As part of my research, I looked particularly at the openings of thriller films. One opening that has inspired me in particular is the opening of the 2011 American thriller film 'Drive'. I found this opening interesting through it's effective use of the conventions I have previously researched, which has inspired me to put my inspiration from this film, across to the rest of my group.
The overall film follows a Hollywood stunt performer (Ryan Gosling) who moonlights as a getaway driver. This immediately indicates the themes of theft and robbery, but also seclusion and mystery.
The opening of 'Drive' is a good example of a film that follows the conventions of a film opening. For example:
The opening begins with the establishing shot of the city, establishing the metropolis location of the film and further indicating the urban and contemporary district circulating the film.
The opening then goes on to show a low-angle shot of the protagonist, not only following the film opening conventions by establishing the main character, but through the use of the low-angle camera shot, also introducing his character as powerful and reigning, engaging and intriguing the audience into his complex character.
The opening also uses the non-diagetic sound of intermediate technological music, creating a slow pace, corresponding the metropolis location, but also coming across as ironic to the title of the film, further suggesting wit and mental ability, implying the tone of the film as accelerated.
The opening also follows the conventional order of a title sequence, by crediting the production and distribution companies, whilst also using the structure of a discrete title sequence. For example:
The opening uses a discrete opening to credit the leading actor of the film after crediting the the production and distribution companies. This makes it clear of which character, the audience will see the perspective of.
It also then goes on to show the title of the film, whilst also showing the shot of the main character in the car, not only establishing the title of the film but also establishing the main setting of a car.
The opening also uses Mise en scene very effectively when foreshadowing certain aspects of the film and further creating an overall tone.
For example, one aspect I personally thought was very effective was the over the shoulder shot of the main characters jacket appearing to have the print of a scorpion. This I thought was very effective due to the fact that scorpions symbolize calmness, but when interfered with they symbolize fierceness and aggression, foreshadowing and indicating as to have a hostile side to him.
As part of my research I had to watch an episode of Watching, which is a show about cinema- impulses and urges that unite film rather than directors and actors etc.
Thomas Sutcliffe says ''Films need to seduce their audience into long term commitment. While there are many types of seduction, the temptation to go for instant arousal is almost irresistible." By this he means that films need to entertain straight away. They need to be eye-catching and keep the audience hooked from the first glance. This first glance then should keep the audience hooked enough to watch the whole film. The beginning of the film is what we base our judgments and opinions on, therefore it needs 'seduce the audience into long term commitment'.
According to Director Jean Jacques Beineix, the risks of ‘instant arousal', is that the audience do not wait or rear the anticipation to wait for the point of the film.
"a good beginning must make the audience feel that it doesn’t know nearly enough yet, and at the same time make sure that it doesn't know too little." This is so there is a hook which is good enough to keep the audience watching the film. It is saying that a good beginning should not reveal too much but at the same time give off enough information so that the audience like the film. Therefore there should be a balance. By watching the beginning of a film, the audience needs to be able to adjust and establish many things before making the decision to watch it further.
Critic Stanley Kauffman says a classic opening would have an 'establishing shot of New York city' and then a close up of the building and the camera went up a building to a window and then it went in the window, then it went past the receptionist desk to the private office and there sat Carrie Grant.' This worked because we had been told where the scene was taken place, what the occupation of what the hero was and the organisation of the world.
Kyle Cooper's title sequence to the film ' Seven' is effective because it instantly hooks the audience, tells the story and shows us key elements of the psychotic behaviour of this man. "The psychotic energy of the titles were more influential than the film itself."
'A Touch of Evil' was a Orson Wells film. He wanted to plunge the audience into the story without giving them time to prepare for themselves. He also wanted to make the audiences to feel as if it is real. He did not plan on putting any credits at the beginning as he just wanted the audience to get into the film straight away. However Universal Studios were far more cautious about it , and added in the credits underneath the opening in the final cut. This was done so the audience could prepare themselves for the film in a way.
“a favourite trick of Film Noir" can be defined as the beginning of the film being more like an ending rather than the start of a film. The film is not that clear and is quite confusing to the audience. However as the audience watch it, it starts to make sense.
