Task 4 - An Intro To The Unit & Film Openings

What is the purpose of a film opening? What makes a good film opening? 

'Watching Documentary'

1. What does Thomas Sutcliffe mean when he says "films need to seduce their audience into long term commitment. While there are many types of seduction, the temptation to go for instant arousal is almost irresistible"

From the quote provided, Thomas Sutcliffe means that the opening scenes of films need to attract the target audience’s attention and make them want to carry on watching with all their trust that the film will be a success and reflect on what is shown in the opening scene.

2. According to director Jean Jacques Beineix, what are the risks of 'instant arousal'?

According to Jean Jacques Beineix the risks of instant arousal is not answering the questions that the audience come up with during the opening scene.

3. Explain why "a good beginning must be make the audience feel that it doesn't know nearly enough yet, and at the same time make sure that it doesn't know too little"?

In my opinion a good beginning needs to possess these features in order to grab the audience’s attention and make them carry on watching the film because they are brought into a little insight of the film but not everything – and the only way to find out will be to carry on watching the film to the end.

4. What does critic Stanley Kauffmann describe as the classic opening? Why does this work? 

Stanley Kauffmann’s description of a classic opening is a fade into the Eastern view of New York City with a long shot of a building which develops into a close up of the building then of a specific window. This then leads to a receptionist desk which introduces us to the main character of the film and the plot.

This works because you are given small details such as the setting and location so we know where the film is being set which can sometimes be quite significant. Another reason why it is important is because we are given an insight into the occupation of the main character/hero. Finally, this works because everything is in place, rational and expected.

5. Why is Kyle Cooper's title sequence to the film 'Seven' so effective? 

Kyle Cooper’s title sequence to the film ‘Seven’ is very effective because it tunes the viewer to the right dissonant of pitch. This means they are being tuned into what they would expect to come up or happen in the film purely based on its title sequence. The title sequence is also effective because it is essentially seen as the first scene of the movie because of the way it fits in very well and the way it tells a story through the title sequence.