For our main task we have to produce an opening sequence to a film including credits, so in class we have been looking at some famous ones. We had to write about the different conventions used which create the effects in the first few minutes of a film. We looked at Rocky 3 and Seven.
Rocky III
Rocky is a drama film which also shares many of the conventions of the action genre. In the opening sequence to Rocky III the film starts with the recognisable rocky theme tune which is also used in the previous films in the series. The film immediately catches the audiences attention with the large yellow font stating the name of the film. Within the first 40 seconds of the opening sequence we know straight away it will be about fighting, as we are introduced to the main character Rocky fighting. Each punch he throws to his opponent is backed up with a increase of tempo in the music. The fast paced music is a convention of action genre. Both Rocky and his opponent fall to the floor and the camera shots back to a close up of a ladies face which allows us to see her facial expression and her reaction to the fight. We also get long lingering shots on Rocky's face which is a convention of the drama genre as we know the film is about him. The increasing tempo of music creates tension whilst we wait to see if Rocky will win the fight and rise from the floor. The non-diegetic sound of commentators also builds up suspense and excitement, we also feel the need to celebrate with the crowd when Rocky wins as the volume of the commentators voices rise and we can hear the excitement in their voices and we can sense the high energry which is also a convention of the action genre.The establishing shot of the ring and crowd tells us where it's taking place. When Rocky is given the prize the music crescendos to show the importance of it and loud music is a convention of the action genre. Also we see a close up of Rocky's face when given the prize which focuses on a high point in his life, something which is discussed in a drama genre as we see dramatic happenings in his lifetime. The montage in Rocky of training then fighting scenes get mixed together by the shots being faded in and dissolving is a convention of an action film as its a non stop motion with a fast pace in addition the fast paced song 'eye of the tiger' in the background builds up suspense and makes the film exciting.
Se7en
Seven is a thriller and it fits within the sub-genre of a psychological thriller. At the start of the opening sequence because its in a dark setting and there is no diegetic or non diegetic sound it creates tension as silence makes you feel as though you are alone that is why its used so often in thriller films, because people are scared of being alone. Before the credits come on the man puts the metronome on to fall asleep, and the ticking sound increases tension as you think something is about to happen as time passes on by. Which is what the thriller genre is all about, keeping the audience on their toes. We know it fits under the psychological sub genre because in the credits the person peels his skin off his thumbs, this makes you think that no ordinary person would do such a thing, they must have something wrong with them and they must be disturbed. Thriller films use dark sinister colors which gives tells you there's a chilling atmosphere. The montage used between the name credits and the hands makes the audience feel uneasy as they don't know what is coming up after the next shot. The sinister writing and eerie music makes you believe that the character is a disturbed individual. The credits are in a font similar to the hand writing of a child's, this creates a sense of uncertainty in the audience.
Claudia Zeppetella
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