Film 1: Back To The Future (1985)
In the opening title sequence of the film we are firstly introduced to the production company for the film, that being the film company Universal. This is important to the opening scene as some audience members may have only been intrigued as they feel that Universal Studios are a high budget production company that is known for making high quality films.
The first audio that is picked up is the sound of a single clock ticking. This is an excellent use of enigma as it is able to make the audience contemplate over the reason behind using a single clock as the first form of audio in the opening title sequence. It is also astonishing how that single clock is able to summarise almost the entire plot behind the film (as it is also about the travel through time itself). as we are shown some of the opening visuals we hear and notice that there are a vast array of clocks within the one household, which could at first make the audience feel that whoever lives in the house is obsessed with time. Furthermore, the use of countless antique clocks could suggest that the person who lives there is presumably an elderly person. As the opening carries on we are shown even more clocks, which by now would make the audience feel that the person who lives here is probably a madman, or a person who's work relies around the constant observance of time.
The first moment that the audience are shown something other than a camera is when we are shown a news report stating "Brown Mansion Destroyed". This is interesting as it gives the audience an insight into the backstory of the film. the top of the paper also says "Hill Valley Telegraph" which is helpful as that place could be the set location for the film.
Film 2: Juice (1992)
I chose for the second film to be Juice by Earnest R. Dickerson. I felt that this would be a good example as (even though it is an American film) it does address the sort of issues that I feel would be a good base for my own title sequence, as the film is based on four friends who live in an urban area that get dragged into the crime around the area.
Opening sequence:
As we are shown the opening credits of the film, the first audio that the audience is introduced to is the sound of a heart beating. This is interesting as the sound of a heartbeat to me personally reminds me of someone who is undergoing surgery for one reason or another. This could have been used by Earnest to help portray that someone later on in the film could potentially be getting extremely hurt. This an excellent way of revealing to the audience the sort of events that they should expect to see later on in the film.
The next audio that the audience is introduced to during the credits is the sound of Rakim's (one of Americas most notorious gangster rappers) song. This is interesting, as it completely switches the mood from an eerie and scary sound of a loudly beating heart to a hip hop track. I feel that the use of this was to essentially reveal to the audience how the narrative will unfold, but starting at the end and going back to the beginning; The sound of the heartbeat is one of the events that will happen later on in the film (and is possibly the disruption of the equilibrium), whilst the sound of the hip hop track is how the characters are at the very start of the film (possibly being the equilibrium)
The camera then cuts to some establishing shots of tower blocks and subways all painted with graffiti. It is clear that the director used these shots/images in an attempt to give the audience a brief insight into the type of area that the film will take place in. It could have also been used to emphasize the characteristics of the characters in this film, as the area itself is able to reflect the visual image of marginalized youth and/or crime.They also choose to film streets around the area, and speed up the time. I felt that this could have possibly been used to give the audience an understanding of the area that these boys live in, and how their struggle in society and around the area itself is a constant battle (possibly making it feel normal to them).
Film 3: Kidulthood (2006)
I chose Kidulthood to be the third film, as it goes along the same sort of agenda for my film idea: it focuses on the lives of adolescent people getting themselves to grips with urban crime. It also portrays a wide array of conventions that I personally feel would suit my film perfectly.
Opening sequence:
The first thing the audience are introduced to are the opening credits. As this is occurring we are also introduced to the sound of what appears to be a fast paced, upbeat track. I feel that this is an important aspect as it could have been used to correspond with the characters (as the younger generation are usually seen to be constantly active). The first visual image that the audience is shown is a close up on a person (presumably a teenager) playing around with a football. The fact that this is the very first visual image that the audience are introduced to is important, as I feel that this was the directors' way of revealing to the audience that this film in all its entirety will be focusing on the younger generation/teenagers.
The shoes of the person who's kicking the ball appear to be very messy. The first thing that you could derive is that the boy must play on muddy terrain, however, I also feel that the idea of muddy trainers while playing football could show the childish (and possibly mischievous) behavior of some of these teenagers. This could have been done to foreshadow the imminent problems that will occur later on in the film due to the childish behavior of some.
The camera then cuts to some very brief images of some of some of the different friendship groups at school. The director could have been trying to show how teenagers would usually hang around with other teenagers that would act the same way they do. I also feel the effect this has on the audience is that it makes the audience feel that there is some sort of conflict between the different groups and that the director is using this to show that the different groups could continuously clash later on in the film.
The next thing the audience are shown is an extreme close up a drill bit being tightened up to a standing drill, and the drill bit drilling into something metal. This is able to connote many different images. Firstly, the image and sound of the drill bit being tightened up into the standing drill almost slightly resemble the sound and image of a magazine going into a gun. This is a smart way of getting the audience to feel the director trying to foreshadow some of the events that may take place later on in the film. Furthermore, the image/sound of the drill bit going into the metal is very nerving, as it seems to make the audience picture the idea of someone stabbing someone else. This idea, accompanied by the uncomfortable pleonastic sound of the drill bit being tightened into the standing drill truly portrays to the audience the feeling of gang-related violence.
No comments:
Post a Comment