REAL MEDIA RESEARCHBy Carlie

World War Z

World War Z

Genre/Opening conventions:This simply shows the production

companies who are large and well known to the genre of thriller.

The black background is conventional because dark colours are associated with thriller. It also makes the writing stand out.

However, there are no logo’s which is different to most opening sequence, they’ve kept it more simple with just black and white wording.

World War Z

The first shot is an establishing shot, which is conventional for opening sequences. However, it is of a beach which is unusual for thriller films because it is so peaceful and there is use of warm colours. This could symbolise how calm things were before whatever incident is about to happen, the calm before the storm.

World War Z

There is another establishing shot, but this time it is of a city. This shot is more conventional because of the use of dark colours and shadows, and also that it is of an urban landscape which is common in thriller movies. But it is still different from usual thriller openings because it still seems more calm, this could be to build tension along with the music.

World War Z

The next two shots involve a swarm of bird flying, they could be fleeing from something which foreshadows potential danger in the film.

The right side of the frame is distorted to look like the birds are flying at different angles, this creates confusion and uneasiness – which is how thriller films are aiming to make the audience feel, so it’s conventional.

World War Z

The following shots also have the distorted areas in the frame to create confusion and a sense of psychological instability of the audience.

There are contrasts of calm areas (the house) and busy areas such as the train station. The business is conventional of thriller films.

World War Z

This shot is a close up of many bugs moving along the screen. This is conventional because it could make the audience feel uncomfortable as bugs are a common phobia, they’re also associated with dirt and decay and so could be foreshadowing parts of the film.

World War Z

This shows a shot of a board that appears to be from a train station. It has the same distorted effect from before which causes confusion as the readers can’t understand what it says or means. This is conventional for a thriller film because they’re meant to make the audience feel uneasy.

World War Z

Nearer the end of the sequence, the clips become more and more fast pace and hectic, creating tension for the audience. All the clips show chaos and destruction, which is clearly regular in thriller films.

The clip of the road filling with many people could make the audience feel uncomfortable and claustrophobic. Also the police cars and sirens are closely associated with tragedy by the audience and could make them feel a sense of panic or worry.

World War Z

The title of the film is then showed at the end of the opening sequence, showing that the film is about to start. This leaves the audience eagerly waiting to find out what happens after seeing all the chaos.

A bold font is used to stand out. Red was used for the letter Z, the colour red has connotations of blood and violence which is conventional for thriller films.

Se7en

Se7en

The first clip of the opening sequence of Se7en shows somebody looking through a book, there is slow motion editing makes it more tense.The focus is on the pages of the book itself, but you can see the a hand of somebody moving in the background. This makes the audience want to know the identity of the person. This is conventional of a thriller film because it keeps the tension by not revealing details of the plot.

Se7en

This then continues to show the production company, however this time it flashes backwards and then flashes again the right way round, this gives a strange feeling of discomfort to the audience, which is conventional for a thriller film.The writing is very small and it is just off centre on the frame, this could be seen as unsettling.

Se7en

Through the sequence, the audience starts to understand that this person is creating a file or investigating something, due to all the drawings and decoding of articles.The use of dark shadows moving over the frame further creates the sense of mystery. The low key lighting gives the setting a suspicious film, which is conventional for a thriller opening.

Se7en

Throughout the opening sequence there are very quick cut aways that flash on the screen between each credit. This one is of a scratching that you can't quite read, this is conventional of a thriller movie because it seems like a code of some sort, and codes are common features of thrillers.The quite flash further makes the reader feel uncomfortable and brings in tension.

Se7en

This next clip is of a man holding a razor blade, we then see him using it to peal at his own skin. This gruesome image is very unsettling and foreshadows the violence in the film. Mixed with the tense music is makes the audience jittery but also eager to watch the film, keeping them on the edge of their seats.

Se7en

There is then a close up of this man writing, at first the pen is in focus but then other things start flashing on the screen. It is meant to make the audience feel uneasy and as if they are seeing double, trippy. The fades between each clip shows that everything is linked and connected to the story line. The fade back to black reflects the darkness of the overall film,

Se7en

In these frames, the colour red has been used. Red has connotations of blood and death which is common in a thriller film. It then flashes the picture again but this time with his face scratched out, this could foreshadow the mans death. The audience still do not know who is gathering all this information, which makes them want to keep watching the film in order to find out.

Se7en

There is then a flash on the screen as the title of the film "Se7en" appears. It is written several times and they are all overlapping each other, making it difficult to read. This could reflect the upcoming chaos that is this thriller film. The text is very bright which makes it even harder on the eye.

Se7en

Here it shows somebody going through an article about pregnancy and crossing bits out. This creates a mystery and makes the audience wonder what is actually going on and who is this about. Crossing out of articles/letters is common in thriller films and also detective films, its often used as a way to uncode things.

The Dark Knight Rises

The Dark Knight Rises

The film opens with the DC Comics logo and the Warner Bros logo. However, these are both in black and white - which gives the film a very dark feel already.There is also orchestral music which builds up in the background and create suspense.

The Dark Knight Rises

The credits then start. It is quite dark, symbolizing the dark theme of the film, which is conventional for thrillers.There is also red writing, red is often a symbol for danger, and may remind the audience of things such as blood.

The Dark Knight Rises

The protagonist is then introduced. He is conventional for a thriller film because he is a young white male, also because the character has an internal struggle, due to his parents dying, which is common in many thriller films.