Codes and Conventions of Film Openings

In class we were given four openings to analyse and compare the different aspects. By doing this we can see how but manipulating the audio, tension and genre, we can see how they introduce the film effectively.

Tension - red
Genre - blue
Sound - green

Resident Evil :

There is a sense of verisimilitude at the start of the opening, consequently the tension is quite low at the start, but as the opening progresses the tension increases, emphasised by the non-diegetic sound. This is furthered with the slow motion shot of the girl spinning towards the camera. Some of the tension is then dispersed when the camera zooms out as a birds eye to an establishing shot.

Amelie:

The film opening didn't give much context and so left the audience intrigued. The genre is not apparent but the connotations of red throughout the opening, as well as it being set in Paris, may indicate a theme of love later on in the film.

Hurt Locker:

It is immediately obvious that the genre of the film is action is due to the mise-en-scene and the iconic guns and military technology. Throughout the opening the tension fluctuates a small amount, representative of the action.

Jurassic Park:

The tension and sound fluctuate dramatically throughout the opening for Jurassic Park, coinciding with the events that occur in the opening. The genre is misleading at the start as they are waiting for something to emerge from the foliage, which in turn increases the suspense, but this is all dispersed when the fork-lift truck appears. Only when you see the dinosaur on the helmet of the workers does the genre start to become clear.