Welcome to Dunraven Film Opening

Use this blog to record the steps you and your group take as you research, plan and create a 2-minute opening of a fictional film. You will also find useful information to help research and plan your work. Good luck.

Thursday, January 20, 2011

Sample Opening Analysis


The sequence opens with a slow tracking shot, eventually pausing on door with metal grating. The absence of a non-diegetic soundtrack, which is common in the opening sequences of most films, particularly those in the crime/thriller Genre, focuses the audiences' attention on the diegetic sound. The lack of camera movement in the first sequence is disquieting for the audience, and focuses our attention on the movements of these characters; the fact that we only see them in Medium Long Shot also distances us from the emotionally - these are not characters that we warm to.
The hiss of grasshoppers is a commonly used signifier of a warm climate, which makes the first man's clothing all the more notable. He is clearly coded as a villain - his black clothes, ornate belt-buckle and sharply manicured goatee are all commonly used conventions. The other man is clearly his subordinate - his clothes are far scruffier, as is his generally appearance. The fact that he is the one carrying the bigs also connotes lower status on his part.

This analysis covers only the first 20 seconds - bear in mind the level of detail and that you should be covering at least the first 2 minutes.

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