Main Task- Opening of a Film

MAIN TASK: 'Create the opening of a new feature length film to include sound and to last no longer than two minutes.' All audio and video must be students own work. Audio may be obtained through a copy right free source.

We were told that our film had to be an adaptation of a book that had not been released as a film. So in our group we did some research to find appropriate books for our film, this was difficult for us in the beginning as we had such a huge range of books to chose from but also some of the narratives were not satisfying us. We had searched in our school library, the internet and even Whatpad an app on androids. Finally we decided on "Running on the Cracks" as this was suggested and read by a member in our group.

Running on the Cracks is award-winning writer Julia Donaldson's first novel aimed at a teenage audience. It was published in 2009. (See Synopsis in the FILM TREATMENT for the details).

Film Openings- Our Genre Divergent

DIVERGENT

Divergent is a 2014 American  science fiction action film directed by Neil Burger, based on the novel of the same name by Veronica Roth. It stars Shailene Woodley and Theo James. The story takes place in a dystopian post-apocalyptic version of Chicago, where people are divided into distinct factions based on human virtues. Beatrice Prior is warned that she is Divergent and thus will never fit into any one of the factions and soon learns that a sinister plot is brewing in her seemingly perfect society.

The title of Summit Entertainment and then (swivel effect) Redwagen Entertainment enter first accompanied by unusual music/sound of wind which makes the mood feel almost strange feel to the audience. The title of the film is made significant by the dramatic variation in the music and the capitals "DIVERGENT", again adding a Sci-Fi feel because of the music this could also be alluding to the genre of the film that is action with elements of mystery. The setting of America is  established by the extreme wide shot of the city which is later followed by a confirming title of "Chicago". Enigma is created to the audience as they wonder why this long tracking shot of various wide shots of the city appear and where are the main characters? The city is different in the extreme wide shot showing field/natural areas surrounding it. The time implicitly is established towards the end by the crowd of people because of their attire which seems recent around but it is not explicitly stated. Also the narrative is not really established clearly. However this opening is successful in creating a Sci-Fi and mystery mood because of the lack of conventions included.

Film Opening- Divergent (CLIP)

Mystery/Thriller Film Opening- Black Swan

BLACK SWAN

Black Swan is a 2010 American psychological thriller film, directed by Darren Aronofsky and starring Natalie Portman, Vincent Cassel, and Mila Kunis. The plot revolves around a production of Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake ballet by a prestigious New York City company. The production requires a ballerina to play the innocent and fragile White Swan, for which the committed dancer Nina (Portman) is a perfect fit, as well as the dark and sensual Black Swan, which are qualities better embodied by the new arrival Lily (Kunis). Nina is overwhelmed by a feeling of immense pressure when she finds herself competing for the part, causing her to lose her tenuous grip on reality and descend into a living nightmare.

 

 

 

The scene starts with a tracking shot of a black crayon which could be symbolic of the genre, thriller as black connotes darkness and danger. Furthermore the black crayon could also allude to the narrative as the protagonist, Nina leaves reality and enters into what is described as a living nightmare (darkness and the unknown). As the crayon is made to travel freely on paper enigma is created for the audience as they wonder whose hand is drawing. Titles appear on screen as the music evokes a melancholy and strange emotion from them. The titles appear accordingly and are all the same typeface and colour. As the crayon moves faster (pace becomes faster) the music intensifies a little and effects are used to demonstrate as the crayon passes over the titles they disappear or rub out. Noticeably, as the Natalie Portman the protagonist's title appears the music reaches a climax and the crayon depicts a double line on the paper establishing to the audience that the character is significant. At 2:03 a montage of crayons crossing out and lines are presented and then at 2:17 a clear cut to the "BLACK SWAN" is illustrated along with the dramatic change of the music, sound of glass smashing communicating the genre (thriller and some elements of mystery). There is a lot of missing parts for the audience creating enigma as the film opening is not really conventional excluding on establishing the character, narrative, setting and time.

