How is genre conveyed through the technical features in your film opening?
Film - Transporter
Film - Transporter
The film I watched was ‘Transporter’. The genre of this film was action this is shown by the camera, editing, mis en scene and sound. One of the camera shot used in this film opening was a close up. A close allows us to have a clear view and is eye-catching to a particular subject. In this film a shot was taken of the number plate. This shows the vehicle is an important key to the film. This links to the genre ‘action’ due to having a vehicle for a car chase. Another camera shot was a pan around; this was at a medium shot. The reason behind a pan shot is to show the object and have a better view of it. In this particular shot the vehicle of the film was pan around to show the vehicle and its features. This also relates to the film due to being action a car is involved. Also a medium close up shot was used for the male character, to show facial expression. In this opening the characters facial expression was very serious looking this may suggest he has something planned to do which could be dangerous. This links to the genre ‘action’ due to looking serious.
The mis en scene of this film relates to the genre ‘action’ in many ways. The male character in the film was wearing a black suit and black gloves. This shows the man has class and is serious this shown by the way he is dressed. The black gloves may suggest that he doesn’t like leaving fingerprints behind on what the plan is, this interests the audience in what could happen. The scene in the opening was in a empty car parking this is somewhere private and quiet where no one can see anything. This may mean the character is up to something and doesn’t like to be caught this relates to the genre by being sly. Another seen in the opening of the film was in a town with a beach, sea, palm trees and buildings. This shows the audience that the he is a normal guy and is not doing anything bad.
Sound is used in films to give the audience a sense of what might happen. Depends on the genre of the film the type of music will be sued. The sound used in the opening of this film was a sinister sound. This tells us that something is going to happen, let the audience be prepared. This relates to the genre by keeping the audience interests in something dramatic to happen. Another type of sound used was a couple beep (alert) sound, from his watch. This is used to let the character know it’s time, a type of secret alarm. These types of secret sources are used in cover from others. The ‘beep’ sounded like a serious tone. Also the character in the car turns on the radio. He plays a classical music this shows he is peaceful, calm and relaxed person. This shows in an action film he is hiding behind the music and acting innocent, sly and clever.
Edits used in the opening of the film was the credits were shown in a glowy green colour. The colour ‘green’ symbolises calm but also envy. At the begging the first thing shown is green fuzzy lines covering the scene. This may show that it may be a video recording of the whole scene. This relates to action genre by the way everything is secretive and how they want to catch the enemy. The title of the film fades into the scene. Also when the credits are shown each letter at a time of the tile appears on screen in capitals and transparencies. This also relates to being secretive and mysterious. Syeda Lubna Miah
How is genre conveyed through the technical features in your film opening?
Film - Kill Bill Vol 1
How is genre conveyed through the technical features in your film opening?
Film - Kill Bill Vol 1
Firstly the film is edited with a written quote saying "revenge is a dish best served cold" this textual code straight away indicates to the audience that the film is going to be full of violence also conflict/mystery and it mentions revenge. This could illustrate that the genre could be action or a thriller. Also another editing in the film is the title the colour is in red and there’s a big Samara sword, the red has connotations of death and a blood and gruesome killing, which is a typical convention of the genre action and thriller. The editing straight away gives clues on what genre it is.
In addition camera shows the genre by firstly in the beginning of the film there is a close up camera shot of a women who seems to be a victim who looks really badly injured. This straight away tells the audience it’s a film which contains violence which could be linked to the genre action or thriller. There are different shots like close up of footsteps walking towards the victim, the close up of his shoes could be to portray that his a big strong man.This also builds up anticipation and adrenaline for the audience. Footsteps connote mystery which straightaway the genre being a thriller and fits the genre.
A wide variety of mis en scene links to its genre, like for example, the women in the film is wearing a warrior type costume which is normally worn for fights and battles and she’s also holding a Samara sword in her hand, the costume an props and thefact that she’s holding a Samara sword shows that she is ready to chop up and kill humans and not cut for example vegetables which would have been used with a normal standard kitchen knife. These mis en scene props match with the action or the thriller genre.
The sounds in the film are linked to some genres, the sound found one the screaming of the people being killed and the fighters whom swords are clattering from them smashing their swords together. This links to different genres like horror because in horror there are screaming, but in theory the sounds are linked with the genre action because of the swords clattering together.Which reinforces the idea of battle/violence. Also the sound track played are ancient Chinese/Japanese sounds which are in most cases would be played to illustrate that a battle would start this could link to the genre action because of the sound track played.
Rubel Ahmed
Research: Film Opening, Transformers Revenge of the Fallen
In the opening of the film Transformers Revenge of the Fallen, the transitions between the scenes are often slow and fade into and out of the colour black. This creates a sort of tension and suggests that the film includes mystery. The transitions happen often and slowly during the scenes when the humans are shown, like a heartbeat. However when the robots are shown, the transitions take place after longer intervals, reinforcing the idea that they are robots and therefore have no heartbeat.
At first, there is no music and we can only hear a voice over explaining the story. There is a deep rumbling in the background and a drum beat every few seconds. This creates tension. The tribal music then used shows us that the scene that is showing, was set long ago. Once we are shown the robots, the tribal music stops and all we can hear is a mechanical rumbling in the background. It sounds eerie and sinister, showing us that the robots are the villain type of character in the movie.
