Opening Sequences: What is the purpose of an opening sequence? An opening sequence is shown at the beginning of a film, and lists the key creative members and their roles in a production. An opening sequence is very important as it sets the scene and/or tone of a film, and creates an insight as to what it is about, revealing important information pertaining to the narrative.
Opening Credit vs Title Sequence Generally, an opening sequence has text appearing alongside some action, whereas a title sequence is separated from the main action of the film.
Opening Sequence Techniques
James Bond: Skyfall:
- Music atypical of a thriller - Red and blue, as well as black and white lighting - Contains a lot of action-related iconography - Smooth transitions, mimicking him being dragged down into the ocean - Lots of continuous tracking shots - Lots of wide shots - Hallucinatory kaleidoscope - Allusion to events of film - Text overlayed over action
Vertigo - Alfred Hitchcock:
- Extreme close-up of the face and eyes - Dramatic and suspenseful score - Hallucinatory spirals, mimicking the disorienting effect of vertigo; almost hynotising -High contrast between colourful spirals and black backdrop - Animated elements - Red lighting - Text is overlayed over the clip
Se7en (Seven):
- Jarring and discordant score - Credits are displayed over action, or on black frames - Glitching text - Lots of close-up, tight shots - Scratchy text overlay - Superimposition of images - Sudden cuts
Similarities:
These three opening sequences share some similarities.
The Bond opening scene showcases how he is sinking into the ocean, and contains elements that allude to significant events or features in the film. The use of wide shots and smooth transitions between frames mimic how Bond is slowly descending into the ocean, dragged down by a big, shadowy hand which could symbolise an evil force trying to bring about his demise. This clip contains a lot of action and thriller related iconography, with the repeated appearance of guns, knives, and tombstones. The soundtrack in this sequence is atypical of a thriller, as is is not exciting, or building tension in a conventional manner.
In the Vertigo opening sequence, rather than the wide shots employed in Skyfall, the opening is confined to a series of extreme close-ups, with a particular focus on the eyes, creating a juxtaposition between the two pieces. High contrast is created between the colourful spirals and the black backdrop, furthering their disorienting and hypnotic feel, mimicking the effect of Vertigo. This disorienting effect is also present in the Bond sequence, through the use of the black and white kaleidoscope. In addition to this, both clips share the symbolic use of red lighting, heightening the atmosphere of the piece. However, unlike the Bond film, Vertigo contains a dramatic and suspenseful score, more typical of a thriller.
This use of suspenseful music is also employed in the Se7en opening sequence, however, rather than dramatic, the music is jarring and discordant, creating a tense and almost fear-inducing atmosphere. Like in Vertigo, there are many extreme close-ups, limiting the information the audience is given, and conceals the identity of the man carrying out the certain actions. This sequence is characterised by sudden cuts, and contains the repeated use of a scratchy text overlay. In addition to this, there is a superimposition of images during this clip, also creating a somewhat disorienting affect.
All these film openings have on thing in common: the fact that the text is overlayed over the action in the sequence. In the Bond clip, it is embedded into the sequence as it progresses. In Vertigo it appears over the face of the woman, as well as in the frames with the spirals, and in Se7en something similar occurs, the credits also overlayed over the action and black frames. Despite this similarity, the way in which these texts are presented vary. In the Bond clip, the credits are stationary, where they are not completely so in the other two. In Vertigo, the title emerges from the eye, growing bigger and bigger until it fills the screen. On the other hand, the credits in Se7en glitch, adding to the unsettling nature of the opening.