Task 13 - Analysis of 2 Title Sequences

Analysis of 2 Title Sequences - Micro & Macro

Sequence 1 (Micro) - The Ring 

Genre: Horror, Mystery 

Camera:

- There are many different camera angles used in this title sequence. These are: close up, low angles and medium close ups. We can see that as the tension rises in the opening title sequence the pace of the film slows down which draws the audience in as we want to know more - therefore, carry on watching. An example of this is when the pace slows down as the girl goes to open the door and the door knob is wet - as seen from the title sequence. From this title sequence we can realise that the distance between the main girl in the sequence and specific significant objects have a medium distance between them. For example, the distance between the main girl and the TV is significant because as we watch on we understand that the TV is a main source of the film. 

Editing: 
- There are quite clear match cuts in this title sequence which can be recognised immediately. An example of this is when she reaches for the door knob and the camera angle is a close up of the door knob which then goes back to her face - this match cut works very well and sets the tone and genre of the film due to the darkness in the scene. The editing of the credits in the title sequence appear as jump cuts - which means that the movement between the credits are quite sharp and sudden - and can also be considered as appearing as flashbacks due to the lightening-like effects of the credits. 

Mise-en-scene:
- At the beginning of the title sequence the girl is in a typical American house wearing a white shirt and a skirt which we can imply from this that she goes to a school and is in some sort of education due to the uniform-like costume she was wearing, walking towards the camera which is at a low angle so we can only see her feet and the water on the floor. The camera then moves upwards so we can her face which is very pale and her expression is quite stunned/scared.We then move into the girl's bedroom which has a TV in it that has something playing - this is the main setting that we come across in the title sequence. The performance of the main girl is quite well as we can imply this from her facial expressions and the makeup on, during the extreme close up of her face and once she opens the door and the camera is facing her.

Sound:
- The sound used in this title sequence varies quite a few times as the credits go on. For example, as the title sequence first starts there is barely any sound used in the title sequence apart from a few ambient sounds such as the footsteps once the main character goes up the stairs and when she steps into the puddle of water. Due to the silence within the beginning of the opening title sequence the audience can start to feel the tension rising and expect for something major to happen or pop up - as it does as the main girl opens the door and then screams. This is the point where we are introduced into one of the loudest sounds made in the opening title sequence. 

Sequence 1 (Macro) - The Ring 




Sequence 1 - The Ring - Title Conventions:

1. Dreamworks studios presents
2. A Gore Verbinski Film- Director
3. Naomi Walls - Main character
4. Martin Herderson - Main character
5. The Ring - Title of the Film
6. David Derfman - Character
7. Brian Cox- Character
8. Jan Alexander- Character 
9. Lindsay Frost- Character
10. Daveigh Chase - Character 
11. Denise Chamian - Casting Director 
12. Hans Zimmer- Music Score 
13. Craig Wood- Editor 
14. Tom Duffield - Production Designer 
15. Bojan Bazelli - Director of Photographer 
16. Laurie MaCdonald - Producer 
17. Walter F. Parkes - Producers 
18. Loji Suzki - Written By
19. Gore Verbinski - Director 
20. Nick Greenlee- Created By

Sequence 2 ( Micro ) - Se7en 
Genre: Drama, Mystery and Thriller

Camera:
- There are many different camera angles used in this title sequence but there is mostly just one type of camera shot which is close up shots and occasionally extreme close up shots. The title sequence starts of with a close up shot of the flicking of a book and the use of other props such as - journals, photocopies of gruesome pictures and sharp objects. We are constantly shown the arms and hands of a character whose face we do not see at all during the title sequence which creates suspense and tension which makes the audience want to carry on watching. This is because the title sequence itself is shown like a mini movie before the actual film so the viewers get a taste of what the plot of the film is and what they can expect which initially makes them want to carry on watching the film as questions arise in the title sequence - which they want answered. There are a lot of high angles used in this opening title sequence which as the audience can infer that there will be some sort of a status-like storyline which means that someone's position in the film may be higher than another character's which helps build the plot of the film.




Editing:
- There are quite clear jump cuts in this opening title sequence, especially when the titles are coming up because they come and go before staying on the screen for a while before disappearing again and going onto the next title. The editing used in this title sequence is done to a high standard as there are constant jagged transitions between scenes in the title sequence. For example, there is the use of match cuts in the scene with the tea bag as the person is putting in a tea bag into a mug with water in it and then the scene changes and finally gets back to the tea bag scene now in the mug and fusing with the water. The editing style of the titles on the screen being in a handwritten font and the person in the title sequence constantly looking at papers with writing and them writing themselves creates a link between the two which the audience can then infer that writing and the style of handwriting - specifically - will be quite significant in this film. The speed of editing in this title sequence varies as at some points it goes by really fast. For example, during the scenes of the actors' names on the screen the pace is quite fast but even faster towards the end of the title sequence with specifically the scenes used rather than the titles, whereas, in some parts it is at a normal pace as any other title sequence would be.

Mise-en-scene:
- There is not much mise-en-scene in this title sequence as we are mostly shown a pair of hands and no specific location that we can name. However, due to the character in the opening title sequence constantly fiddling with paper and sharp objects etc we can infer that the location is maybe some sort of an office/lab. There are many props used in this title sequence such as - tea bags, tools, razors, scissors, books and pens. These are all quite different props and cannot immediately be related to each other but this may contribute to our understanding of the plot of the film before hand and what we can expect. Finally, the lighting is very dark which we can draw conclusions that the plot of the film will also be quite dark.

Sound
- The sound in this title sequence is quite set as in there are various types of foley sound effects used which combined together makes a very sinister and in tense sound. For example, in the beginning of the title sequence we can hear the sound of an electrical tool being used which may seem normal but with the scenes we are shown, it creates a very eerie and disturbing sound. This can easily be linked to the expectations of the plot of the film as overall, everything is quite dark and sinister which we can expect for the film to also be this way.


Sequence 2 (Macro) - Se7en:




Sequence 2 - Se7en - Title Conventions:

1.     New Line Cinema Present 

2.     Arnold Kopelson Production

3.     David Finch - Director 

4.     Brad Pitt - Main Character 

5.     Morgan Freeman - Main Character 

6.     Se7en - Tile Of Film

7.     Gwyneth Paltrow - Character 

8.     Richard Roundtree - Character

9.     R. Lee Ermey - Character

10. John C. McGinley - Character

11. Julie Araskog and Mark Boone Junior - Characters 

12. John Cassini, Reginald E.Cathey and Peter Crombie - Characters

13. Hawthorne James, Michael Massee and Leland Orser - Characters 

14. Richard Partnow, Richard Schiff and Pamala Tyson - Characters 

15. Billy Hopkins, Suzanne Smith and Kerry Borden - Casting By

16. Howard Shore - Music By 

17. Michael Kaplan - Costumes Design

18. Bruce Richard Francis - Edited By 

19. Arthur Max -  Production Design

20. Darius Khondji - Director of Photography 

21. Stephen Brown, Nana Greenwald and Sanford Panitch - Co-Producers 

22. Lynn Harris and Richard Saperstein - Co-Executive Producers 

23. Gianni Ninnari, Dan Kolsrud and Anne Kapelsun - Executive Producers 

24. Andrew Kevin Walker - Written By

25. Arnold Kopelsan and Phyllis Garlyle - Produced By 

26. David Fincher - Directed By