AH: Film openings - research

Task

• Embed an opening from a film that you think is effective and uses techiques you would like to emulate in your own production.
• bullet point technical codes (media language techniques) that you have noticed. Any narrative, action techniques that you could represent in your production.

Link #1- Zombieland (Fleischer, 2009)

Techniques:

• Use of slow motion during opening credits shows destruction within the clips.
• Opening music juxtaposes American society, as the use of their national anthem contradicts the destruction within the opening scenes handi-cam at the start helps to establish a point of view shot to create verisimilitude.
• Prosthetic used in order to make people look like zombies.
• Voice over used in order to give audience knowledge and insight into the opening scene.

Link #2-  The Avengers (Whedon, 2012)

Techniques:

• Use of a sound bridge during the change of clips is used in order to create
• Use of editing between each clip, where transitions are used in order to once again create continuity between the clips by integrating transitions between them
• Panning shows aspects of the genre such as the costumes.
• Use of weapons used help to reinforce genre of the film. Use of close ups help to emphasize them.
• Bold music helps to establish a 'heroic nature'

Link #3- Creep (Smith, 2004)

Techniques:

• Soundtrack- use of high pitched strings create scraping sound which adds to the tension of the start.
• Dietetic sound of women in background conveys panic.
• Use of prosthetic show blood, which relates back to the horror genre.
• The title 'Creep' has blood smeared on it which connotes blood and danger, once again relating to the horror genre.
• Use of transitions in order to create a distorted image, which makes the audience pay more attention.
• Close up of operating equipment.