Opening Sequences

What forms can opening sequences take?
Each opening sequence is different and normally have characteristics that relate to the genre of the film
The conventional features of opening sequences are Setting, Plot, Characters, Lighting

What narrative functions of opening sequences can you identify?Opening sequences are there to attract the audience so that they want to watch the rest of the film They introduce the main character, show the setting and period of the movie
Openings also give a vague idea of the story line that might follow

What do audiences gain from watching opening sequences?
They are able to decide if they are going to carry on watching the film and if they will enjoy it
Also if the film wants them to they can guess the storyline or plot of the film

What do film-makers gain from making an opening sequence?
In the opening sequence they are able to set the scene, set the period, help show the genre of the film and also introduce characters
In the opening sequence they can also be artistic and use more interesting camera techniques and lighting

Applying Barthes to 'Phone Booth'

Phone Booth
Action Code: Depicts the events which take place in the narrative
Who - Narrator introduces us to main character as he chats on the phone Where - New York city, we are shown this through many establishing shots and the loud hustle and bussle of the surroundings When - Very modern, lots of technology and tall sky scrapers, flashing lights

Semantic Code: refers to character and characterisation - Main Character Stu, when we are introduced to him he is on the phone - He is being followed by an assistant so we get the impression Stu has importance and he is a boss or very high up in his job - Confident in his voice and seems quite involved in his job - City guy, smart suit
Enigma Code: involves the setting up of mystery -Mystery of Stu and how he is going to be involved with the plot line, and how his job or importance in his job might tie into it too -Importance of phone in the plot line
Referential Code: involves explaining or informing - Busy city -Day time - Bright Lighting
Symbolic Code: involves the reading of the connotations of signs -Technology, modern theme - Confident, cocky character - Phone symbolises a relationship with someone through a phone

Applying Levis-Strauss to Openings

Pale Rider
Tranquil v Loud
Young v Old
Green Trees v Brown landscape
Brown Horses v White Horses
Steady Camera - Manic Camera Movement
Life v Death
Night v Day
Happy Music v Tense Music
Hero v Villain
Innocent Villagers v Crazy Horsemen
Calm v Panic
Rich v Poor
Light v Dark
Hot v Cold
Settlement v Wilderness

Die Hard
Open Area v Inclosed Area (plane)
Cop v Villain
Chatty Taxi Driver v Silent Villains
Good v Bad
Suspense v Action
Home v Away
Children v Adults
Dress v Undressed
Calm, Loving v Family Arguments
Quiet Lift v Loud Party
High Tech v Old Fashioned
Present v Past
American v European
Man v Woman
Law v Criminality
Innocence v Guilt
Pursuit v Capture

Propp's Theory Applied to The Little Mermaid

The eight main character types in The Little Mermaid

The Villain - Ursula
The Donor - Ursula
The Helper - Sebastian and Flounder
The Princess - Ariel or The Princess the Prince is supposed to marry
Her Father - The Sea King, Ariel's father
The Dispatcher - Sebastian and Flounder
The Hero/Victim - Ariel
False Hero/Anti-Hero/Usurper - Ariel
Vladimir Propp's 31 Functions of a Fairytale

The Little Mermaid uses:
6. Villain attempts to deceive Hero with trickery - When Ariel is given the potion to give her legs to walk on land, Ursula receives the voice of Ariel, Ariel's voice is intoxicating so Ursula is happy with the deal and tricks Ariel to agree

7. Hero is deceived - Ariel accepts the potion and Ursula gets Ariels voice which Ursula uses to make the sea king fall in love with her

8. Villain causes harm - Ursula uses Ariels voice to try and marry Ariels father and take over the Sea Kingdrom

11. Hero leaves home - When Ariel takes the potion she is able to walk on land therefore leaving her family to see and fall in love with the Prince

14. Hero gets magical agent/ object which will help with quest - The potion Ariel receives from Ursula which allows Ariel to walk on land and achieve what she wants which is for the Prince to fall in love with her

29. Hero given a new appearance/transfiguration - Ariel is given legs so that she is able to reach her goal


Evaluation
Propp's theory is quite dated and so there would be more difficulties when comparing his theory to a more modern fairytale. Also some of the characters overlap in The Little Mermaid, Ursula is the one who helps Ariel to go on her quest but is also the villain because she has a plan behind her good deed, therefore there was more difficulty because the roles of individual characters were less clear and were harder to allocate a role and compare to a function.

