Wednesday 26 January 2011

The structure of Thriller openings...

In our lesson with Phil we looked at different types of thriller openings. Not all opening sequences are the same and we learned that there are four different basic structures in the following opening sequences that we watched...

. The opening sequence of the film 'The Shining', is an example of a narrative opening with the titles running throughout....


I think the title sequence was quite boring and dull. I don't like the way it just rolled in and out one after the other because it seems quite an old fashioned way of making a title sequence and it does not really build any suspense or hint that it is a thriller film...


. The film 'Seven' is an example of a discrete title sequence. This means that the titles are separate from the filming....


I was quite impressed by the opening sequence of this film. Some of the titles were running through the opening but at other times they were also separate which built more suspense and made it more interesting. The opening sequence to The Shining was quite boring as the titles just rolled in and out of the film which did not help to build any tension or create any tone. I think I will consider using a discrete title sequence when it comes to making our own opening sequence in my group. I personally think its more effective and good for building up suspense.... it says it all in the word 'discrete'....



. The film 'Dannie Darko' is an example of an opening where the titles are over a blank screen followed by a narrative opening...




The opening sequence to this film is also good, but I personally think its a waste of filming space as the time it takes to show the titles (before the film actually starts), that time could of been used to show the opening of the film... baring in mind that our opening sequences are only going to be 2 minutes long!


. The opening of the film 'The Taking of Pelham' is an example of a narrative opening with highly stylised editing, distinct from the rest of the film...



The opening sequence to this was quite interesting too, and I specifically liked the choice of music they used to build up the tone of the film...





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