Opening Sequence Pt.2

How is the sequence engaging and how does it conform to traditional Thriller codes and conventions?

(think about the 4 technical areas as well as narrative conventions)

1. Inception

Sub Genre: Action Thriller

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-LYz4tUrxzs

At the beginning of the opening sequence, the film makers decided to add in their film company's classic, universally recognisable  title sequence with their logo. The effect this has in the audience is excitement, when you see the logo of a film company that is known for making good movies, the audience is on the edge of their seat to watch the movie because they expect greatness. The first proper shot in the opening sequence is based in the water with waves crashing, this leads to confusion of the audience and curiosity, this curiosity drives interest and attention to the movie. Then it shows a man just laying there washed up on shore, this heightens engagement as they are showing a situation and leaves the audience to wonder how this man ended up here, so now they will want to pay attention to the rest of the movie. Thriller movies usually have a lot of symbolism and in this film there is a spinner top that is used as a significant symbol in the film that helps differentiate which is a dream and which is reality. When seeing a reoccurrence of this item throughout even just the opening scene, the audience understands that it is significant. 

2. 

Sub Genre: Horror Thriller

Death Note 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TVNIq0QiEK4

The opening sequence of film begins with an establishing shot that shows the city, panning the scenery coming through with the mise en scene.  Then the screen blacks out and moves to the next shot which is of school and moves to the next, showing the fast pace life of the characters that are about to be shown. This showing a normal life yet the music gives off the feeling to the audience that something is off, hence the genre of horror thriller. showing that it is conforming to the conventions of a thriller. With thriller there are a lot of jump cuts and this film follows that convention as within the opening scene we are flashed with multiple shots that we know will only be unpacked later on in the film. The use of jump cuts actually heightens the audiences engagement as they are simply being given a lot of information with no context so obviously to understand what is going on they would have to continue watching the film so the audience would be at the edge of their seats waiting to find out what are all the connections between the shots/scenes. The music is flashy at points and this is because it is showing a series of events occurring in a certain time frame, all of which leading up to something big and this is shown and portrayed to the audience through the use of music.

3. Maze Runner

Sub Genre: Man vs. Nature Thriller

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jpezsRoq1nw

The film makers have the opening scene consist of a title sequence showing the logos that may be familiar to the average movie watcher. The 21st Century logo being shown instantly gets the audience more interested because they are familiar with the  company and as they are known for their great and iconic films, so when the audience sees this logo they know/have a gut feeling that the movie will be worth while. Then the screen cuts to being pitch black and slowing a moving light is shown, then we come to the realization that the character is in an elevator type contraption, the way the screen starts with black gives the audience a feeling of "where are we" and it is also conveyed through the stress the character is experiencing. This puts the audience in the shoes of the character on screen as they also feel tense, they too have no clue where the contraption is taking the character. The mise en scene once the character gets out is green. blocked off and constricting. The light in the contraption turns red, red is a universal symbol of danger so the audience is now aware that the character is currently not in the ideal situation. This is very compliant with the conventions of thrillers as it is commonly used in these types of movies to make it clear something is wrong. There is a point of view shot, commonly used in thrillers to get more emotional engagement by getting the viewers to feel what the characters feel, the point of view shot is showing from the perspective of the main character who was in the contraption which opens to show a group of people huddling around him, this makes us understand his confusion and gives us a reason to continue watching just to see where he is and where this goes.