DYM Opening Sequence homework

1. Who are the agents: the protogonist (the main hero who propels the narrative forward) and antagonist (opposing agent).
We meet the protogonist immediatly at the beginning of the film. He is sitting by himself on a hill, surrounded by mountains. We later discover him to be Donnie Darko. We are then introduced to the antagonist much later in the opening at 9 minutes, he is represented as a bunny and we get the feel he isn't a good character because of the eerie music. Also because of the eerie music played earlier on it seems as if this is representing this character.
2. Describe the Equilibrium. How is it represented? What kind of camera shots can you identify?
We see Donnie riding his bike through his neighbourhood in an extremem long shot, the neighbourhood looks perfect and quiet. We then see his family at dinner and although Donnie and his sister argue the family appear close and it just seems like a normal family life. When showing the neighbourhood and Donnies house there are also slow motion shots to show how the family are normal and are doing normal activities and everything about Donnies life is normal.
3. Is the Disruption or Disequilibrium introduced or hinted at? (e.g the serial killer in "Seven" is introduced in the title sequence).
The slightly disturbed music when Donnie is in his room followed by an unknown voice suggests something out of the ordinary. Also we see the rabbit at the end but we are not quite sure who he is or what he is meant to represent, we see Donnie taking medicine in his bathroom as well so this suggests he has illnesses or isn't healthy.
4. Are there any visual/verbal/aural clues that hint at what the hero's journey might be? (e.g having to solve the murders within a time-limit of seven days in "Seven")
When we see Donnie take his medicine this gives us an idea that he has an illness so maybe it will show his journey fighting this and how he will try and live a normal life
5. From your knowledge of the film, how will the equilibrium be restored and what will be the new equilibrium?
Donnie realises that he is causing people to die and suffer because of something he did so he decides to die to save these people, therefore when the time loops all the innocent people are alive and only Donnie is dead

BLK Continuity Sequence

- Throughout the scene we see the 180 rule being used, especially at the beginning when the two females are on the stairs and the step father is by the door. So therefore the audience isn't confused as to what way the characters are facing.

- Also low angle shots have been used to show that the step father is looking up at the two females so we feel as if we are looking up at them along with the father

- In the two conversations at the beginning and when the mother and daughter are having the conversation in the bedroom, shot reverse shot is used so that we get both perspectives of the conversation and feel involved with it
-From 4:00 match on action is used to show the mum looking at the cards then holding them in her hands, her eye level is also matched so we see how low the cards are

- At 6:25 match on action is used because we see the mum open the car door from the outside then shut it from the inside and it is done smoothly

BLK 'Accident' Evaluation

1. What did you think was the point of the activity?
The activity was about continuity. It looked at how easy or hard it was to create continuity and also how important the rules of continuity are when filming. We were also looking at showing an accident in six shots using different camera techniques and angles.
2. In regard to your finished sequence, what worked well?
Our sequence uses six shot types which are very clear and easily differentiated. It also shows a clear story and is clear what is happening in the accident. We also succesfully use camera techniques such as 'over the shoulder' , mid shot and establishing shot.
3. What would you aim to improve about your sequence?
Our group broke the 180 degree rule in which you can't cross over a line so that audience are not confused on which side the charaters are on. Also our 'match on action' shot isn't smooth so we see a gap in between the shots where I punch Jess, this shot would need editing and the end or beginning of the two shots need to be cut so that the shots blend more nto eachother.
4. What did you learn from doing this activity?
I learnt new rules such as the 180 degree rule. Also how important editing is when looking at matching the shots and making sure the shot is smooth and doesn't confuse the audience. I also learnt techniques such as shot reverse shot and how important the use of an establishing shot is.

Comparison Legally Blonde and Se7en

Shot Types

Legally Blonde
-ECU of girl brushing her hair at the beginning, gives us the idea that maybe she is the main character
- Mainly use of ECU and CU of the main character throughout the opening to focus on her routine of getting ready but not revealing her face
- LS when showing the other characters using pans and tracking on the campus so we get a feel of the people that go there and also we get to see the typical American campus atmosphere
- Also use of slow-motion when showing the card for the main character, we see the card go from different characters and the slow motion makes us focus on the card so we know it is important or for someone important

Se7en
-Mix of CU and MS when looking at the main character so we get to see his surroundings such as when he is at home and also we get close up on his possessions so we get a feel of what he is like
- Out of focus on the things that are to do with the case or the crime as if they don't want to reveal too much
- Tracking and MS following the conversation between Morgan Freeman and Brad Pitt as if we are walking with them and listening in and it makes it evident they are the main characters

Comparison Both openings make it clear who the main characters are by using CU and MS on them. Also both openings make us clear of the surroundings of each film and the atmosphere, so in legally blonde we see that it will be a bright cheery movie because of the campus and teenagers but seven shows us a more gloomy, dark coloured atmosphere so we know this theme will continue in the film.

