Film Opening Analysis

GoodFellas -

I could detect straight away that this was a Gangsta style genre of film, by the opening couple of scenes containing a very low level of lighting introducing a fear of what we cannot see. The dress code of the three main characters we see within the opening two minutes are of a typical gangsta state in suits with a typical mumbling tone of speech. Within the first two minutes Martin Scorsese introduces a horrific violent scene including a stabbing, shooting and murder all in one, making the genre of film very clear to the audience.

The purpose of this opening scene is really to set the scene and date of the piece, simply but effectively done by a blank screen containing 'New York 1970' .

In this case the opening scene is a clip from further on in the film, a sort of flash back for Henry. Henry being a very important character, portrayed as being slightly more in the background to effect the audience and identify his characteristics to sympathise with him. This is carried out by a close up shot of his face containing an act of responsibility being the driver of the car.

The purpose of this opening inpaticular has been represented very effectively by using the opening credits as cars, this supports the tension of the scenes approaching.

Again low lighting is popular within gangsta films to incorporate an aspect of fearing what we cannot see. Introducing the colour of red bathing the characters within the scene implies a fact of danger and threat relating with a bloody future, incorporating the fear of death. These enigmas used, help construct a sense of an interest within the film to keep the audience hooked on.

Film Opening Analysis

Definitely Maybe -

This film is a similar genre to 'Notting Hill' a Romantic/Comedy. This is easily identified within the opening scene, starting with the main character being handed a divorce letter implying a disastrous relationship, immediately introducing an easy listening, fun loving song awakening the audience, representing that the divorce isn't a bad thing, things seem to be looking up. Opening the first scene with a divorce letter helps us to consider the genre of film, as a lively romantic.

The purpose of the opening scene is to help introduce the main characters and an important concise explanation of the current situation. Following the non-diegetic, happy music over the top, he uses a similar non-diegetic voice over the music introducing us to his lifestyle, on his way to pick up his obviously very important daughter from school, this part is made clear that it is very important by being incorporated in to the opening scene.

The purpose of the opening sequence was achieved through the media language by implying an expert film director, immediately recognising the rule of three which was used to frame the scene well, following a montage of a positive lifestyle again implying things are going to start looking up, this is used to hook the audience into the film to keep them eager to view the future of his relationships. Contradicting the cover of the film 'Three relationships, Three disasters' were as the opening music implies a positive approach to the film. Also including key imagery to set the scene of the film; yellow taxis, empire state building and a busy lifestyle, all this helps the audience to relate as the setting of New York.

Film Opening Analysis - Notting Hill

Notting Hill -
Again an easy identifiable Romantic/Comedy, implying a genuine love story -a man falls for a woman or visa verser. In this case the male (Hugh Grant) has fallen for a beautiful movie star played as Julia Roberts. Immediately portraying Julia Roberts as 'the worlds most beautiful woman' focusing on the contrast of her celebrity lifestyle compared to Hugh Grant as an 'average joe' living in Notting Hill with a lovesick admiration for the celebrity on the other side of the world.
The purpose of the opening scenes are to hook the required audience in, this is done by incorporating enigmas to keep you eager to watch the rest and see how things end up. This is a powerful technique very popular in film openings. This specific opening scene uses the contrast on lifestyles between the two main characters to build a realistic grounding to improve the USP (Unique Selling Point) of which, how the situation will end up, how and when Hugh Grant will let Julia Roberts observe his crush on her. This keeps the audience eager therfore hooked on the film, successfully intreaging the audience.
This purpose is achieved through the media language very successfully, constructing a powerful mixture of non diegetic sounds - as the film starts straight away a soft romantic song is being played over the scene to set the genre and identify its appeal as a Romantic/Comedy. Then after the brief montage of Julia Roberts constucting the effective imagary of her persona as an amazing very celebritised woman playing a Movie Star, then smoothly cuts on to the scene in Notting Hill in which Hugh Grant playing the lovesick average joe, again with a non-diegetic voice over acting as his mind. Introducing us to his lifestyle as he walks down portabello road, incorporating the comedy aspect of the film, the levels of lighting in this scene are vibrant and happy portraying that things might start looking up for him. The smooth and slow editing process of the opening scenes help us, the audience relax whilst presenting Julia Roberts as a powerful woman in slow motion, introducing an obviously important character.

This opening has influenced and help to construct my view on successfully mixing non diegetic sounds i beleive this is a powerful way of introducing and grabbing paticular target audiences.

Film Opening Analysis - Children of Men

Children of Men -
The genre of this film was easily identified within the first couple of minutes, consisting of a brief explosion and some sort of world pandemic, implying that this is an Action/Thriller style movie, further on in the clip i detected a futuristic use of Mise en Scene, placing 3D imaging display on the modern styled computer screens based in the office. Later on picking up on a very modern LCD television hanging from the bus, and running news advertisements covering the faces of block towers using 'Computer Generated Imagery' to reconstruct a modern city style, this then gave me the hint of an incorporated hybrid genre including 'Science Fiction' with a hint of 'Action/Thriller' scenes.
Opening sequences to films play a huge part in distinguishing the film by setting the scene, in this case currently in the future, year 2027. This opening helps us to identify the current situation of which London and the world is in; some sort of pandemic facing fears of the worlds collapsing state, involving something based on a slightly realistic scale such as a world pandemic, keeping the audience involved and eager to view more. This is a very effective and very popular over the use of modern films, involving the audience, based on realistic facts and enigmas in specific cases especially utopias and distopias in this circumstance. People are obviously infertile as the concise explanation of the news flow emphasises that the worlds youngest boy has just died at the age of 18. Involving main characters and applying useful background information is always very important to help set the scene for the viewer. Applying all these techniques into an opening sequence will help improve and construct a powerful opening.
The purpose of this film is achieved and constructed through media language by using effective and realistic camera shots and angles, for instance as the main character (Clive Owen) exits the static flow of citizens out of the cafe a hand held camera is applied to emphasise realism and improve the effective construction of the scene. As camera angles are very powerful, in this case emphasising a stone cold personality on our main character portrayed as being an anti-hero or hero to-be, further on in the film. Mise en Scene cleverly helps to illustrate his persona and the fact of him standing out as a main character by incorporating camera angles gaining the emphasis on power. Again involving Mise en Scene lights and costumes play a big part in illustrating the distopia era, constructing low lighting to imply a dark and depressing scene with the cast wearing very plain and dull clothing. Long shots also help set the scene with establishing the area and setting, in which the film is constructed. Mise en scene, involving sound effects the view on negativity of the scene, selecting a deafening ringing sound immediately after the explosion illustrating that it has a long term burst ear drum, traumatising effect.

I believe this hybrid genre may influence me and our group not paticularly down the science fiction but this has successfully helped me identify an understanding of how hybrid genre works.

First Edit

This is our first edit of a convosation, involving the 180 degree rule, using Adobe Premiere Elements.