MM - Analysing an opening sequence

Saw 2 - Darren Lynn Bousman - 2005

This film has some good techniques, for example the fast cutting rate towards the end, and the use of the flicking light bulb. Furthermore i think most of the footage we could do ourselves.

The Teeth of the Night - Stephen Cafiero - 2008 http://www.watchthetitles.com/articles/0065-The_Teeth_Of_The_Night

This french film opening is very unique, we may not use the same sort of style exactly, but i think it is good to get more variety, to broaden our horizon. Also more ideas is better instead of just a couple.

Two Eyes Staring - Elbert van Strien - 2010 http://www.watchthetitles.com/articles/00174-Two_Eyes_Staring

This opening sequence is simple but very effective. The music and images are subtle but powerful which are quite easily done. I think we could use some of the techniques from this openings in our own.

Genre – Saw 2 - Darren Lynn Bousman

1. This film belongs to the sub genre called suspense, horror. We can tell this as many horror conventions are used such as disjointed images, the titles being in and out of focus, and dull lighting.
2. The audience’s generic expectations of the text are fulfilled as the mood is set straight away, and suspense conventions are used right at the start of the opening sequence.
3. The opening scene conforms to the characteristics of the genre because there isn’t any humour used and by using simple horror conventions.

Film Language – The Teeth of the Night - Stephen Cafiero

1. Mise-en-scene conveys meaning in this sequence by the use of shadows, the moon, bats, and dark trees, which nowadays are not so scary. The Film is a comedy horror, so its not a tradition horror its supposed to be more funny than scary.
   
2. As this film is an animation the camera does not move during the opening sequence, which is an interesting technique and is not widely seen. However this means they cannot influence the audience by camera techniques, they will have to contract the audience with sound mise-en-scene and editing.
3. The opening scene does not anchor the images, the theme of the images as they are quite dark, this is used as the film is a comedy horror. And the soundtrack is in major key and up beat, which does not go with the images. It contrasts between horror and comedy well.
   

4. There is no dialogue from the characters in the opening, but there are many

expressions on the characters faces, showing a scared and frighten look which goes with the genre of the film.

5. Animation is used through out the opening scene; personally I think it is an interesting technique and when used well can be very effective. It is used well in this sequence and it introduces the film very well and gives the audience a sense of what to expect.

Narrative – Saw 2 - Darren Lynn Bousman

1. The narrative in this clip is in real time and no compression is used but a montage is used which makes it look like the time is moving faster but it isn’t. Towards the end of the sequence a stopwatch is put on which also sets the time to real time.
2. The audience are positioned in a few places through out the clip. At the start of the sequence the audience is seeing out of the characters eyes, but later in the clip we are looking at the character. We are still with the character and experiencing what he is going through.
3. We sympathise with the main character, who is being tortured as he acts innocent during the sequence. And the audience are made to feel against the character 'Jig Saw', the man with the mask. However as 'Jig Saw' explains why he is torturing him, we have to think again about if the main character is good or bad.
4. The major themes in this sequence are gore and horror, which is shown in the beginning of the clip. Another major theme is suspense, in whether he will get the key out of his eye in time or not.
5. Tension is build during the stopwatch ticking, and whether he can get the trap of in time. The tension is maintained as the clock goes on for a whole minute as he desperately tired to get the eye, but was unable to push himself to that limit.

Representation & Ideology – Two Eyes Staring - Elbert van Strien

1. The costume, soundtrack, and typography all contribute to a sophisticated and upper class theme to the sequence. The soundtrack is of classical music and the titles are in an old fashioned writing which both give the upper class feeling.
2. From this sequence it shows that the lifestyle is quite luxurious, and they are quite wealthy. The main indictor of this is the costumes that the girls in the clip wear, they are not seen a lot, but they are shown as being wealthy.
3. I do not think the sequence shows the audience clearly that the film is a horror, but it is very interesting and unique. The opening is not however a ‘spoof’, like for example ‘Scary Movie’.

Media Audiences – The Teeth of the Night - Stephen Cafiero

1. I think the target audience for this film would be male and females aged 10-19, as the film is a spoof and is not scary but had comedy in as well.
2. I think the most probable reading of the clip, is that its not trying to be scary, as they have made it an animation. The first thing that comes across is that it is not a horror, or it is for younger years.
3. Personally as a British teenager I take the probable reading that the film is a comedy horror. I think most other people will also take the same reading. I do not think that many people will watch the sequence I think that is it not a comedy horror.

Institutional Context – Saw 2 - Darren Lynn Bousman

1. The director has not used a star actor/actress in the opening sequence. However the character ‘Jig Saw’ the character with the mask is very iconic which sets a theme and makes the audience more interested. In addition a lot of merchandise can we produced due to the character.
2. A studio called Twisted Pictures Evolution Entertainment, which is an independent studio, meaning the budget would have been fairly low, produced the film. However the soundtrack is owner by Warner Bros.
3. As the film is a sequel, the studio didn’t have to use much marketing, compared with a film that isn’t a sequel. Furthermore a lot of the audience had already seen the first film. But they still had to put out a trailer and market it as usual to gain a bigger and wider audience and they also used posters.