The differnces between Independent and Mainstream

I this post I will be analysing the key differences in both independent and mainstream opening sequences and what effects they have on the audience.

mainstream opening sequences seem to have a more relaxed feel to them, making it easy to watch, making the audience relaxed in the viewing of the sequence. it makes the film easy to understand and follow.

where as with independent films there seems to be more the  fact that the audience has to think about the film and the situation of the story line and characters, making  the film seem more





The Genre for the independent film is thriller. The Tiles are small and seem to be in a professional
font .  The images dont seem to give much away about the film but it also doesnt seem to challenge the viewers thoughts, its an easy piece to watch.



It is aparrant that this opening sequence is from a mainstream film, the titles are well presented and there has been ovbvious thought in the opening sequence. It seems unrealtica and make the viewer intrested in the sequence. The actors names remain on the screen longer than what is on teh independent film, also the production companies logo is has longer screen time than the idependent film.

Why are we doing a remake?

The group and I are making a remake of the openin sequence of  the film Vertigo, we are doing this because we want to gain experence with opening sequences. By  remaking the sequence we are able to establish when certain titles are to be shown  and how long for, and so we can reconise the titles that should be prioritised.

Attracting Audiences

It important that we attract audiences in film production. when attracting an audience its important to think about cost. The main way in which we can save money when attracting audiences is by using social networking websites. We are as a group are going to focus on both Facebook and Twitter, as these are free means of advertisement. Also there can be stages of viral ads and campaigns which can help with advertisement.

Also we are going to be using small posters as well to help with the initial awareness of our film.
our production company is Independent so we are  most likely to use below the line advertisement techniques, where we are not using TV advertisement, most probably use a facebook or twitter campaign.

Generic conventions

With in films there are usual generic conventions used to help with the introduction of characters and also showing the audience the film genre.

Examples of generic conventions used in film sequences would be:

Action films usually have a fast car chase or fighting scene to get the audience int rested in the story line and keep them entertained. this is an example of an film opening. Iron man doesn't have titles until the end of the clip and that is of the film title.


Romance Films us ally have a sequence where the characters are introduce and their relationships with each other are usually also introduced. In this film sequence it starts with him at war and it goes back on a flash back to before he was at war, the main characters are then introduced.

Time line for Breakfast at Tiffany's

(0.42 - 0.47) Audrey Hepburn

(0.48 - 0.52) George Pppard

(1.00 - 1.06) in Breakfast at Tiffany's

(1.07 - 1.09) A Jurow Shepard production

(1.10 - 1.14) Co-satrring Patricia Neal

(1.15 -1.20) Buddy Ebsen
                    Martin Balsam
                    Vilallonga

(1.26 - 1.34) With
                               John McGiver                Alan Reed
                               Dorothy Whitney           Miss Beverly Hill
                               Stanley Adams               Claude stroud
                               Elvia Allman                 Cat (Frank Inn Trainer)

(1.35 - 1.39) And also starring
                             Mickey ronney as Mr Yunioshi

(1.40 - 1.45) Based on a novel by Truman Copote

(1.46 - 1.49) directot of Photography Franz F.Planer A.S.C

(1.52 - 2.02) Art direction
                             Hal Perira
                             Roland Anderson
                      Edited by
                              Howard Smith
                      Special photographic effects
                              John P. Futon
                      Process Photography
                               Farciot Edouart
                      Set decoration
                               Sam Comer
                               Ray Moyer
                      Assitant Director
                               William McGarry

(2.03 - 2.10) Costume Supervision
                                Edith Heath
          Miss Hepburn wardrobe princably by Hubert De Givenchy
          Miss Neal wardrobe princably by Hubert De Givenchy
                     Make up supervision
                                 Wally West More
                      Sound Recording
                                  Hugo Grenzbach
                                  John wilkinson
                      Technicolour consultant
                                   Richard Mueller

(2.13 -2.16) song "moon River" by
                                 Johnny Mercer and Henry Mancini
                                 Technicolour

(2.19 -2.20) music by
                                 Henry Mancini

(2.21 - 2.24)  Screen Play by
                                 GeorgeAxelrod

(2.25 - 2.30) Produced by
                                  Martin Shepheard and
                                  Richard Jurow

(2.33 - 2.36) Directed by
                                  Blake Edwards

Time Line - Pulp Fiction

Time line

(0.14 - 0.17)Miramax Film Presents

(0.19-0.22) A Band Apart

(0.23 -0.26) And Jersey Films Production

(0.27 - 0.30) A film by Quentin Tarantino

(0.31 - 1.32) Pulp Fiction (the title slowly gets further way in the back ground)

(0.40 – 0.44) John Travolta

(0.45 – 0.48) Samuel L. Jackson

(0.45 – 0.48) Samuel L. Jackson

(0.49 – 0.53) Uma Thurman

(0.54 – 0.57) Harvey Keitel

(0.58 – 1.02) Tim Roth

(1.02 – 1.06) Amanda Plummer

(1.07 – 1.10) Maria De Medeiros

(1.11- 1.14) Ving Rhames

(1.15 – 1.18) Eric Stoltz

(1.19 – 1.22) Rosanna Arquette

(1.23 – 1.26) Christopher Walken

(1.28- 1.32) And Bruce Willis

(1.34 -1.35) Co- Staring

(1.36 – 1.48) Paul Calderon

Bronagh Gallagher

Stephen Hibbert

Angela Jones

Julia Sweeney

Quentin Tarantino

Frank Whaley

Duane Whitatker

(1.49- 1.52) casting by Ronnie Yeskel C.S.A 

Gary M. Zuckerbrod

(1.53 – 1.56) music supervisor

Karyn Rachtman

(1.57 – 2.00) costume designer

Betsy Heimann

(2.02- 2.09) editor

Sally Menke

(2.10 -2.13) director of photography

Andrezej Sekula

(2.14- 2.17) co- excutive producers

Bob Weinstein Harvey Weinstein

Richard N. Gladstein

(2.18 – 2.22) excutive producers Danny Devito

Michael Shamberg Stacy Sher

(2.23 – 2.26) stories by Quentio Tarantino and Roger Avary

 

Student film Analysis

Genre - The Genre of this student film opening gives the impression that it is an action? gang culture film.

