Opening Sequence Examples
The first two minutes of a thriller
film are vital to setting the scene and to also introduce the characters
to the audience. The first couple of minetes are used as hooks to
immedietley get the audience immersed and intrigued in the mystery of
the story line. The shots used are obscure as they keep the viewer
distanced from the main storyline. This helps to make the viewer
question certain things and to keep them in suspense. An example of this
is in Shutter Island (2010) where montage editing helps to create
questions as to why the images are important. The camera shots are also
used to create a tense atmosphere and to establish roles such as a low
angle for a higher authority figure and a high angle for a lower
authority figure. In the Usual Supects (1995) a medium closeup of an
obscured face to show an enigmatic character. Location and mise-en-scene
are shown through wide angle shots. Tracking and panning shots help to
set the scene and location. This is especially done in Donnie Darko
(2001). There is very little character development in thriller opening
sequences to keep the viewer guessing. There is also generally tension
building music or music on loop which helps to build tension.
Lost Highway
Sound: There is little dialogue with only one line being spoken by the
voice in the speaker. This creates intrigue for the viewers. This will keep them intrigued with the film and want
to continue watching to find out who the men are and what the words really mean. Non diegetic music is used which is loud and eerie which creates a
lot of suspense and tension for the scene ascending in crescendo as it
the scene went on.
Camera
- Long take moving around the flat, creates tension as no cuts to
relieve the tension extreme close up to buzzer, pause while waiting for
him to press the
buzzer and hear the other man talk which makes it tense as we wait with
anticipation for the buzzer to be pressed.
Lighting - dark and shows the shadows really well and the light of the cigarette creates a sinister feel to main character.
Titles
- Patricia Arquette, Balthazar Getty, Lost Highway, Robert Blake,
Natasha Gregson Wagner, Richard Pryor, Lucy Butler, Michael Masse, Jack
Nance, Jack Kelher, Henry Rollins, Giovanni Ribisi, Scott Coffey, Gary
Busey, And Robert Loggia, Casting by Johanna Ray C.S.A and Elaine J.
Huzzar, Music By Angelo Badalamenti, Editor Mary Sweeney, Patricia
Norris.
Titles Analysis - All through the titles there is the graphic of headlights illuminating a highway. Every once in a while the name appears as if its coming down the road towards the camera/car. Once the titles have reached the screen they stay there for a couple of seconds. When the titles leave the screen they zoom right into the camera/car and go away. At certain points during the titles the camera starts to go shaky which shows that the road has become bumpy.
The Bourne Ultimatum
Camera - Shakey camera footage (handheld)
creates tension as the Police are chasing Bourne. There are also a lot
of quick shots that shows that Bourne is desperate to get away. There is
a closeup of Bourne when he is patching himself up which shows the pain
on his face Bourne then seems to have flashbacks where the camera
repeadetley draws closer to his face after each flashback.
Sound - Police sirens show that the Police are coming after Bourne. There is also non-diegetic sound in the form of tense music.
Lighting - When Bourne is in the medical facility there is a lot of dark lighting and this helps too create suspense.
Titles - There were no titles in this opening sequence.
Jurassic Park
Camera - There is continued close ups of the
bushes ruffling and the Park workers faces. There is a long takeof box
that the forklift truck is moving. This puts epmphasis on the box and it
keeps the viewer guessing as to what could be in the box. There is a
low angle shot of some workers next to the box. There is the use of lots
of fast paced pans when the workers are attempting to shock the
creature. There is finally an extreme closeup off the leaders mouth as
he says shoot her.
Sound - There is the diegetic sound
of nocturnal jungle creatures. There is then some non-diegetic sound in
the form of music which builds tension when the gatekeeper is
screaming.
Lighting - This scene is set at night and there are very bright lights which illuminate the surrounding area.
Titles - Universal Pictures Presents, An Amblin Entertainment Production, Jurassic Park.
Casino Royale
Camera - Low angle shot of the man
getting out of the car. There is also a low angle shot of the lift.
There is a close up of the man in the lift looking up at the floor
counter. There is a quick two shot of Bond and the villain as the
villain sits down. Then there is the closeup of the villain opening a
drawer which has a gun inside. There is a flashback of an action scene
where Bond is fighting somebody. This includes a lot of fast paced
action shots.
Sound - There is the use of tense music
when the man realizes that someone is behind him. At the flashback,
there is non-diegetic music of which is almost like brass music. When
the villain pulls the gun on Bond there is some quieter more tense music
which helps to build suspense. After the villain tries to fire his
empty gun at Bond the villain asks how his contact died. This then
reverts back to the fight scene. This also brings back the fast paced
brass music.
Lighting - This scene is in black and
white but you can still tell that there is the use of dark lighting to
create more tension and suspense, However in the Villains office there
is one bright spotlight that is pointed straight in Bonds face. This
helps to portray his emotion, or lack of it.
Titles - There are no titles in this sequence.
The Dark Knight Rises
Titles - A Warner Bros Pictures Productions, In assosiation with Legendary Pictures, A DC Comics production, a Syncopy Production, A film by Christopher Nolan, The Dark Knight Rises, Christian Bale, Michael Caine, Gary Oldman, Anne Hathaway, Tom Hardy, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Marion Coltillard, Morgan Freeman, Based upon Batman Characters created by Bob Kane, Screenplay by Johnathan Nolan Christopher Nolan, Story by Christopher Nolan David S. Goyer, Executive Producers Benjamin Melinker Michael E. Uslan Kevin De La Noy Thomas Tull, Directed by Christopher Nolan.
Titles Analysis - All the way through the titles the lighting is black. There is the use of smoke and water effects to create tension. There are also lots of quick shots that show the titles from different angles. There is also the use of ice in the titles that is used to the same effect as the smoke and water as the bat man symbol emerges from the ice. There is also a breif glimpse of fire. In these opening titles it is clear to see that natural elements are being used to create tension and to try to build up to something after the titles. There is the use of loads of photos in this some of which are of the actors whose name comes up. There is then an image of a paper bat symbol beign blown away by wind which is sticking with natural forces. There is the is use of newspapers all throughout this title sequence which most notably says Gotham on it. These titles create a tense atomosphere and it keeps you wondering who is the man with the scalpal. The best effect in these titles is the fast moving camera as this creates mystery and it makes it look like it is a manic scene.
