ASSIGNMENT #6 OPENING

SEQUENCE ANALYSIS.

Kauana Labaldi.

Psycho (1960)Genre: Horror/Mystery/Thriller.

Conventions: Thriller always being at a fast pace, regular action. Sometimes includes creative heroes who must stop the evil villain. Horror being movies that try to connect with emotions mainly fear and disgust. Mystery focuses a lot on detectives, private investigators.

Mysterious convention, trying to hide what’s showing, and happening.

The formal computerised writing shows the seriousness of the content it being horror and thriller.

Titles/Font & Sound

Very computerized writing, similar to newspaper.

The bigger capital letter writing illustrates the most important information shown.

Most important aspect in this opening sequence is the sound, because even with no pictures or scenes you can tell that this movie would have to do with Horror/Thriller Mystery films just by listening to the sound. Sound is all Non – Diagetic.

The rhythm is generally fast, lots of instruments with strings. Kind of an orchestra.

Connotation & Denotation

Denotation: Just grey lines going through each other with a black background.

Connotation: A mysterious black background with lines that looks like its a jail, kind of prison cell. Stripes shows maybe a content of routine.

Gattaca (1997)Genre: Drama/Romance/ Sci-fi.

Conventions: Drama are serious stories with settings or life situations that illustrates real life events. Sci-fi, are usually scientific, visionary, comic-strip-like, and imaginative. Romance films are love stories, or affairs of the heart that centre on passion, emotion, and the romance.

Sci-fi showing a very technological place, looking like a hospital maybe a laboratory.

Font/ Titles.Typed by computer, possibly trying to copy the Bible, as its a passage from the Bible.

Letters from the word ‘Gattaca’ stand out like the ‘A’

Camera Shots.Extreme close up shot of a fake finger tip. Point of

view shot of the person putting on the face finger tip.

Extreme close up shot of a Nail dropping down.

Long Shot, showing the whole body and showing most part of the room.

Camera Angles

Low Angle, as it looks like the camera is on the floor, to create a bigger impact to the ‘hairs’.

High Angle, as it from he’s view from up looking down to get something from the fridge.

Special Effects, Transitions & Editing and Pace.

Slow motion is used, to emphasize more on the touch of the nails on the ground.

Blue Scene gives it a cold environment, maybe trying to illustrate a medical atmosphere.

The close up on his face overlaps with the view from the door.

At the beginning its all very slow and calm, after its goes at regular pace.

Sound.Parts with just the blue surrounding is all Non- diagetic. With music, and the sound of Hair, Nails and Skin falling. Ending of the blue scene you can hear some sort of scratching/itching.

First sound of Diagetic, as the man is doing his beard the audience and the character can hear the sound.

Throughout the rest of this opening sequence is all now Diagetic sound.

Connotation & Denotation.

Denotation: Blood and Urine.

Connotation: Variety, change, sickness, health.

Denotation: Hair and Skin

Connotation: DNA, getting rid of something.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ltryKIo7_I

Target Audience: 15 and over, people who enjoy sci-fi possibly aimed more at people that likes

technology and future ideas.

Enigma? This opening sequence creates enigma

as it shows only a short bit of something that you could lead to many ideas. Shows a different idea

of a film.

Texas Chain Saw (1974) Genre: Horror/ Mystery/ Thriller.

Conventions: Thriller always being at a fast pace, regular action. Sometimes includes creative heroes who must stop the evil villain. Horror being movies that try to connect with emotions mainly fear and disgust. Mystery focuses a lot on detectives, private investigators.

Not showing the whole face is creating enigma, because we cant see the full features and information it makes us want to see it more.

Dangerous equipment emphasising horror.

Font/ Titles.Font looks handwritten, looking like a hospital application, as it as Patient: Thomas ...

Again the handwriting maybe a Doctors Note.

Camera Shots.

Extreme close up shots, demonstrating just how scared he is. Just by looking at the eyes you see his fear.

Long shot is also used, so we can have an idea of the place.

Camera Angle & Movement.

Low Angle, so the child can stand out.

High Angle, showing from the child’s point of view.

Camera movement: can be seen as handheld, very inconsistent movement.

Sound.At first it sounds like a winds being Non -Diagetic.

When some images first come up, the sound of a camera taking picture. Like a Flash.

Pace of music speeds up a bit, but mostly it stays the same level.

Special Effects, Transitions & Editing and Pace.

Black & White effect.

Sepia Effect.

Slow motion is used when putting on face mask.

Fast forwarding is used when changing scenes from long shot of the house to close up shot.

The writing is overlapping with the sun as the background.

Warm colours, Non- lenear.

Connotation & Denotation.

Just a person with a mask on its face.

Hiding, showing mental illness as in Mental Homes, some people have to wear clothes closed up so no movements and aggression. No identity.

Target Audience: 18 and over, its a very frightening movie, as it has strong scenes. Mostly

targeted to the older audience. Adults.

Enigma? This opening sequence creates enigma as its only shows little short scenes so it makes

you want to know the full story.