Opening Sequences

1)What forms can opening sequences take? Can you list the conventional features of opening sequences?

Opening sequences take many forms depending on the genre of film but they all have certain characteristics that they all contain in order to be successful opening sequences.

Conventional Features:
- Main character
- Setting
- Plot

2) What narrative functions of opening sequences can you identify?

- opening sequence needs to hook the audience and keep them wanting to watch more of the film.
- introduce main characters
- establish a location
- sometimes get hints of an enemy or the beginning of a problem that perhaps will take place

3) What do audiences gain from watching the opening sequence?

Audiences discover and can assume what is going to happen in the film.

4) What do film-makers gain from including an opening sequence?

From opening sequences, film-makers have to hook the audience and create a sequence that will make audiences want to keep on watching. The opening sequence is essential in ensuring people watch the film so therefore it gains the most number of viewers that it possibly can.

Applying Theory of Roland Barthes

Roland Barthes was initially a structuralist thinker but as times changed, Barthes changed his ideas in relation to narrative theory. He proposed that all stories use the same 5 codes and that all genre signifiers can be grouped under them to create narrative.

Action code: depicts the events which take place in the narrative- the who, where, when of the story
Semantic code: Refers to character and characterisation. The actions in the story are explained by the charater's viewpoint on events.
Enigma cose: Involves the setting up of a mystery, its development and its resolution
Referential code: involves explaining or informing.
Symbolic code: involes the reading of the connotations of signs which transforms them into symbolic representations


Phonebooth


Action Code:
who - introduced to main character - Stu
where - New York City (use of establishing shots and text) busy, loud
when - present day, contemporary
Semantic Code:
Middle aged man - Stu
Publicist - smart suit
Confident, cocky and arrogant - tell from the way he talks and treats friend/employee
Enigma Code:
Mystery with phone, everyone on phone and title of film suggests phones play important role
Mystery of who is on the end of the line when Stu answers
Referential Code:
voiceover and introductions inform
morning - start of long day ahead
new york - busy, chaotic - could lead to trouble?
Symbolic Code:
Character symbolises arrogance
Phones symbolise connections/distractions

Applying Theory of Levi-Strauss

Levi-Strauss said that story elements which give meaning usually appear in pairs. A story will typically be organised into binary opposites.



'Pale Rider' (Eastwood 1985)


Atmosphere/Place:
calm/fierce
peaceful/disruptive
noisy/quiet
black/white


Character:
good/evil
lonely/group
survival/death
alive/dead


dark/light
slow pace/fast pace


'Die Hard' (John McTiernan, 1988)


Atmosphere/Place:
safe/dangerous
new york/los angeles
love/hate


Character:
Happy/Sad
victims/villains
prepared/not prepared
together/apart
good/evil


life/death
work life/home life