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Analysis of 3 Opening Sequences

1.The Godfather

Plot Summary: The aging patriarch of an organized crime dynasty transfers control of his clandestine empire to his reluctant son.

Camera Angles

The opening sequence of ’The Godfather' begins with a close up shot of a character that seems to be sharing his thoughts and feelings to the viewers. As time goes by we see a range of shots, for example, mid, long, and over the shoulder. These shots are gradually portrayed in the opening scene to show that his not actually talking to the audience but there is someone else there Vito Corleone. The over the shoulder shot is what shows that he is talking to someone else. As the shots change we also learn of the location which is set in an office.

Sound
The first piece of sound you hear is a non digetic trumpet. This suggests a sad start to the film. The next piece of sound you hear is a voice over by the first character on screen. The characters accent is a strong Italian accent.

Mise-en-Scene
The male character shown at the beginning is wearing a black and white suit. The suit could suggest a sense of high class and wealth. However this could also suggest death as the colour black is traditionally associated to funerals.

Editing
The only editing I managed to pick up on in the opening sequence is the fade from the black screen during the voice over. This fade leads to the close up of the character who is speaking. And from then on we no longer hear the non-digetic trumpet.





2.The Lion King


Plot Summary
A young lion prince is born in Africa, making his uncle Scar the second in line to the throne. Scar plots with the hyenas to kill King Mufasa and Prince Simba, resulting in   him becoming King. The King is killed and Simba is led to believe by Scar that it was his fault, and so flees the kingdom in shame. After years he returns home to claim the kingdom.

Camera Angles
The opening sequence of 'The Lion King' begins with a master shot. In this master shot we are able to learn the location of the movie (Africa). Also we see the sun rising which suggests the time of day. Then we get a lot of close up and mid-shots of different animals making their way to see the new born prince, Simba.

Sound
The opening sequence uses non-digetic music. The music also relates to the setting. Having the song in a different language emphasizes the African theme being portrayed in the film.

 Mise-en-Scene
In the opening sequence we see all the other animals making their way to see the new born prince. When the animals arrive, they are greeted by a male lion that seems to have high authority over the rest of the animals. Then when the other animals are shown the cub they all bow. A low angle shot used in this scene. This suggests power as the other animals are forced to look up. From then we see the lioness stroking her cub. This emphasizes the typical gender roles, of women looking after the children whilst the men go out.

Editing

The only editing I manage to pick up on is the fade of the music as a religious ritual is performed on the cub.


3. Blade 

Plot Summary
A half-vampire, half-mortal man becomes a protector of the mortal race, while slaying evil vampires.


Camera Angles 
The opening sequence of Blade is shot in a club. Because of this, a range of shots are used. For instance, a close-up shot is used two minutes in the film, whereby the guy spots that there's blood dripping from the ceiling. Then at 3minutes 25 seconds we see a low angle shot being used. This low angle shot is used to show Blade's power and authority among the other people.


Sound
The first two minutes of the opening sequence all we can hear is techno music which sets the scene of the club. Although the music is playing we can also still hear people cheering. We then hear a guy greeting someone and cheering afterwards.When Blade enters the club thats when the music stops and all we can hear is this eerie music which builds up tension.

Mise-en-Scene
Blade is wearing an all black costume whereas everyone else in the scene they all have a range of different clothing and colours. However, the fact that he is the only character in the openin g scene with an all balck costume suggest that he's the main character. Also the black suggests danger.

Editing
At the beginning of this opening sequence their opening credits in a bright, red, bold,  font.

Film Genres

1.Horror. 

Horror Films are unsettling films designed to frighten and panic viewers while captivating and entertaining us at the same time.Horror films are centered around death, the afterlife, evil, demons and the Devil. The characters in most horror films are usually portrayed as witches, vampires, werewolves and ghosts. The first horror movie made was made by french filmmaker Georges Melies, titled Le Manoir Du Diable ( The Devil's Castle/The Haunted Castle) and the film was only three minutes long. The highest grossing horror movie is The Exorcist, having made a total worldwide gross of: $661,478,540.The film is about a teenage girl who is possessed and who's mother seeks help from priests. The film received 10 Academy Award nominations after its release in 1973. Three examples of horror films are:

• The Omen

The Omen is about the life of Damien, the son of Satan who is actually the Antichrist. Damien tries to worm his way into his adopted Thorn family, in an attempt to gain power over the family’s business and, eventually, wreak havoc on the rest of the world as an adult. 

• Paranormal Activty 

Paranormal Activity revolves around a young couple who find themselves spooked by a supernatural presence in their home, all three films are set within documentary-style footage. The first movie was initially created as an independent feature film, but it wasn’t long before Paramount Pictures scooped it up. Paranormal Activity 3 broke the box-office record for the biggest fall opening on 21-10-2011, with an estimated $54 million debut.