The first shot we see is an establishing shot of mountains which tells us that the film wasn’t set in the city and also may suggest to us that the scene wasn’t set in these current times. There is a low angle shot of the humans to show us that they were the stronger beings during that time but then when we see the robots, there is a low angle shot that shows the robots which are towering over the humans. It implies that the robots are more dominant and gives us the impression that the genre of the film is action as it shows us the differences in powers between the two beings. There is another establishing shot that backs up the idea that the robots are the stronger beings and it shows the robots’ “nest” in the background while the humans are shown in the foreground as small creatures. This also tells us that there will be a huge difference or struggle in power between the two groups, again implying that the film is an action film.
As the humans are using spears in the opening scene and are wearing nothing but a piece of cloth, is suggests that the film was set a long time ago and the spears imply violence. Also, the large robots imply that there will be mass destruction and again more violence. The fact that the scene is set in a desert shows us the lack of civilisation during that time. Another thing that suggests that the humans are strong beings is when the scene shows a tiger surrounded by humans which automatically makes us think that the humans are strong as they are about to fight a tiger. Through all this, we can see that the film will include conflict over power, that it includes violence and that it will be an action packed film.
Atqiya Shohid
Research: Film Opening, Saving Private Ryan
In the opening scene of the film Saving Private Ryan, we see text telling us when and where the scene takes place. Immediately after the text, we see men in army clothing in a military boat and instantly we know that it’s going to be an action film. The fast transitions between scenes suggest that the film will be fast paced.
There is no music playing through out the opening, we only hear dieagetic sounds like the sounds of waves crashing and the sound of the boat engine. Because of the use of internal sounds, the film seems more serious and helps us relate to it easier as it is more like real life. Afterwards, the noises change and it becomes noisy. We hear gunshots and bombs exploding. From this we can tell that the film is an action film as guns and weapons are involved. When the camera is submerged underwater, we hear almost nothing, like we wouldn’t if we were really underwater. The sounds are all internal sounds and therefore more effective in drawing the audience in as they can relate to the very realistic situations.
As we are shown the boats, the camera shakes a lot and we see water splash onto the screen. The fact that the camera is moving violently may suggest to us that the film contains very violent scenes. Because the camera is moving, it tells us that the story may contain some sort of distortion and disturbance. The point of view shot uses if very effective in showing us the damage being done by the opposing army. We see from the shooter’s point of view how easy it is for him to kill all the people who have just got off the boat. Again, this camera angle hints to us that the film will be very violent and is action based.
We immediately know that there is a war going on in the film as the people are wearing army uniform and there are also many battleships on the sea too. After the shootings begin, the water turns red, suggesting that there will be mass killings and the use of guns and other weapons tell us clearly that the film is an action one.
Atqiya Shohid
Research: Film Opening, Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse if the Black Pearl
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The sound used in the opening if this film was a slow breeze's of wind. This was used at the scene of the ocean/sea entrance, the volume was not too high but throughout the opening of the film the wind sound became quieter but was still used. Also another sound was used was the little girl singing about pirates. The girl’s voice was soft and calm. When the little girl found a fancy umbrella in the sea the music for this scene was the slow wind sound but also it had a fast beat, this maybe because the umbrella meant something or its showing a sign.
One of the mise en scene is the floating umbrella; this might be an important part of the film. Also the piece of plank, broken from a piece of wood was important because the boy in the film was carried on shore and was rescued by the ship members. This piece of plank played an important role in the film, rescuing the little boy.
There were a various types of camera shots used in this opening. One of the camera shots was a close up of the ship. The director done this to show the viewers that this ship is important. Another camera shot that was uses was a over the shoulder shpt of the little girl talking to one of the workers on the ship. He yelled at her for singing. This shot was used to show the girls facial expression when the worker was telling her off. A high angle shot was also used. This was used when the little girl spotted the boy in the sea. This showed the little girl was more in power then the boy.
Syeda Lubna Miah
Research: Film Opening, Taken
In the opening of this film the camera shots that were used was an extreme close up of a birthday hat. This connotes that is was someone important in the films birthday. A medium close up was used on a little girl face, this was during her birthday. Also a close up shot was used while the girl was blowing the candles off the cake, this showed it was the girls birthday party. Her facial expression for this scene was happy, cheery and excited, the reason of a close up is to show the characters facial expression.
One of the mis en scene used in the opening of this film was balloons and party hats. This signifies it was someone’s birthday. Another mis en scene that was used was a frame of a young lady on a horse, this shows she’s an important person in the film.
The film opens with credits, the font used for this was a simple, plain font and the colour was in white. The background for this was black; this made the credits stand out. The director might have done this because the credits are important or famous. One of the other edit that was used was a flashback. The scene of the flashback was a fuzzy/blurry scene, this made it look like a flashback.
The sound used for this opening was a slow steady piano music. This was used in the flashback scene and it showed during this period everything was perfect and calm. Also during this scene another type of sound was used was a dialogue. The dialogue sound was a bit fuzzy this showed it was in the past.
Syeda Lubna Miah
Action based film openings
The reason we chose the films, Kill Bill, Transformers Revenge of the Fallen and Saving Private Ryan is because they are all action movies however the openings of each film differ greatly. For example, the opening of Kill Bill contains violence and blood and the same thing with Saving Private Ryan but the concepts of the films are very obviously different. Although Transformers is an action film, the opening scene of the film is more relaxed and slower paced than the other two films. We wanted to show examples of a typical action film opening (Kill Bill and Saving Private Ryan) and one that has a bit of a calmer atmosphere (Transformers). They all show some form of conflict at the beginning and this is what we are trying to portray in our opening too. Out of the films we have analysed, we are trying to make our opening more like the Kill Bill one as we want to include action as soon as the film begins to make it more obvious to the audience what genre our film is.
Atqiya Shohid
