Music changes after texts are finished, and cut to the scene, where a slow, jazzy Christmas song is playing in the car park and then a sudden scare to which they present the title of the movie. The idea of this film is a film that starts at the end of the film. the camera movement is very slow paced within the opening scene which adds to the suspense as to what will happen next. This idea would be great to implement into my own groups camera work along with the use of low lighting to make it more distinguishable as a horror. I liked the use of low lighting to create a dark and eerie atmosphere to the scene accompanied by the creepy music. The use of non-diegetic music seems to be a repeating convention in all the opening scenes. Also, the camera movement is very slow paced within the opening scene which adds to the suspense as to what will happen next. This idea would be great to implement into my own groups camera work along with the use of low lighting to make it more distinguishable as a horror.
This shoulder shot is very effective and intense. You can see that the woman is frightened and not aware of who is behind her and it is only a matter of time before she realises which creates suspension for the audience.
I AM LEGEND
Opening gives us an insight of the film, of the news and how the woman has supposedly cured cancer, and then the jump cut to the emptiness and unsighted world. By day he scours the city for food and supplies while sending out desperate radio messages in hopes that someone might respond, and by night he attempts to find a way to reverse the effects of the virus by experimenting with his own blood. Also, the film had a range of flashback scenes which made the film a lot more interesting Flashbacks are used to show or tell past events. It helps describe the character and what they've done to make the story occur. They also tell the background of a person and explain what made them feel that way.
This scene is an extreme long shot because of the extreme distance between camera and subject. This is very effective in stressing the environment in which he is in and the situation in which he is in. It shows the location and the actor in one shot.
PRODUCTION COMPANIES
A production company essentially helps to create the film- it assists in the budgeting, scheduling, scripting, casting and more. The company usually looks overthe film from when its just an idea to completion.They are responsible for finding a director and the majority of acting talent required
Hammer Film
Hammer is one of the most well-known film brands in the UK and is responsible for the worldwide smash The Woman in Black, the critically acclaimed Let Me In and Wake Wood and many more tense psychological thrillers. Usually, they run along the convention of gothic horror films, Hammer also made a series of low budget psychological horror films too. This appealed to our group a lot because we do not have a big budget for our film so it was interesting to see how Hammer pulled the films off.
Produced by Hammer Film Productions. The film stars Daniel Radcliffe. It was released in the United States and Canada on 3 February 2012 to generally positive reviews, and was released in the United Kingdom on 10 February 2012
Warner Brothers
Warner Brothers (WB) is known for producing some of the most successful movie series that includes Superman, Batman, and Harry Potter. WB went on to produce other successful movies like Casablanca and Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?
Casablanca was released in1942, and it was an immediate success, despite Warner Brothers' fears that it would fail. The film was nominated for eight Oscars and won three, including Best Director for Curtiz.
Momentum
It is one of the leading independent motion picture distributors in the UK and Ireland and releases approximately 20 theatrical films a year, which also produces world wide success with horror films such as woman in black staring Daniel Radcliffe. Another good horror base film they produced in 2012 was House at the end of the street. Starting Jennifer lawrence, Max Thieriot,Gil Bellows , Elisabeth Shue which is an american base horror/thriller.
Lionsgate
Lionsgate help start the sequal for a number of different SAW films that started back in the January 2004