Title Sequence Clip Review

 My initial impressions of the impact of the opening sequences of films were that they weren’t important. After watching a series of opening scenes from different films, I saw that the openings give you a full view into what the movie could be. As referenced in the article called “First Frames: Titles in the Digital Realm”, it states, “The typography and visual style created in the opening sequence can establish the mood and image system” so, the role of these scenes plays in developing interests of audiences by giving a sense of what the movie will feel like. For example, in the opening sequence or “SCREAM”, there was text that is bold and flashing red and a little bit of eerie music with screaming sounds in the background. Therefore, the audience can infer that the movie will be scary and suspenseful. As referenced in the article called “First Frames: Titles in the Digital Realm”, it states, “The typography and visual style created in the opening sequence can establish the mood and image system” 

 This also goes for foreshadowing, for instance, in the opening sequence of “The Lion King”, Disney is the first thing we see, and you can already kind of know what kind of movie this will be. Also, you can figure out the plot and understand the characters from the opening sequence. In “The Lion king”, there is animals, the sun is rising, the colors are bright, the song the “Circle of Life” is playing, there are animals gathered around and a baby cub is at the top being held above the rest. So, the audience can infer that the movie will be about a lion cub and his journey in the circle of life.  

In the opening sequence of “Jaws”, you hear underwater sounds and eerie music then the title. The title of “Jaws” is its own. As stated in the article “First Frames: Titles in the Digital Realm” it states, “Specialist titles are becoming an integral part of every film package.” Then the film shows underwater and creates suspense for the audience with is developing their interest in the film. Then the scene opens to a bunch of young people around a bonfire and two of them run to the water. At first when she’s in the water it’s silent and normal, then the scary music starts, and the suspense builds as the girl is swimming far out and then she’s tugged and pulled down screaming and struggling. Then she’s sucked under and it’s silent again like it never happened. That opening sequence really develops the impact of the audience’s interest and it foreshadows that the movie will be about a huge, scary, killer shark.  

Another reference is the film “Apocalypse Now”. In the opening sequence, the first thing you hear is silence. Then there is the beginning of a song playing quietly and then there's images of dust, fire, and a forest burning and the song plays louder, it’s called “This is the End” which can tell the audience that it will be about an apocalypse that might end the world. Pretty straight forward, right?  

In the opening sequence of the film, “A Space Odyssey”, there is eerie music that gets louder which creates suspense for the audience. Then there’s a black screen which can infer what space might sounds or look like. Then there is an image of something that looks like and spaceship and then there's the title. Then we are on Earth, and there is an ape that uses a bone to smash something which shows how tools were discovered. Then the scene shows space again. The audience can assume that the film could be about the beginning of time and how everything started.  

As for my current position on selecting film as my portfolio project, I'm still on the edge because I am into the opening sequences, but I'm still not sure if that is what I will do for my project.