Opening Sequences

What is the purpose of an opening sequence?

The purpose of an opening title sequence is to establish the mood and even genre of a film; with this an opening sequence does not have to be linear in the way that it is possible to exist by itself without the rest of the movie. For example, the Bond film “From Russia, With Love” consists of an opening sequence which has a plot by itself, it has links to the rest of the movie however the use of a red-herring helps the sequence conclude by the end.

Also, in terms of narrative the opening sequence is predominately introducing the audience with a series of enigmas that the narrative itself is based upon, and in turn may solve. 

It introduces the audience with the themes and visual styles that the film embodies throughout.

Common techniques of an opening sequence?

There are various techniques of an opening sequence, all of which are key in the way that it embodies the key characteristics of the film and introduces the main element of the film. The fact that it is a non-linear sequence, it is able to exist by itself, setting up enigmas by introducing the key characters. Also with the titles, it may introduce key cast members, the editor, producer and director; many of the titles are over black with the title appearing at the start of the sequence. Also, it may also set up dramatic irony for the set up of the plot later in the film.

Do different approaches to opening sequences have different effects?

With the fact in mind that the opening sequence of a film determines, for the audience, the audience, themes and perhaps plot of the film, opening sequences are approached differently, in respect of their themes, audience, plot and genre in particular.

For example, the opening sequence of 28 days later is a very morbid; setting enigmas and wander for the audience. With that in mind, it is completely different to an opening sequence to a romantic comedy film.  With thrillers, like 28 days later, the effect on the audience is to make them wander about the questions that are being set up, creating suspense and tension, however with a comedy, it is more lively and joyful as it is aimed to make the audience smile and even laugh.

Audience: What audiences may be drawn to the thriller genre? /Which types of thriller could appeal to different audiences?

We may determine that thriller attracts those who enjoy the suspense and a build up to an anticlimax/climax.  

It is apparent that an intense thriller may not be either suitable or appealing to a very young audience, as it also may be too mature for them.
Those who enjoy an intense storyline, predominately of a 15+ age, of course the content of the narrative plays a predominant role to the maturity of the storyline, for example, an 18 classified film may contain explicit scenes that are not suitable for adolescents to witness, and may lead on to a more horror-type of film.

The thing about thrillers is that it can be sub divided into subgenres, i.e. romantic, comedy, thriller and espionage thriller. With this, audiences may find a choice of film that satisfies them more. For one, if an audience enjoys an espionage movie, the thrill embodied into the movie will respectively support the themes introduced. Romantic Thrillers may appeal more to the female gender as romantic films usually do, however, it may not necessarily appeal just to the female genre as a whole; as a 4 year old girl may not be so intrigued with the idea of Romeo and Juliet's forbidden love. And so, these kind of films may appeal to a more mature age, although there may be teenagers who do enjoy a romantic film.

The male gender tend to go for more for an action-thriller that include more action-packed scenes such as car races, fight scenes and explosions. 

For the more 'light-hearted', Comedy Thrillers are more suitable, example of this is Rush Hour, casting Jackie Chan and Chris Rock. In this film, there is action and comedy inter-twined with the suspense of fight scenes; predominately this film would appeal more to the male genre, and not necessarily to the 30+ years old audience, as the jokes are based on racial teasing also, which a 15-25 year old audience will find more amusing and will understand more as Chris Rock as a comedian aims for that age range for an audience.

Subgenres

Within genres, there are also subgenres; these are considered to be “denominations” of a main film genre as they embody strong characteristics of it, i.e. an espionage-thriller movie adapts the idea of spying and simultaneously gives that same thrill and suspense that a regular thriller has been expected to do.

This adapts the idea of building that suspense and tension as both Tatiana and James exchange information, while she is being followed (where the espionage genre comes in), the fact that throughout this sequence, no dialogue was used between the protagonists, embodies Hitchcock’s idea of resorting to dialogue when highly necessary, also, the fact that they are communicating in secret embodies the idea of a 'spy' movie, also, when Tatiana leaves a map for James in her compact mirror underlines that there is a secret mission involved; these all add up to the idea of enigmas; "what is the map of?" etc.

Sub genres are similar to genre-hybrids in the way that they adapt different styles together. However they differentiate as sub-genres is a variation of a genre that already exists, which helps the audience distinguish between genre products. Whereas genre hybrids are a mixture between two established genres, which exist apart and are not normally seen together, i.e. a Sci-Fi Western (Wild West)

With the genre thriller, it is most likely to be associated with the ‘horror’ genre, however it does not aim to disgust and keep the audience hiding behind hands. However, with reference to sub-genres, there are “grey areas” where a film can embody more of thriller characteristics more than horror during sequences in the film or throughout. With this the film is building that suspense and tension so that when that “horrifying-dead-body” comes along, that shock value will be emphasised.

There are numerous sub-genres within the main thriller genre, as it is predominately in the intention of a director to keep that tension and suspense building until a climax/anti-climax is achieved. There are romantic-thrillers, like the 1996 production of Romeo and Juliet starring Leonardo Decaprio, which includes numerous action scenes and by knowing the play that it is based on, the idea of the “forbidden love” drives the plot forward as events such as murders and proposals arise. The following clip is of when the two lovers commit suicide:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=frBnRaMvNs8

Also, another sub-genre of a "Apocalyptic Thriller"; one example of this sub-genre is the "Book of Eli". With Apocalyptic, it embodies the idea of "the end of the world": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JKfZrbS79To

This trailer shows a dystopian society, and marks the end of the world, as there is hardly anyone left. Also, the fact that Denzel Washington who plays the protagonist, walks around through broken freeways underlines that he is alone, similarly like in 28 days later when the protagonist walks through central London which is usually full of people.