Editing- continuous editing was used in the piece, the cuts used where quick paced in the appropriate areas to help with creating excitement and keep the audience on edge.

Sound- non dietetic sound, gun fire was edited into the piece , a song sound track was layered in the background to create atmosphere

Camera angles used- close up, long shots, dolly shots, high angles

Mise- scene is set in a urban area, there are props that are guns, showing violence, the clothing of the characters are quite dark.

Titles- The titles seem to be quite small and hard to notice until the introduction of the actors.
the opening is int resting and keeps the audience intrested in the piece, though I feel that not all the title are easily.

I looked at the student opening sequences to try and get a rough understanding on what the finished product will look like and See the structure of other student film pieces. I think its important to look at others work to be able to identify problems that may occur in the making of our opening sequence. It also can give us ideas on what shots or camera angles that can benefit our sequence. Looking at other student opening sequences has also shown us which fonts look appropriate for our sequence piece, so we have compared which font types we will prefer in our sequence piece.

Genre- this piece has an obvious genre of horror , this can been seen from the piece and also can be suspected thought the use of music, It has an horror like feel to the sound track. The use of props in the clip also signify that the piece is a horror.

Editing- the editing, uses flashbacks, there was also uses of fast cuts and there where also uses of blackout transitions.

sound- there is a uses of non dietetic sound, there is a use of a music soundtrack, this creates tension and atmosphere for the audience.

camera angles- high Angle, low angle, close up, mid shot

Titles- the titles where small and integrated into the sequence.

mise- the location seems to change,there are uses of props and makeup.

Analysis of film openings

Panic Room (2002)


Genre type- the mood of the opening sequence seems eerie this gives the impression to the audience that the film has a genre type of a thriller/ action film.

Narrative-is shown as inner city, (New York)

Character- Jodie Foster was main actress, womans voice at the end of the clip then enters, implying that that voice character has a main role in the story.

Atmosphere- the music has the effect of tension, eeriness, - mystery

Themes- City life, Mystery, feeling of being enclosed, claustrophobia

Setting- its made apartment that it is set in a built up city and this is shown by the amount of buildings and the busyness of the area, you can also link it to being the city of New York because of the iconic taxis and also the recognisable buildings.

Titles-titles are not integrated, difficult to see, names linked in with the builds

Lord of War (2009)


Genre type- the opening sequence makes it apparent that the film is based around war, action and also political backgrounds

Narrative- shows story of a pathway, links with war and conflict

Characters- officers, machine workers, the bullets journey

Atmosphere- The music seems oddly upbeat in comparison to what the clip is about

Themes- war, conflict, destruction, political influences

Setting- Travelling though foreign countries

Sound- country style of music, dark under tones in lyrics giving connotations of danger.

Titles- titles were not intergated, fomrmal/offial font and is placed in the centre of the screen.

Catch me if you can (2002)


Genre- action, mystery, face paced film

Narrative- tells a story of being chased, its pointed out in the clip that which characters are chasing who this is shown from the order in which the names of the actors and the characters come up on screen.

Character- two main characters established in the opening sequence

Atmosphere- Mysterious, adventure, action

Setting- main setting is New York and this is from the iconic imagery of the yellow taxi, but also in the sequence it shows travelling.

Sound- the sound to this clip makes it seem mysterious and adventurous.

Titles- the titles are integrated in to the animation.

My Best Friends Wedding (1997)

Genre- Romantic Comedy (wedding)

Narrative- wedding themed

Character- bride and brides maids

Atmosphere- Happy, cheesy

Themes- Weddings, love, comedy

Setting- wedding, set as if its an on stage show

Sound- the music and lyrics are catchy, but sound slightly old fashion

Titles- where worked around the dancing, the titles where calligraphy style making it seem to look like an invitation, the titles where not integrated.

Girl with the Dragon Tattoo


Genre- The opening sequence makes the genre hard to catergrise, it gives the felling, thiller, drama, action

Narrative- story of being traped, death technology, violence, there is a flower which opens giving conatations of a person opening up their feeilings

Character- Male, female its hard to distinguesh character, this gives the effect of mystery and uncertainty

atmosphere- the qick paced cuts make it seem exciting and dangerous, makes it feel mysteriuos
Themes- death, sex, pain, technology, voilence.

setting-the opening scene is not in a certain place its mostly darkness

sound- the music gives it effect of dnager with thequick paced rythm.

titles- were not intergrated but where placed in differnt place around the screen.


Forrest Gump


Genre-comedy, Romance, Drama

Narrative- shows a journey of a feather this gives connatations of some ones journey through life, or their experences.

Character- the feather,and the man sitting on the bench who is Forrest Gump.

Themes- the themes in this clip seemto be mainly of a journy of someone or something.

Setting- is first inthe sky then to a bench where a man is sitting waiting for a bus

Titles- The titlesare not intergrated, the titles are shown in the middle of the screen.