In order to find out more information about different genres, i analysed the opening credits of the film Forest Gump (1994).
The soundtrack in the opening scene indicates to the audience that the film will be quite serious in terms of the narrative as it progresses. The feather that is shown can connote freedom and peace, which makes the viewer believe that the film will encourage the viewer to question things throughout, leading me to believe from the title that the film may have elements from the thriller genre. We are also made aware that the film will contain an element of comedy in the narrative due to the fact that "Forest" places the feather into his suitcase for no apparent reason. The audience are also made aware of the charater's importance through the use of the upwards pan, which makes the character seem grand.
Thursday, 27 January 2011
Thinking about Genre (3)
I recently analysed the opening of the film "Star Wars Episode 4 - A New Hope" in order to gain insight into the Sci-Fi Genre
The opening yellow credits of the film against the black background creates the idea of outer space in the mind of the audience, builting on the science fiction feel to the film. The first thing the audience are shown is a spaceship being shot at by lasers, which immediately creates a futuristic science fiction feel. The first characters to be shown to the audience are both robotic, which shows the audience that the film is futuristic ans Sci-Fi, due to the fact that it immediately contrasts verisimilitude. The audience are shown the good guys and bad guys through the battle scene where the stormtroopers are shooting at the other guys, which encourages the audience to realise that there will be a clear aspect of conflict throughout the film. The audience are finally shown Darth Vader, who is clearly shown to be the "villain" of the film. His attire is futuristic which really supports the Sci-Fi genre.
The opening yellow credits of the film against the black background creates the idea of outer space in the mind of the audience, builting on the science fiction feel to the film. The first thing the audience are shown is a spaceship being shot at by lasers, which immediately creates a futuristic science fiction feel. The first characters to be shown to the audience are both robotic, which shows the audience that the film is futuristic ans Sci-Fi, due to the fact that it immediately contrasts verisimilitude. The audience are shown the good guys and bad guys through the battle scene where the stormtroopers are shooting at the other guys, which encourages the audience to realise that there will be a clear aspect of conflict throughout the film. The audience are finally shown Darth Vader, who is clearly shown to be the "villain" of the film. His attire is futuristic which really supports the Sci-Fi genre.
Wednesday, 26 January 2011
Thinking about Genre (2)
I recently watched a variety of film openings to decide on which Genre I should base my own film on.
The film starts in quite a comical way with the male antagonist telling a story about "Robbing a bank with a telephone" and the female not understanding the concept of the story. This lead the audience to think that the film will have an aspect of Comedy throughout. However, the ending of the clip lead me to believe that the film may fit into the Thriller Genre as the narrative progresses.
The film starts in quite a comical way with the male antagonist telling a story about "Robbing a bank with a telephone" and the female not understanding the concept of the story. This lead the audience to think that the film will have an aspect of Comedy throughout. However, the ending of the clip lead me to believe that the film may fit into the Thriller Genre as the narrative progresses.
Thinking about Genre (1)
I recently watched a variety of film openings to decide on which Genre I should base my own film on.
The first film I analysed was Blade (1998). This film is clearly set out as an action movie to the audience; however there is an apparent aspect of horror. The opening of the film introduces vampires which are key in the films narrative. Since vampires are usually associated with horror movies, the audience believe that the film will be related to the horror genre. The faced paced editing creates action which relates it to the action Genre. When it rains blood, we immediatly think horror as we relate blood with horror films. Throughout the scene, low key editting creates darkness, building on the horror Genre. The titles of the film are in red, the colour of which connotes blood and death, linking the film to the horror genre.
The first film I analysed was Blade (1998). This film is clearly set out as an action movie to the audience; however there is an apparent aspect of horror. The opening of the film introduces vampires which are key in the films narrative. Since vampires are usually associated with horror movies, the audience believe that the film will be related to the horror genre. The faced paced editing creates action which relates it to the action Genre. When it rains blood, we immediatly think horror as we relate blood with horror films. Throughout the scene, low key editting creates darkness, building on the horror Genre. The titles of the film are in red, the colour of which connotes blood and death, linking the film to the horror genre.