 

 

 

 

 

Film Openings- Black Swan (CLIP)

Film Openings- ENIGMA BI

BORNE IDENTITY

The Bourne Identity is a 2002 American-German action spy film adaptation of Robert Ludlum's novel of the same name. It stars Matt Damon as Jason Bourne, a man suffering from extreme memory loss and attempting to discover his true identity amidst a clandestine conspiracy within the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). The film was directed by Doug Liman and adapted for the screen by Tony Gilroy and William Blake Herron.

Borne Identity is a brilliant example of how directors use enigma to captivate the audience to watch the rest of the film. Enigma means: the feeling of curiosity and increased suspense as time elapses. Thus the audience when watching Borne Identity have many questions regarding the character in the sea and the narrative/location. Enigma has been created in numerous ways:

• The Universal Logo is silent which is different immediately demanding the viewers attention.
• Quiet through the landscape.
• Introduction of the sound and visual lightening, there is tension as the dramatic music first plays and the lightening can connote fear/threat.
• The Weather is stormy and dark which immediately evokes negative and mysterious  connotations and the sound of the harsh wind and rain accompany this.
• The random men (crew on board ship) are unrevealed and the fact they are speaking a different language to English could demonstrate a hint at their location. However the location is not specifically revealed; boat in the middle of nowhere.
• The film opening is fast paced (shrinking screen time) and this is evident especially with the mid shots/close ups when the body is pulled out of the sea. The fast pace and unrevealing the features of the man that was floating in the sea certainly create enigma because of the glimpses of the characters rather than focusing on them.
• Evident changes in the sound track but tempo increases as the first title that is significantly the title of the film "Borne Identity" appears, thus creating emphasis.
• Colour and Lighting is very blue and cold colours are used.

Thus the film opening does not follow typical convention of a film opening such as establishing the  time and location explicitly and there is missing parts to the narrative which evokes enigma for the audience. However although it does not follow the conventions this style is appropriate for the genre which is a spy film thus creating elements of mystery.

Bourne Identity Film Opening- (CLIP)

Deconstructing Film Openings- CONVENTIONS IB

INGLORIOUS BASTARDS

Inglorious Bastards is a 2009 war film written and directed by Quentin Tarantino. The genre is action/adventure and black comedy. We deconstructed the elements of this film chronologically...

 

The film begins in silence with the Universal Logo which automatically creating an impact as it is an old Universal Logo-  alluding to the time period of the film (WW2). This is followed by "The Weinstein Company" which uses effects of disappearing the triangles first before the titles perhaps lead the audience to focus on the title. The music "The Green Leaves of Summer"  (establishing setting to the audience) is then introduced for the first time with the title Universal Pictures and Weinstein Company. The music increases as the directors name is mention obviously creating significance to the audience and as the title of the film appears "INGLORIOUUS BASTARDS" the music reaches a climax and change it tempo, meanwhile the typeface is different and it is in yellow. It is almost ironic to the audience that yellow connotes happiness and warmth is used for the title Inglorious Bastards but perhaps this alludes to the genre of black comedy that is portrayed in the film. The typeface returns to the same font as before but is still yellow as the biggest star of the film Brad Pitt appears first. Noticeably, the "Melanie Laurent as Shoshanna" stands out as the only actor to have this, perhaps conveying to the audience the vital role that she plays in the film.  The setting is later explicitly made known to the audience "Once Upon a time in Nazi occupied France" which accompanies the music from the start. The time period and the first character is established accordingly, as the title "1941" appears. A pan up shot reveals the first character as the diegetic sound of wood chopping occurs. Enigma is created when Shoshanna's sister moves the sheet she hangs up and is very still as she first hears a car of Nazis approaching their is a dramatic shift in focus as pulls the cloth and the music changes whilst the audience visually see the car in wide shot. She later calls "Papa" creating tension for the audience as they realise that the car approaching seems to be a threat because the characters are dismantled. Thus, Inglorious Bastards conforms to the conventions of a film opening by establishing the characters, time period, genre and location.