Opening title sequence research

Freyabruce

I chose to look at seven, red dragon and shutter island as I felt they were some of the main influences when looking at creating an opening title sequence, as I thought they were successful

in creating an effective psychological-thriller.

Seven 1996David Fincher

Here is Two examples of the way that the titles are used in the opening title sequence of seven. The font used is white to create a chilling effect and a strong contrast of the dark background, fitting with the psychological/crime thriller.

The titles appear very quickly an flicker, the writing is overlayed making it tense and fast paced. They are always placed off centre to create an edge, and to make the viewer focus on what's happening in the background.

Mise-en-scene

The opening title sequence of seven is based on flickers and overlays of the main props used in the film. Showing significant details to the main antagonist.

The colours used are very dull. In this screenshots of the OTS you can see someone with dirty hands slicing off their finger prints, this is effect as its scary and unusual, making the viewer want to watch.

The props used in the OTS are books, blood, photos, knifes, dark lighting and shows the 7 sins as the end, which again enhances the theme.

In the OTS lots of close ups are used, epically when they are doing things for example developing photographs, the use of a close up is that it creates mystery as you cant see what else is going on and its extremely focused on the one thing. Creating a lot of emotion onto the viewer.The jolty-ness of the camera contrast to the editing creates suspense.

The sound in the OTs Is a very heavy beat with high pitched squeaky sounds, this builds up tension as it is non diegetic. Distorted screams in the background again add a lot of tension.

Red dragon 2002Bret Ratner

The majority of the shots in the OTS of red dragon are close ups, creating a height of intensity and emotion.

The camera often follows the action, for example the book turning over the page. The camera follows it to give the viewer the feel that they are opening the book.

The close up of the mouth makes you feel very uncomfortable because of the colours used and the fact you cant see the rest of the face, and only a creepy smile.

The titles used in the OTS of red dragon are son-serif, quite bold and in capitals. Using the colours of red and white again relating to the genre of the film, creating a subconscious atmosphere.

The juxtaposition of using red and white together is effect when comparing it to the dark lighting background.

The mise –en-scene used in red dragon OTS Is a lot of dark lighting, a newspaper and magazine clippings with hand writing all over them. This creates mystery as you wonder who's done it and why.

The music is very fast and loud, with high pitch in the background, creating a lot of tension, relating to a typical thriller.

Shutter island 2010Martin Scorsese

In the opening title sequence of shutter island we are introduced to a setting of an island. We are shown this with a steady wide establishing shot, that zooms in. During this shot lines flash over the top to create a jumpy effect. The colours are very dark and the weather is quite depressing, suggesting clear themes of the film through pathetic fallacy.

In this shot, the camera is looking up at gates opening. It is a steady POV shot as in this bit a car I coming through the gates, therefore the camera moves in as the gates open. This is an important shot for the OPS as it indicates a more specific scene, and creates intensity being a POV shot.

Mise-en-scence

The mise-en-scene in the shutter island title sequence is very powerful as it creates mystery and darkness, key to thrillers.

Extreme close up of a gun and a foot, with high contrast lighting, showing dark areas apart from the gun to highlight it. Making the audience question why the gun is on the floor.Fire out of focus and the back of a chair again creates mystery. Chains, and prisons

bars indicates the scenery and introduces another sub-genre or crime into the film.

• He is the two main ways that the titles are presented in the shutter island opening title sequence. The font is quite bold and sans-serif. Using the colours red and white to link in to the main theme of psychological thriller as red is usually represented with blood and death, and white as quite chilling. The titles enter the screen quickly and shake to create a sense of edge, placed in the corners to give the same effect.