An article by The Guardian

http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2010/sep/23/bass-opening-credits


Anne Billson has superbly written about the 'History of Cinema's Opening Credits', justifying exactly why they play such a significance within the film. She describes how with time, trends of film openings have rapidly changed - "the usual method was to present names and titles on cards, or against an unmoving backdrop...", Billson goes on further how Otto Preminger changed all of this.

Genre

Todays lesson (Monday 27th September) consisted on discussing the different variations of genres we could make our two-minute openings. These are some we came up with:

Comedies - paradies/spoofs
e.g. Hot Fuzz, Shaun of the Dead, Superbad
Alternative/Indie
e.g. Juno, 500 days of Summer
Horror/Thriller -
e.g. Devil, The Unvited, The Hole
Chick Flick -
e.g. Clueless, Sex & the City, White Chicks
British Films -
Kidulthood, Adulthood, Shank
Action -
Matrix, Born Identity, Spy Kids, James Bond
Bromance -
The Hangover, Best Friends, I love you, Man
Hand-held (shaky camera) -
Harry Brown, Paranormal Activity, Blair Witch Project

My initial thoughts on what genre I would like to do is a comedy, or perhaps an alternative genre. This would give me and my group(Millie, Heather and Mollie)the freedom to make it light-hearted and witty, with the additional bonus of perhaps, including aspects of our natural selves when thinking up ideas.

Shot by shot Analysis

Here is an example found on SlideShare of a Shot by Shot analysis of the opening for Jaws. Jaws Shot By Shot - Part 1

Having looked at the different filming techniques and previously created Shot by Shot analysis', I have chosen to produce a shot by shot analysis of Forest Gump.

A great deal of panning camera movement is used throughout this opening, as the white feather floats through the sky. 

The camera moves to a high angle above the ground, with the camera tilted downwards taking overhead shots of the city. 

Gradually the camera changes its angle – lowering the feather to the ground where characters in the scene are visable.

The setting of this beginning scene includes a great composition for the arrangements of the scenery, displaying a perfect example of mise-en-scene.1:32 shows a “working man” crossing the road, using an over-the-shoulder conversion shot.

Soon after, a leadroom composition is displayed, as cars move swiftly along the road.An undershot angle of Forrest is used – particularly using a close up shot of his shoes – whilst he reaches down and picks up the feather. 

The camera shot progressively turns into a medium close up shot (MS) – at eye level with its audience.
Camera position then changes as Forrest goes to tuck his feather into his suitcase.

As the bus arrives, a long shot is used ensuring the bus is the central focus at this point. The camera angle is straight on, only lasting a few seconds until the bus moves out of the scene.

Filmmaking Techniques

After watching this around three times, I have learnt about the variety of camera shots, compositions, camera movements, camera angles, conversation shots, focus techniques, animations and editing experiments available to use when producing a video. It will certainly help me when writing up my Shot by Shot analysis of Forrest Gump later.

Opening Scene of Birth

The introduction to this amazingly scripted film, Birth is one that despite being fairly understated, unlike Se7en – leaves a bewildering ambience whilst watching a man hurriedly run through a snow path. “…It’s me Anna and I’m back…I’m going to go running before I head home”. The small prologue spoken right at the beginning enables the audience to know from that point that this film is associated with death and reincarnation. Alexandre Desplat’s classical piece of music overpowers the entire opening, a remarkably enchanting sound, motivational and calming for the majority of the time.

If carefully listened to, at the point of 1:20, there is a much more haunting tone to the music - perhaps, suggesting the man is deep in thought of what extraordinary occurance is about to take place.At around 3:15 of the video after entering a dark tunnel, the man reaches a ‘birth canal’, which is incredibly shot as it symbolizes him ultimately coming back to life. The man himself, is completely alone - there is nothing surrounding him but the natures of the world.

Se7en

Below are the opening credits for the film, Se7en.

Within seconds of viewing the film, it had an outstanding ability to grasp my immediate focus with its fast-moving pace of music playing throughout the opening. The music releases a speedy "race against time" vibe, which could possibly be the unknown person in this opening - appearing to be preparing for a mysterious something. The closeness of the shots made me, as a viewer, feel anxious and pressured into identifying the chilling terror that the film has yet to reveal. Alongside the monochromatic and sepia tones of harsh, dark words and scribbles, the constant repetitiveness brought about a sense of uneasiness, allowing the audience to recognize a murderous and neurotic essence.