Analysing conventions to the opening of a film

What to look for when analysing the opening of a film

Conventions:

When analysing the opening of a film you have to look at every detail. The mise-en-scene, costume and characters.

 The opening will usually have dietetic music playing whist you are being introduced to the bigger picture. 

• The opening shot. The semiotics are generally revealing something about the film. The extreme long shot is generally the most common.
• Semiotic analysis - what they didn't involve. Usually the main character = narrative inigima.
• Consider the sound. The diegetic or non - diegetic.
• The music can be aimed at a certain audience.

• Titles and the style of the titles.
• Serif or sans-serif. 
• Serif if it has little bits coming off. Fancy. Rom-Com generally use Serif.
• Sans-serif is very straight forward. Usually in a drama or seriousness.
• The colour and font. Which person named twice - director or company.
• Difference in size for different roles in the film and time they are up on the screen. Where they are on the screen.

• Exposition what information are we getting and what information are we not getting. Narrative. How much exposition has been provided.

• The length of the opening sequence. 
• Specifically how does it end and transition into the next section of the film, cross fade, simple cut, does the music continue.

• Characters.
• Who. When. Where. Why.
• Antagonus or protagunous. 
• What editing techniques are used to follow the characters - Tracking, close ups or privileging their audio over others.

• Costume. 
• Are we getting the genre signified.
• Verisimilitude. Need to give clear direction on what to take time on. Organisation of taking cafe of cast and film.
• Mis-en-scene is the main part. 
• Setting, location. Is it multiple or clearly on one place.
• Representation. Particularly of age, gender and nationality. Very important for the target audience in mind.

• Genre signifiers.
• Ancourage.
• Sound/music.
• Audio bridge - possibly old fashioned.
• Fade in and fade out.
• Intertextuality - are there signifiers of other TV and films. Meaning of one text is linked to another text. Increase awareness of the film. Audience know what is happening - widen appeal to secondary audience. E.g. If the primary audience was 15-24 involved quotes to older films brings in a secondary audience. Older.
• False scare. Think the boyfriend is the killer. Boyfriend is playing around - "Damion you little devil". Reference from the omen.

• Cinematography - camera work, shot types and movement.
• Editing. Special effects. Linear and non linear. 
• Is there a voice over.