Research - Opening of three films

Opening of three films

Most Films have common codes and conventions that are used throughout its length. For my research I have looked at film openings from a wide range of themes in crime such as Train spotting and the Godfather. Here are a few analyses of these:

The purpose of an opening to a film is to establish the mood and visual character of a film, to introduce the viewers to all or some of the following:

• Characters
• Location
• Narrative/Plot
• Themes
• Visual style
• Genre

The Shining (1980)

Director: Stanley Kubrick

Genre: Thriller/Horror/Crime.

In the first three to five minutes you don’t really know what the film is about or what is going to happen because the characters in the film are acting normal as a family but you as the audience do get the slight idea that something is going to happen. The isolation is the only clues you are really presented with. You are thinking who are the suspects and who the villain/s will be.

In terms of how the cinematography, the film begins with an establishing shot of the location and the camera slowly zooms in on the location, which looks completely isolated. The camera goes onto a canted angle, which builds up the suspense and tension. The next shot is a bird’s eye view where we are looking down on a winding road, the camera angle then changes again as we see the car travelling along the road. This suggests that the car maybe symbolic or the person in the car plays an integral role in what is to happen as the film unravels. The beginning seems very isolated which we later learn becomes a main theme in the film. The colours are mostly greys and dark colours, which helps portray the atmosphere of the film.

Plot of the film:

A man, his son and wife become the winter caretakers of an isolated hotel where Danny, the son, sees disturbing visions of the hotels past using a telepathic gift known as The Shining. The father, Jack Torrance, is underway in a writing project when he slowly slips into insanity as a result of cabin fever and former guests of the hotels ghost. After being convinced by a waiter’s ghost to correct the family, Jack goes completely insane. The only thing that can save Danny and his mother is The Shining.

Camera work and sound

The use of camera work was good as there was a lot of use of close ups when it came to the most dramatic moments. This showed the audience how the character was feeling and made you feel the suspense created in the film. However there was no great use of high and low angle shots, this may be because the angle shots would not build up the suspense needed for the film. There was a lot of use of silence and loud building up music this helped to build up suspense for the audience. The music has been chosen wisely in the film because it creates a bizarre surreal feeling about the film. There are strange noises in the opening titles which are in some way of a distraction for the audience as we try to familiarize ourselves with the plot.

Titles:

The titles are presented at the start of the film this shows who acts, and the director and film crew.

Font, colour and positioning of titles

• The font is bold and can be clearly read.
• The positioning of titles is mostly in the centre of the screen.

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This provides us with ideas for own opening sequence such as:

We can use the dull lighting that is stressed in this film for ours because in our film clip we want to create the feeling of suspense, as we want the main character to feel like he is being watched and followed.

The use of suspense between each shots and the ideas given which has given me a clear idea how to go about making our opening.

The Godfather (1972)

Director: Francis Ford Coppola

Genre: Crime/Gangster/Thriller

The film starts off with very eerie and slow jazz music; I feel this sets the scene well. The opening begins with a very slow jazz soundtrack, which is typical of thrillers. A plain black background, which connotes wealth, death, mystery, and evil, is contrasted with white writing, which has connotations of coldness, fear, reverence, and again, death. The writing simply says 'The Godfather' with puppet strings attached to the word 'father'. This symbolises the control that the godfather in the film has, and, as the audience will discover, how he controls people below him like a puppeteer controls his puppets. The title disappears and the audience is left with a black screen, emphasising the connotations of the colour black, and also adding mystery and suspense - we don't know what will follow.

A man with an Italian accent then starts speaking in a speech-like manner, the lighting is very poor and you can only see the man’s face. The camera angle used is close up. The man’s speech then turns into a story about how his daughter was attacked. As the story slowly unwinds, the camera slowly zooms out to a medium shot. The man telling the story is clearly upset. The mise en scene at this point is all dark, with only the man's collar being the only colour of white, reflecting the title screen with white contrasting with black.

As the story is climaxing, the camera completely zooms out into an over the shoulder shot and by doing this, revealing a new character, ‘Don Corleone’. Due to the lighting, you cannot see him clearly. The shot now reveals brown mise en scene - a wooden table, with a couple of papers on, making it seem to the audience like some kind of office. The man then says how he wants justice for his daughter, and asks Don Corleone for this.

This is the first time Don Corleone speaks, he speaks in a monotone voice and you cannot hear him well, also due to the camera angle and lighting you can still not see him. After having something whispered in his ear, the camera swings round to reveal the Don for the first time. The lighting has now improved vastly and reveals two other men in the room.