Narrative Expectations

Legally Blonde
- The movie begins with a close up of the back of long blonde hair with a girl brushing it, we then get the idea that this is going to a movie that focuses on appearance and materialistic things
-We then are shown, in slow motion, the rest of the main characters bedroom such as her dressing table with nail polish, hair dye, expensive branding so this also gives us the impression this is a girly film and it is will focus on the fact that the main character is materialistic
-We are shown a college campus so we know that it will be set in a college around a lot of teenagers, showing the groups of girls and boys and how they interact with each other so we also see that it will be based on a school romance or romances
- We also follow a card being passed around campus with the name 'Elle' on it, at the end it is passed to the girl we see at the beginning suggesting this is the main characters name
- There is music in the background with the words 'perfect day' so it shows the film will be all cutesy and 'perfect' and that it will depict how there are no faults in their lives at the start
-Scene ends with mention of Elle’s boyfriend so this suggests he will play an important role

Se7en
- Dark beginning in terms of lighting and we see the main character getting ready for work, doing everyday things
- The main character is followed from his home to work and then to his conversation with Brad Pitt so we are shown he works with the police or investigates crime and we know the rest of the film will follow this
- We know that also the film will show the relationship between Pitt and Freeman and how maybe they won't always see eye to eye
- Creepy music starts with unclear and mysterious images begins to give us an idea the crime the characters will be solving a difficult crime
- The word seven is mentioned so this also suggests the film will revolve around this number

Comparison They are opposite in theme, one is a dark and mysterious and one is upbeat and colourful. Legally Blonde suggests a happy ending and that it will largely involve a lively mood whereas Seven shows that there will be lots of twists and it will be a dark and thriller like.

Character Expectations

Legally Blonde
-Girly, ditsy, pink
- Main character is young and blonde, and seems very popular within her campus
- Elle seems caring as she has a dog and seems to look after it
- The characters all seem to care about their appearances, dyed hair, perfect nails, and designer clothes

Se7en
- Morgan Freeman’s character will be serious whereas Brad Pitts seems less serious and jokier - Freeman seems very pristine and immaculate in his ways showing he will want to do the job properly and carefully. The main character seems to care a lot about his job, his home seems very simple as if his life at the moment is all about his work and he doesn’t spend much time at home.

Comparison
Characters in Legally Blonde seem upbeat and more interested in themselves and shallow teenage issues Seven they are more serious and it seems to be more based on the crime rather than focusing on just the characters issues Brad Pitts character however seems slightly less serious and quite young so a similar character to maybe one of the males in Legally Blonde

Shot Evaluation, BLK

1. Describe your shot and identify in what way it could be seen as representing 'horror'
- Medium long shot framed by a table and dark walls
- Dark room but beam of light coming from slight opening in the door
- Shot from floor level focusing on the body on the floor, body is obviously female and either injured or dead, light source is shining on her making her seem innocent
- Legs of the villain in the foreground making the villain mysterious because you are unable to work out age, gender, appearance by just the legs
- Shadow coming from the legs of the villain making the villain seem dark and it also adds to the mystery
- Image contrasts light and dark which follows the theme in most horror films of good versus evil of villain versus victim

2. What did you actually do to achieve the effect?
- The person taking the shot lay on the floor and took it from floor level so that the focus was on the victim and the villain was left mysterious
- Used pad lights as the only source of light so that we were able to choose where we wanted the light to shine and what elements we wanted in shadow
- Used a dark, enclosed space to give the feel of being in a dark room with no one around to help

3. What is successful about your shot?
- The angle of the shot because we are unable to see the full body of the villain but the victim is centred and clear
- The darkness of the room because we were able to create the shadows we wanted using the pad lights
- The way the light hits the victim and is framed by the darkness of the villains legs helps with the contrast and also keeps the victim

4. What would you do differently in hindsight?
- I would have cropped the picture or zoomed in so that there wasn’t so much wall and bare space on the left
- There is a light bulb outside the door but I think the shot would have been better if the light source wasn’t obvious so the light seemed more mysterious
- The detail left on around the characters such as the plug socket on the wall and the objects on the floor, I would get rid of them or edit them out so the shot stays simple
- The table leg I would move or place in front of the villain because it blends too much with the villains leg making it less clear