The opening of 'The Shining' creates suspense as it starts of with quite a weird deep suspenseful music, which immediately makes the audience think what has happened. Also it is set in a deserted land sea area, which is not the usual opening scenes to films. Also the camera seems to follow the car as if a predator
I watched a film called The Collection, which is a Action, Horror, Thriller film. This was done to expand my research on Thriller openings.This thriller was released in 2010 and is starring Josh Stewart, Daniel Sharman, Randall Archer etc. The director is Marcus Dunstun.
The film is of many genres; Action, Horror, Thriller. The thriller would a sub-genre, which is a genre within a genre.
This opening contains a Discrete title sequence: This is when shots/images/scenes stand apart from the film with titles. May contain elements from the film (which are indicators to the plot) but not part of the narrative. Also with a mix of Stand alone titles, but however the black background fades away and it is back to the film.
180 Degree Rule:
In film making, the 180-degree rule is a basic guideline regarding the on-screen spatial relationship between a character and another character or object within a scene. An imaginary line called the axis connects the characters and by keeping the camera on one side of this axis for every shot in the scene, the first character will always be frame right of the second character, who is then always frame left of the first. If the camera passes over the axis, it is called jumping the line or crossing the line.
Match cut:
Technical term for when a director cuts from one scene to a totally different one, but has objects in the two scenes "matched," so that they occupy the same place in the shot's frame. The director thus makes a discursive alignment between objects that may not have any connection on the level of story. Match cuts offer directors with one way to create visual metaphors in film since the match cut can suggest a relation between two disparate objects.
As part of my research, I closely watched the BBC FOUR documentary 'Watching', in which, not only bettered my understanding of film openings, but also inspired and gave me ideas on the different techniques I should use when it eventually comes to producing my own thriller opening.
Below are my responses to the questions, in which I took note of whilst watching the documentary:
1. ''Films need to seduce their audience into long term commitment. While there are many types of seduction, the temptation to go for instant arousal is almost irresistible''- Thomas Sutcliffe.
Through this quote Thomas Sutcliffe, was explaining the importance of films, instantly grabbing and intriguing their audiences in the first few minutes. This quote has particularly inspired me to take this into initiative, when producing and editing my thriller opening.
One film opening that successfully follows this is 'Final Destination 5', in which creates a sense of excitement through the use of fast pace editing and piercing and explosive mise en scene and images:
Above is an image of an example of the stylistic editing used in this opening, to create a fast, violent, piercing and hazardous effect thorough the use of smashing glass irresistibly tempting the audience.
2. According to Director Jean Jacques Beineix, the risks of 'instant arousal', is that they don't raise or rear your anticipation to wait for the point of the film, in which you are content.
3. ''A good beginning must make the audience feel that it doesn't know nearly enough yet, and at the same time make sure that it doesn't know too little''
This quote is accurate in that the reason that a good beginning shouldn't reveal too much or too little, due to the fact that there should be a balance, in which intrigues and excites the audience through mystery, but also doesn't create too much mystery, which will lose the audiences engagement.
4. The film critic Stanley Kauffmann described the classic opening to have an ''establishing shot of new york city' then a 'close up of the building and up the building to and through the window, past the reception and through to the office and there is Carrie Grant''.
He then explained that this, in fact worked as it was not only the process in which established the occupation and authority of the hero, but revealed the 'organisation of the world'.
One film that successfully follows this classic opening is the thriller 'Panic Room':
5. Kyle Cooper's title sequence to the thriller 'Seven' was particularly effective, as it feels as if a part of the film:
It effectively tells a story, introduced you to the main character and successfully used foreshadowing to hint certain aspects of the film.
Above is the first example of the opening telling a mysterious story through the various use of investigative mise en scene and editing- further suggesting the plot of the film.
Above is a close-up shot of the protagonist of the opening, handling a sharp blade with their gritty fingers, effectively introducing the main character as risky, hazardous and in some ways impure.
Above is another close-up shot of the text of book highlighting or covering text from a book about pregnancy, perhaps foreshadowing pregnancy or concealment as one of the themes of the film.