My Analysis of film openings (District 13)
The film immediatly shows you that the film is going to be action based, due to the fact that the film begins with a chase scene. The male antagonist wearing yellow is shown to be carrying a gun, which indicates that there will be a "shoot em up" element to the film. The topless protagonist is made to appear athletic and amazing in the opening and we are made aware that his athletic ability will bwe important later in the movie. The fast paced energetic music builds on the tension and adds to the excitement.
My analysis of Final Fantasy XIII (video game)
For this section, I chose to analyse the opening cinematic of Final Fantasy XIII. It might be a video game as a pose to a film; however, there are many similarities between the opening of the video game and a generic film opening.
The opening scene clearly indicates that the game will be action packed and allows the game’s narrative to be categorised in the Action Genre. The audience are almost immediately shown a battle sequence, which immediately engages the audience (player) into the game. The slow paced editing at the very beginning used to establish the area in which the narrative begins can also include the game in the adventure Genre, as the large expanse of scenery encourages the audience to believe throughout the game’s narrative, that expanse of land shown will be important.
In the opening scene, the audience are introduced to two characters who exchange diegetic dialogue, which makes the audience believe that those two characters will be important throughout the game’s storyline. When the battle scene commences, the main character is revealed. She is immediately built up to seem fantastic and is the first character shown to take action, which makes the audience view her as the heroine and important. There is a clear indication of who “Good guys” (the female and male protagonists) and the “Bad Guys” (the men in armour), which allows the audience to quickly make sense of who is who before getting into the games plot. A second male character is shown who is seen as the “hero’s helper”, as he begins to take action after the heroine has. The audience quickly get an indication that he will be quite a comical character throughout the game’s narrative when a chick pops out of his hair. This also indicates that a element of comedy will be apparent in the game. There is a non diegetic voice in the very opening of the scene, which entails of a voice setting out the narrative to the audience. This makes the audience believe that this character will also be quite relevant in the game’s plot and the character will be revealed later in the storyline. The clear themes introduced to the audience are warfare and adventure, and the opening scene gives a clear indication that these themes will be apparent throughout the game.
The game’s narrative is shown in the games opening to be closed, as the voice at the beginning of the clip states that “The thirteen days after we awoke were the beginning of the end”, indicating that one main storyline will follow through to the very end. The audience are quickly shown the first two stages of the generic five stage narrative: Equilibrium (where the train is travelling peacefully along the track) and disruption to the Equilibrium (where the battle commences) which gives the game a movie like structure. There is an indication that the narrative may be Anochronic, including occasional flashbacks to previous events that led to the disruption in the equilibrium.
The game is set in a clear futuristic period, which is made apparent by the characters’ clothing and some of the flying vehicles shown. The battle scene is also set on a train, which indicates to the audience that the game will have a variety of settings, again strengthening the adventure Genre.
The initial music immediately sets an ominous feel for the audience, serving as an action code for the battle sequence to follow. Also, in the opening dialogue between the main characters, the male antagonist says “best of luck”, which again serves as an action code to the audience. The sound of gunfire later in the clip strengthens the idea of war and serves to engage the audience.
The title of the game is quite simplistic and gives no implication to the themes or mood of the game. This can be because the Final Fantasy series is targeted at an existing niche audience and therefore no hints are needed for the targeted audience, while at the same time newcomers to the series will not be influenced by the titles of the game.
The structure of the game’s opening is quite similar with the opening of a film. This gives the game more depth, as the targeted audience are drawn into the storyline due to the movie like feel projected in the opening credits.
The opening scene clearly indicates that the game will be action packed and allows the game’s narrative to be categorised in the Action Genre. The audience are almost immediately shown a battle sequence, which immediately engages the audience (player) into the game. The slow paced editing at the very beginning used to establish the area in which the narrative begins can also include the game in the adventure Genre, as the large expanse of scenery encourages the audience to believe throughout the game’s narrative, that expanse of land shown will be important.