The Don refuses the man’s request for numerous reasons, during this; he is stroking his cat and a relaxed manner. The man asks how much money he wants. Obviously, Don Corleone doesn’t like this as he gets up from his chair, walks to the window and explains he doesn’t want money, he wants respect and friendship. During this, the camera is swapping between two shoulder shots to allow the viewers to see facial expressions. The Don then accepts his request of justice and is thanked by the man. During this, lively music comes on and the man leaves.

Throughout the sequence, a range of shot types are used. These vary from slow zooms outwards, which draw the viewer in, to over the shoulder shots which are an innovative way of depicting a conversation. They add variety for the audience, as well as being very effective.
The mise en scene is made up primarily of a brown palette, which represents wealth, fascism, and boldness. The brown palette is very typical of American Gangster thrillers, which hints to the audience the genre of the film. The lighting used is simplistic - only coming from the slatted blinds, and a small light to the right of the frame. The clothes the characters wear are suits, indicating wealth, superiority and a kind of professionalism within them. It can be noted that the character played by Brando is the only one to wear a red flower, and also can be noted wearing a wedding ring, suggesting that he is a trustworthy man, even though he seems to be the leader of this group of men, who appear to believe they are above the law. As Brando asks Pacino why he went to the police first to sort out his daughter's rape, rather than him. This, teamed with their accents, makes it seem to the audience like some kind of mafia.

Overall, I found this opening very effective, as it set the scene well, and engaged the audience by keeping them in suspense through using its fantastic camera work and mise en scene.

Plot of the film:

The story begins as "Don" Vito Corleone, the head of a New York Mafia "family", oversees his daughter's wedding. His beloved son Michael has just come home from the war, but does not intend to become part of his father's business. Through Michael's life the nature of the family business becomes clear. The business of the family is just like the head of the family, kind and benevolent to those who give respect, but given to ruthless violence whenever anything stands against the good of the family. Don Vito lives his life in the way of the old country, but times are changing and some don't want to follow the old ways and look out for community and "family". An up and coming rival of the Corleone family wants to start selling drugs in New York, and needs the Don's influence to further his plan. The clash of the Don's fading old world values and the new ways will demand a terrible price, especially from Michael, all for the sake of the family.

Trainspotting (1996)

Director: Danny Boyle

Genre: Comedy/Crime/Drama.

The first three minutes of the opening of this film immediately portray the characters as drug abuses with a very low standards and lifestyle. This film uses a voice over which introduces each of the main characters, therefore immediately attracting the audience to the characters and allows us to relate to them. The music used helps create the atmosphere and mood of the opening few minutes. The atmosphere created by the music gives the audience a sense of excitement. It starts before the pictures and launches you straight into the film. This is called a Sound Bridge.

The opening starts with instant action/fast-paced which keeps the audience interested.

A lot of darker colours are used to show it’s down to earth, gloomy surroundings and quite gritty. The characters daily lives are portrayed through pictures, which is a montage of different scenes that introduces the main characters. When introducing each character the frame is frozen and their name is shown, Renton's name is shown first so you assume he's the main character. There is two of the same type of shots showing the main characters football team, and then it compares them to the opposing team. This makes the main character seem unorganised, anti-social and have a very low standard life style, compared to the other team who are in matching kits. There are quick cuts of Renton in different scenes falling backwards, one where he's been hit by the football and one where he is taking drugs in his flat. The two scenes demonstrate the contrast between social and unsocial behaviour.

Mise-en-Scene from the opening sequence and the main character's accent you can tell the film is set in Scotland. The film is also based about the early 90's, you can tell this from the way the characters are dressed and the vehicles involved in the opening scene. The lighting used is natural lighting, even in Renton's flat.

Plot of the film:

Trainspotting is the tale of Scottish heroin junkies and their lives in Glasgow. Mark Renton makes a decision to quit heroin and is joined by his friends (one of which just comes off it to prove to Mark he can do it easier than he can.) While off the skag, the friends go through numerous unfavourable events, prompting them to resume their addiction, but a tragic turn of events makes Mark resolve to leave his old life behind and go to work in London, but he soon finds out that he can't always leave his past behind that easily.

Camera work and sound

In the opening two minutes there is a lot of use of tracking shots following the main characters running, there is point of view shots from main character running and another from the car driver. A medium close-up and a long shot of Renton in his flat smoking drugs. Also lots of moving camera shots at low angles of the characters playing football. And a low close-up of Renton on his floor, the camera starts at his head then tracks down his body and away from him. This signifies that the audience is lower than this character and we should fear him as he has greater power than us.

It starts with an upbeat song, which is non-diegetic, and carries on through the whole opening scene, further more the song fits the start shots where they are running. Rentons voice is talking over the scene, which is non-dialectic also. The music becomes quieter when he is talking.

Titles:

The titles are presented at the start of the film this shows who acts, and the director and film crew. When introducing each character the frame is frozen and their name is shown, Renton's name is shown first so you assume he's the main character.