• Freddy Vs. Jason

Freddy Krueger and Jason Voorhees return to terrorize the teenage population. Except this time, they're out to get each other, too.


2.Romance 
Romance films are love stories that are centered around passion, emotion, and the romantic, affectionate involvement of the main characters usually a leading man and lady. Romance films make the love story or the search for love the main plot focus. Often, lovers in romance films face obstacles and the hazards of hardship, finances, physical illness, racial or social class status, occupation, infedility  or family that threaten to break their union of love. The May Irwin Kiss was the first romance film. The film was a re-enactment of the kiss between May Irwin and John Rice from the final scene of the stage musical, The Widow Jones. The film is around 47 seconds long and was directed by Thomas Edison. The highest grossing romance film is Titanic. The film made $1,835,300,000 worldwide. Three examples of romance films are:

• Pretty Woman

Pretty Woman is about a man in a legal but hurtful business needs an escort for some social events, and hires a beautiful prostitute he meets, only to fall in love. 

• Ghost

Ghost is about a man who is killed during a botched mugging, however he's love for his partner enables him to remain on earth as a ghost.

• Hitch

While helping his latest client be with the lady of his dreams, a professional "date doctor" finds that his game doesn't quite work on the gossip columnist whom he's in love with.


3.Comedy 
Comedy Films are films designed to evoke laughter from the audience. Comedies are light-hearted dramas, crafted to amuse, entertain, and provoke enjoyment. The comedy genre humorously exaggerates the situation, the language, action, and characters.There are many different types of comedy one of them is slapstick comedy. In "slap stick comedy," people just do silly things such as tripping, falling over or embarrassing themselves just to make people laugh. A parody or spoof is another type of a comedy film. A parody or spoof movie makes another movie, series or person look silly to make people laugh. The most common type of comedy film is a romantic comedy this is where ,there is a love story about a couple who fall in love, along with silly or funny comedy parts. Three examples of comedy films are:

• The Hangover

The Hangover is a Las Vegas-set comedy centered around three groomsmen who lose their about-to-be-wed buddy during their drunken misadventures, then must retrace their steps in order to find him.

• My Big Fat Greek Wedding

My Big Fat Greek Wedding is about a young Greek woman falls in love with a non-Greek and struggles to get her family to accept him while she comes to terms with her heritage and cultural identity.

• Bridesmaids

Bridesmaids is about a competition between the maid of honor and a bridesmaid, over who is the bride's best friend.


4. Animation
Animated Films are ones in which individual drawings, paintings, or illustrations are photographed frame by frame. Usually, each frame differs slightly from the one preceding it, giving the illusion of movement when frames are projected in rapid succession at 24 frames per second. The highest grossing animation film is Shrek 2. The film made $441,226,247. Three examples of animation films are: 

• Finding Nemo 

Finding Nemo is about a clown fish which is captured in the Great Barrier Reef and taken to Sydney. The fish sets out on a journey to go back home to his father.

• The Incredibles

The Incredibles is about a family of undercover superheroes, are trying to live the quiet suburban life, but are forced into action to save the world.

• Happy Feet

Happy Feet is about   the world of  Emperor Penguins, who find their soul mates through song. However a penguin is born who cant sing but can tap dance.


5. Action
Action Films are  films that have tremendous impact, continuous high energy, lots of physical stunts and activity, possibly extended chase scenes, races, rescues, battles, fights, escapes, non-stop motion, spectacular rhythm and pacing, and adventurous heroes - all designed for pure audience escapism with the action sequences at the core of the film.The highest grossing action film is Star Wars which made an approximate $500,000,000. Three examples of action films are:

• Pirates of the Caribbean

Pirates of the Caribbean is about a Blacksmith Will Turner who teams up with eccentric pirate Captain Jack Sparrow to save his love, the governor's daughter, from Jack's former pirate allies.

• Spider-Man

Spider-Man is about a nerdy, shy, and awkward high school studen who is tbitten by a genetically modified spider gains spider-like abilities that he eventually must use to fight evil as a superhero after tragedy befalls his family. 

•  Casino Royale

Casino Royale is based on James Bond's first mission, which is to stop Le Chiffre, a banker to the world's terrorist organizations, from winning a high-stakes poker tournament at Casino Royale in Montenegro.

20 second clip

Script

This script is for my 20 second preliminary task.

The clip begins in a kitchen whereby the young girl thinks she's heard someone knocking. She then walks towards the door and waits to see if anyone's there. We then hear the door knock again.
The guy knocks.


The young girl: OH!


She walk towards the door and opens it.


The young girl: Hello
The guy: Hi
The young girl: Come on in


The guy walks in and the young girl shuts the door.


End of Clip

Location

For my preliminary task I chose to film it in my house.

Pictures

6 pictures that show 6 ranges of shots.
 

The High Angle Shot

The Establishing Shot

 

The Low Angle Shot



The Wide-Shot



The Medium Shot

The Close-Up Shot

                                          

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