In the opening scene, the audience are introduced to two characters who exchange diegetic dialogue, which makes the audience believe that those two characters will be important throughout the game’s storyline. When the battle scene commences, the main character is revealed. She is immediately built up to seem fantastic and is the first character shown to take action, which makes the audience view her as the heroine and important. There is a clear indication of who “Good guys” (the female and male protagonists) and the “Bad Guys” (the men in armour), which allows the audience to quickly make sense of who is who before getting into the games plot. A second male character is shown who is seen as the “hero’s helper”, as he begins to take action after the heroine has. The audience quickly get an indication that he will be quite a comical character throughout the game’s narrative when a chick pops out of his hair. This also indicates that a element of comedy will be apparent in the game. There is a non diegetic voice in the very opening of the scene, which entails of a voice setting out the narrative to the audience. This makes the audience believe that this character will also be quite relevant in the game’s plot and the character will be revealed later in the storyline. The clear themes introduced to the audience are warfare and adventure, and the opening scene gives a clear indication that these themes will be apparent throughout the game.
The game’s narrative is shown in the games opening to be closed, as the voice at the beginning of the clip states that “The thirteen days after we awoke were the beginning of the end”, indicating that one main storyline will follow through to the very end. The audience are quickly shown the first two stages of the generic five stage narrative: Equilibrium (where the train is travelling peacefully along the track) and disruption to the Equilibrium (where the battle commences) which gives the game a movie like structure. There is an indication that the narrative may be Anochronic, including occasional flashbacks to previous events that led to the disruption in the equilibrium.
The game is set in a clear futuristic period, which is made apparent by the characters’ clothing and some of the flying vehicles shown. The battle scene is also set on a train, which indicates to the audience that the game will have a variety of settings, again strengthening the adventure Genre.
The initial music immediately sets an ominous feel for the audience, serving as an action code for the battle sequence to follow. Also, in the opening dialogue between the main characters, the male antagonist says “best of luck”, which again serves as an action code to the audience. The sound of gunfire later in the clip strengthens the idea of war and serves to engage the audience.
The title of the game is quite simplistic and gives no implication to the themes or mood of the game. This can be because the Final Fantasy series is targeted at an existing niche audience and therefore no hints are needed for the targeted audience, while at the same time newcomers to the series will not be influenced by the titles of the game.
The structure of the game’s opening is quite similar with the opening of a film. This gives the game more depth, as the targeted audience are drawn into the storyline due to the movie like feel projected in the opening credits.
Friday, 21 January 2011
My Analysis of Date Movie
I have recently watched the opening of the film Date Movie (2006) in order to study film openings from different genres as research for my own film opening. The Genre of the film was Comedy with a hint of Romance. The opening scene shows a large sized woman dancing and trying to attract men. This can be seen as humorous due to the way the men react to seeing the woman, yet since in the opening dialogue of the film she is talking about relationships, the audience are made aware that the theme of love will arise later in the film. The soundtrack playing in the background sets a comical atmosphere, indicating to the audience that the film is comical and light-hearted. The Narrative of the film seemed linear and of a similar set up to that of a Romance genre film, yet the audience were immediately made aware that the film was comical and the plot of the film would not be too serious. The opening scene of the film was similar to that of Bridget Jones’ Diary (2001) which gave the impression that Date Movies’ plot would spoof that of Bridget Jones’. This led me to believe that the narrative of the film would frequently reflect that of Bridget Jones Diary.
The title of the film was shown within the opening scene, along with the names of the cast. The font of the film is yellow and not that formal, which indicates that the film will be quite light-hearted. This sets the film up for the audience who will know that the film will be comical.
The woman in pink is portrayed in a very comical way during the opening scene, which lets the audience know that her character’s main purpose in the film will be based around humour. Since her character is the only person to speak during the opening scene, the audience are made aware that she will be a main character in the film.
The title of the film was shown within the opening scene, along with the names of the cast. The font of the film is yellow and not that formal, which indicates that the film will be quite light-hearted. This sets the film up for the audience who will know that the film will be comical.
The woman in pink is portrayed in a very comical way during the opening scene, which lets the audience know that her character’s main purpose in the film will be based around humour. Since her character is the only person to speak during the opening scene, the audience are made aware that she will be a main character in the film.
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