The opening is quoted as a 'Psychotic entrance', due to it's tuning and telling the audience that the movie is going to energize them for what is going to happen.
6. For the opening of the film 'Touch of Evil', Orson Wells wanted to plunge the audience straight into the film by excluding the credits and titles. He also wanted to control the audience, by making them forget that they are watching a film.
However Universal Studious thought this was too much of a risk and so put credits underneath the opening in the final cut.
7. The quote 'a favourite trick of Film Noir', is defined as the trick in which some directors use to make the beginning of a film feel like the end or the destination. This is effective because if the audience didn't realize the reasons for the beginning the first time, it is clear the second time they watch it.
The opening of the film 'Casino' is an example of a film in which uses the 'favourite trick of Film Noir', in it's opening as we are first introduced to the the dramatic consequence of something, in which we later find out the reason for this at the end, which also makes more sense for the audience the second time you watch the film:
8. The beginning of the thriller 'The Shining', creates suspense in it's opening. In addition it successfully uses the 'favourite trick of Film Noir':
The first time the audience views the film they feel the easy uplift of a helicopter shot , in the opening, but on the second viewing they are aware of the 'screen full of omens'.
As shown above the camera pursues the car like a predator, high up and from behind. The far helicopter shot puts emphasis on the minuscule car, also remaining fixed on it creating a sense of danger and eventual capture.
As shown here in the long shot of the contented yellow car, the camera tracks it from behind and further remains fixed on it, creating a sense of danger and suspense, implying that the individuals in it are travelling in the wrong direction.
Skyfall is a very popular thriller film, which i have chosen to analyse. It is a 'Discrete title sequence' as it has images of 'James Bond' in action and it also has key props from the film with titles, however it is not the start of the film.These elements shown in the title sequence give the audience a sense of what the film is about.This is a very action packed fast faced thriller and can immediately see this from the opening.
Camerawork: There are long shots of James falling further down. There is a wide shot to show that James is in the sea drowning. There is a close up of the blood on the James target board.
Editing: At the beginning after James is shown it fades out, which hints that danger is lurking. There are scenes which are edited in- the building under water and the blood underwater hinting maybe that his world has gone down.
Mise en scene: It is set underwater. This hints that James is dead, but later on we go on to see that he is not. There are guns, target boards etc which all are key elements in the film.The guns show danger and fighting.
Sound: Non-diegetic sound played in the background, which is Adele's song recorded for Skyfall. It sounds very dark and eerie which gives us a sense that this film will be thriller based and there will be trouble.It is also quite fast paced which gives us a hint that this film will probable thrive on action
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre:
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre is a quite gruesome thriller. It is a 'Discrete Title sequence', as there are images of the settings, glasses, bath tub, maggots etc which is used in the film. But this is whilst having the actual credits at the bottom with a black background and the images/clips from the film is at the top left corner. This gives a sense of what the film will be about straight away, which is most probably gruesome torture.
Camerawork: There is a wide shot of the house, which establishes the settings. There is a close up of the chainsaw, which shows that it is a key element in the film, along with the fact that there is an inscription on the chainsaw which allows the audience to see what it says.
Mise en scene: Set in a isolated house. Key props would be the bath tub and the chainsaw. All other props shown still play a significant role in the film, like the glasses
Editing: This has been edited to be a dull brown color, to show that there may be dull plain characters, who could be considered the antagonists. Also it has been edited with flashes to add a sense of something wrong.
Sound: This opening title sequence is completely silent, which adds to the thriller effect. It shows that this film is not a typical happy film but instead it gives a sense of danger.
I watched this thriller as part of my research for thriller openings. The task was to find a previous film opening and analyse it. I went to 'Hall of Fame' to select the film opening. This opening is quite gruesome, there is blood everywhere and meat cutting and also a young girl who seems to be psychotic.
Mise en Scene: This is the setting and props used in the opening. It is clearly set in a kitchen where it is visible that a murder has happened and this person is cooking them. The props would be the cooker, knifes, chopping board, onion, meat hammer etc.
