JM- Analysing an opening sequence

Directed by Ruben Fleishcer 2009

Directed by M.Night Shyamalan 2002

Directed by Zack Snyder

Genre – 'Signs'

• This film is included in the Horror Genre, the audience can identify this easily within the opening sequence through the typical horror conventions such as the use of prolonged silences to create an uneasy atmosphere although there is little actually happening on screen. Another typical horror convention used within the Signs opening sequence is the motivated cut.
• In my opinion the audience’s generic expectations of the horror text are fulfilled through the use of devices which are iconic to the genre. There are a variety of conventions used such as the large difference in the pans included within the sequence, the Camera pans are either very slow or extremely fast which is a common notion of Horror texts.
• The ‘Signs’ opening sticks to the traditional characteristics of the horror genre by the use of numerous iconic conventions, unlike many modern horrors that are beginning to challenge the traditional conventions of the horror genre.  

Film language – ‘Signs’

• A sense of uneasiness of the scene is immediately created through the use of Mise-en-scene from the very beginning of the title sequence. The lighting of the sequence begins constantly dark giving the audience the impression that something is not as it should be.
• The camera shot size is primarily medium throughout the opening, this continuous sized shot gives the impression that the characters are being looked upon from something. This effect further creates uneasiness to the audience.
• The first piece of dialogue in the sequence is a girl screaming, a typical horror convention, which shocks the audience. There is no soundtrack played other the sequence at any point, but the use of selective sound has been used on numerous occasion, for example the birds and dogs calling. The lack of dialogue and the use of selective sound creates confusion and therefore anchor the images.
• The audience particularly gains information on the two children through the little dialogue given to the two children. The little girl asking her father a question shows her to be innocent. Whereas the boy continuing on his own thoughts rather than answer his father, alongside his eyes stuck to the image in front of him represents the boy to be intelligent, and therefore the audience sympathises with both children.
• The sequence begins with the camera panning backwards from a view down upon the garden, however the camera soon reveilles that the image was looking out from a window and establishes the setting of a farm house.

Narrative – 'Dawn of the Dead'

• The narrative is established through the use of a Montage including numerous Television new stories which begin to hint to the audience the plot of the film. Moreover a voiceover is also used in the opening to reveal to the audience the Zombie nature of the film.
• The audience on this occasion is not placed with a character due to that no protagonist characters are shown within the opening. However the audience can is made to relate to the sequence by the use of the Television News Stories emphasising that the plot, although fiction, has the possibility of happening.
• Identification of the narrative has been highlighted in the use of the text on screen. The key convention of horror has been utilised in the Dawn of the Dead opening by the Voice over establishing the story as well as leaving mystery causing an eagerness in the audience to continue to watch the film. Non Diegetic music alienates the opening due to the major key and upbeat track; this however may have been used to enhance the horror of the images on screen through the contrast of the major key music and gore images.
• It is made clear to the audience that the film is based upon the Zombie Horror genre through the hints shown within the opening sequence. Furthermore the audience are likely to expect gore horror which has been implied in the montage.
•  Tension is gradually increased as the sequence progresses by the ending of dialogue, used to shock the audience, and introduction of major key music.  

Representation & Ideology ‘Signs’

• Watching the sequence it may be received that the American Dream family are being represented throughout, this has been done primarily through the setting, a large house alongside a large garden. However the director challenged the American dream family through the Horror Genre.
• The setting of the sequence quickly informs the audience that the characters live simple lives and the sequence represents this way of life.
• It is evident that the director has not attempted to challenge the typical horror conventions throughout the sequence. Instead ‘Shyamalan’ has stuck to the common methods used within horror production.

Media Audiences – 'Zombieland'

• ‘Zombieland’ opening sequence is targeted at the core audience of 15-25 year olds; this is also shown through the films certificate age of 15. I believe they have chosen this audience as the opening sequence contains modern twists on the generic expectations of horror by mixing the horror genre with elements of comedy.  
• I feel the most probable audience reading of ‘Zombieland’ opening is to take a mixture of an element of horror combined with comedy. For example that although the Zombies can be scary it is easy to overcome them through comedy. However there remains a possible audience reading of complete horror for the Zombies.
• I personally take the probable audience reading of a mixture between Horror and Comedy from the opening. I am specifically part of the films target audience and therefore the opening plays to my interests and male gender. My evaluation I believe will be a common reading of the ‘Zombieland’ opening as the probable reading is fairly obvious.

Institutional context ‘Dawn of the Dead’

• Director Zack Snyder has used a Star within the opening however not as would be expected in a horror film. Non Diegetic sound has been emplaced into the sequence as it progresses, the music is by the famous musician ‘Johnny Cash’. This is an important use of a Star as the music helped create a buzz factor for the films release as well as the lyrics anchoring the images.
• The Studio that produced the film was Strike Entertainment and therefore the film is an ‘industrial film’.
• The Dawn of the Dead 2004 is a remake of the original Dawn of the Dead (Romero, 1978) and the buzz factor created around a remake was used to market the film. Furthermore the use of the typical Trailer, poster etc were used.

• The institutional context is clearly apparent in the opening sequence of the film through the detailed costume on the Zombies and the CGI (Computer Generated Imagery) used to further produce realistic Zombie Characters