Research: Opening sequences

 What is the purpose of an opening sequence?

The opening sequence is a way that the film directors can foreshadow what is going to happen in a film in a way that is creative and artistic. There are normally clues to the genre, types of characters and key conventions in the film. Opening sequences establish the mood and tone of the film and give a base level understanding of what the key message of the film is. They create anticipation during the opening credits instead of just letting them play through while the audience zones out. Opening sequences can be in the form of CGI graphics, a filming montage, abstract art, and animation. They can be simple or complex.

What is the difference between an opening sequence and a title sequence?

Opening credits is when the key creators, directors and actors (ect.) are shown at the beginning of a film. This can be completely plain, with just a blank background with the names scrolling down on the screen. When graphics or other motion-based images are added to present this information in a more appealing way, it is called an opening sequence. A title  sequence is motion-based sequence that leads to showing the audience the title of the movie, possibly after the opening sequence.

What techniques can be used in an opening sequence?

Here is a link to where i got the following examples and techniques: https://www.creativebloq.com/audiovisual/top-techniques-title-sequences-10135013 

 Casino Royale:

  Technique: 2D styled graphics in 3D environments, motion capture character animation, kaleidoscope card patterns. Below is a screen shot of a part of the sequence.If you want to watch the full video, click the link and scroll down until you find it. This title sequence for, James Bond, was unique. It has a much more contemporary style than traditional James bond sequences and was the only James Bond sequence that didn't include the 'Bond girls', as it focused more on his masculinity. The 2D graphics and kaleidoscope was made using motion capture technology.

Sherlock holmes:

Technique: Freeze framing footage and adding an ink bleeding effect. The freeze framing technique is a very effective and efficient way of creating an opening sequence without having to make an entire series of animation. The freeze frames serve as a form of foreshadowing, as various climatic pieces of footage are taken out of context, and frozen before they are resolved, to give the audience a glimpse of what is to come. The ink bleeding can symbolise blood which ultimately represents fatal injury and death. The ink bleeding therefore, puts the audience more on edge because it is clear that there are high stakes involved for the protagonists.

James Bond: Quantum of solace: 

Technique: Trap-code plugins for sand and particle trail effects: The opening sequence is set in a desert to show that a key element in a the movie is the character's lack of water. There is a sand particle trail effect for various objects such as a bullet, a gun, the 'Bond Girls' and the blazing hot sun. This could be signifying the significance of these things in the film.

Modern Thriller Research example: James Bond: 'Skyfall'

The opening sequence in James Bond: Sky Fall is based on Bond falling deeper and deeper into the ocean, symbolizing him falling deeper and deeper into danger and trouble. As always the James Bond sequence revolves heavily around a series of images which foreshadow events, settings, items and characters of significance.

 

The image above is a great example of how in various times throughout the sequence, the music correlates with what is happening on screen. Here, in one of the very first shots they immediately establish the fact that he is falling by showing an image of a whole opening up in the ground, and the lyrics of the song saying "skyfall". 

All of the images above in some form resemble death. The images here are very extreme and go beyond just symbolising danger. They include so many symbols, weapons, and ways of dying, to bring the thrilling effect to a whole other level. Instead of just including a gun at some point, the creators put in a image of a 'bond-target' that has been shot, giant falling daggers and guns, and a giant spiderweb of blood, that forms into the shape of a skull. We also see the bond target again, but this time there are hundreds of them and they are all of fire. Finally, there is a grave stone with the name 'BOND' on it which brings the suspense to an absolute high. One could say that these images are so extreme that one may mistake them for foreshadowing Bond's death in the film.

Hitchcock Thriller Research example: Vertigo

Saul Bass is a very famous graphic  designer who made opening sequences for many movies, including some Hitchcock films. He uses the setting of the story, key themes, and objects of significance in the movie to create an opening sequence which will reflect the mood and tone of the way which tells the story in a metaphorical way, without giving away the entire plot. 

His work is still referenced today, and still influences the word of modern artists.

In Vertigo the movie, the main character is in an accident, and is left with a paralyzing fear of heights and vertigo. Saul bass focuses highly on the senses in this opening sequence. There are multiple extreme close ups on various features, such as the lips, nose and eyes, and one individual eye. He focuses in on the feature to bring in a sense of fear. When you are fearful, all of your senses are heightened. The quivering lip, and dilated eyes are sensory imagery that show the character is frightened and the adrenaline felt is contagious to the audience. These first few shots are a reference to the fear of heights that the main character develops. 

A few seconds after this the hue turns red and the character opens her eye even wider. This symbolises the vertigo starting. The spirals in her eye mimic the spinning sensation you experience with vertigo . The spirals may also represent the never ending cycle of confusion that the main character experiences throughout the story of the film. 

In Harm’s Way (1965)

Above is another example of Saul Bass' work, where he uses sensory imagery to create a haunting opening that is symbolic and memorable.

Similarities to Saul Bass techniques can be found in in James Bond: Skyfall. The creator of the bond sequence. First of all, like vertigo, the James Bond: Skyfall opening sequence gives some context to the tile by foreshadowing what will happen metaphorically. In vertigo the vertigo is resembled by a spiral in the character's eye. In Skyfall the the there many images of him and other objects falling from the sky. (E.G.)

The falling sensation shown represents the 'fall' of James Bond. This idea of making the title the backbone of the opening sequence comes from Saul Bass.

The creators of the Skyfall opening sequence also included sensory imagery like that in vertigo. The camera zooms into his eye and then into another scene which represents his weakness. It is as if we the audience enter into his mind and see his fear. He is shown to be chasing his shadow which reflects his mental state and then one of the shadows morphs into an actual person which could be a possible enemy. When the camera zooms into Bond's eye he also opens his eye wider, just as the character does in the vertigo sequence.

In conclusion, the techniques Saul Bass used are still relevant to modern creators and can be seen quite clearly in James bond sequences, Sherlock Holmes, and others.