Camerawork: The scenes from the opening have many different angles. There are many close-ups of the meat, which makes the audience feel a bit sick as it is very bloody and gruesome. There is also a mid shot of a cup, which has had blood poured into it. There are also over the shoulder shots and high angle shots and etc.
This is a close up of the meat
This is an extreme close up
This is a high angle shot
This is a over the shoulder shot
This is a mid shot
Sound: There is non-diegetic sound which has been put in order to make it eerie and gruesome to add to the thriller theme. Also there is diegetic sound, which is of the cooker and the chopping of the meat/onions.
Editing: This has been edited to look darker to add to the thriller theme. The pace is quite slow to show what is happening and gives a hint that this person is quite crazy.
This is the storyboard that we made using the Quark Xpress software, during the planning for our preliminary project.
We took pictures and put them in order and they will serve as a guide to the actual filming of the prelim. We will try to follow this storyboard and film shots similarly to the way we took these pictures.
Narrative Openings:This is when the first part of the film is seen with titles either superimposed (when the title is laid on top of the film setting) or inter-cut.
Discrete title sequence: This is when shots/images/scenes stand apart from the film with titles. May contain elements from the film (which are indicators to the plot) but not part of the narrative.
Stand alone titles: This is when the title sequence entirely is made up of titles (usually on black backgrounds) which then leads into the film.
NARRATIVE OPENINGS: Panic Room
This opening shows the location of the film straight away and the titles are super imposed- on top of the buildings.
DISCRETE TITLE SEQUENCE: Seven
This opening contains short scenes from the actual film- the book, writing, images, cutting, sticking, blood etc. The titles are in the background- inter-cut and superimposed.
STAND ALONE TITLES: Psycho
This opening has the titles on a black background and also it is a very short title sequence.
As part of the planning process, for our prelim film, it was vital for us to decide on a certain scenario and location, in which we would not only film but capture the shots in which we would use on our storyboard.
Scenario
As a group, we decided to film our prelim exercise in the style of the thriller 'The Taking of Pelham 123', in which we had earlier researched. One particular scene in which we chose to use intertexuality to replicate, is the opening scene:
For example, we were particularly inspired by the part of the scene, in which two characters were shown speaking in the location of an office.
This two-shot shows two characters discussing a certain subject, in the locaton of an office around a desk. This is one example of a shot we were particualrly inspired by whilst planning our prelim film.
We were also inspired by the close-up and over the shoulder shots used, during this section of the scene to capture the two characters conversation in action.
Another shot we also wanted to replicate is the establishing shot of the city at the start of the opening, in which further establishes the location.
Although we used aspects of the opening scene from 'The Taking of Pelham 123', we also used our own ideas. For example we decided to make the short 'animatic' of a Police officer, interrogating a criminal.
During our lesson, we learn how to use a camera and a tripod, as well as the media cards and were to insert them. We was taught this through a tutorial which explained in depth how to use them safely so we don't get hurt.
We used :
a JVC camera:
a tripod:
a still camera:
We was taught exactly how to put the camera on the tripod so that it can securely be on without falling and causing any harm. We was also taught how to extend the tripod safely without our fingers getting hurt. We was told to listen out for a click when the camera is on the tripod and to tighten the button the side so that it is locked. We was told to slide it off rather than pulling it off so that there is no damage done. For the tripod we was taught to keep our hands away from the leg when the switch was open so that our fingers doesn't get hurt and we was told to always lock it so its safe. Furthermore we was told the consequences of damaging the equipment.
There are three ways in which a film opening can be structured:
Stand alone titles
Narrative opening
Discrete title sequence
The stand alone titles
This type of opening consists of titles shown on a black background before the film starts.
Narrative openings
Titles run during the first scene of the film, which is part of the film's narrative. They can be superimposed, appearing over the scene, or inter-cut, where the scene is divided by titles shown on a black background.
The discrete title sequence
These are highly stylized openings that contain images that are not part of the narrative, but may hint to it or to important characters by showing key props. In a thriller film, this type of structure is usually edited at a very fast paced and accompanied by suspenseful music.
