Taxi Driver: Psychological thriller.
Total running time of opening sequence: 2:22
The following generic conventions used are:
There is an introduction of the production company who are Columbia; this is all in complete silence, with no music playing. The soundtrack begins as smoke appears on the screen as a taxi drives towards the camera with the name of the movie appearing on screen. An indication of the location is shown when the camera is using a P.O.V shot from inside the taxi giving the audience an awareness of what the taxi driver will be able to see. Details of the cast and crew are conveyed throughout the whole of the opening sequence as it continuously displays the names of the different people involved in the making of the movie from music producers to the actual actors themselves. Having many different extreme close ups of the main characters face focuses the audience on him and makes them more aware of his personal looks and emotions, as well as unconsciously allowing the audience to remember and know his features before showing them him in the rest of the movie. The simple ness of only using a car as a prop and showing the man's face, as well as the traffic he is seeing has a greater impact and affect on the genre used. It is showing the audience a quiet and tense atmosphere indicating it being a thriller.
The following sub genre conventions used are:
Mise en scene: Characters weren't fully shown in the opening sequence until the end, when a man is a police uniform appeared, this shows is that they're are in the police force and gives the audience awareness of some of their background. Props used were only a car, as they kept the opening sequence as simple as possible without the need of too many props to emphasise the car, being a taxi. The lighting is kept very low key to stick to the theme of a thriller, making the atmosphere tense and dark. This all helps the viewers understanding of a thriller making them aware that it's not a happy, romantic comedy.
Camera Techniques: Extreme close up on the main characters face to emphasise and show the emotions and characteristics of him, allowing the audience to recognise his personal feelings. There is an out of focus shot whilst in the car making the audience aware of the lights and rain hitting the window whilst driving it. Over the shoulder shot when the main character is walking through the door into an office.
Editing Techniques: Fade in at the beginning from the titles to the actual movie shot. Fade in and fade outs are used throughout the entire opening sequence to go from scene to scene. Long shot duration is used in most of the scenes helping aid viewers understanding as they are able to see the shots for a longer period of time, therefore they can take more in.
Sound and Music: The opening sequence starts off with complete silence as the production titles appear and as the taxi starts up and drives towards the camera, after the taxi comes into view and smoke is produced a soundtrack starts. The soundtrack starts off very loud and brashly, making the audience pay more attention and feel more involved. It then turns calm and mellow with a soft playing violin to then change to harsh and loud again, and then to quiet again. This helps portay a confusing, mind boggling beginning to a similar theme throughout the movie itself. The soundtrack was a non diegetic, fast paced which ran parallel with the visuals, however they also sounded contrapuntal when the camera was focusing on the mans face, as he looked uncomfortable and distressed whereas the music was happy and bubbly. The only diegetic sounds were used with the dialogue right at the end of the opening sequence to introduce us the rest of the movie.
Unbreakable: Psychological thriller.
Total running time of opening sequence: 5:01
The following generic conventions used are:
There is an introduction of the production companies before the actual beginning of the movie. Then it moves on to a black screen with white writing on it, talking about comic books. It then jumps straight into the first scene without any theme tune or credits. After this first scene is plays a short soundtrack whilst displaying the names of some of the main actors involved before the actual name of the title 'Unbreakable', then moving back into antoher scene with titles of other actors at the bottom of the scene. The location is in various places, first a department store where the mother and her baby are, then to the main character in a moving train.
The following sub genre conventions used are:
Mise en scene: Some characters were fully shown when the woman and baby were in a department store room with other people around here, all concerned about the babies welfare, also whilst the man and woman are in the train together they are shown as unfamiliar with each other and lonely. Props used were very minimal and not fully shown, such as a phone and a ring and a car, also keeping the opening sequence as simple as possible without the need of too many props. The lighting is portrayed as low key to stick to the theme of a thriller, making the atmosphere tense and dark as well as high key to fully show the scenes in an open and easy way.
Camera Techniques: Mid shots are used whilst the mother and baby are in the department store to allow the audience to see exactly where they are and what its like.
Editing Techniques: Fade in at the beginning from the titles to the actual movie shot. Then it turns into a black out as it goes from the first scene to showing more titles, including the name of the movie. Long shot duration is used in most of the scenes helping aid viewers understanding as they are able to see the shots for a longer period of time; therefore they can take more in.
Sound and Music: The opening sequence also starts off with complete silence as the production titles appear and the first scene with the black and white contrast about comic books is broadcasted. After this it goes straight into the mother and child in a department store room where there is only diegetic sound from dialogue to a baby screaming. The soundtrack then starts off very subtle and short. The soundtrack was a non diegetic, mellow, yet fast paced sounding music.
No comments:
Post a Comment