Extension- 'Watching' Documentary About Film Openings

Film Openings:

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”

Thomas Sutcliffe means that if the film doesn’t immediately draw the viewer in, then film it can seem very pointless. For example if a film lacks a good opening, then the audience is likely to 'switch off' and wont really engage to the rest of the film, therefore making it pointless.

2) According to Director Jean Jacques Beineix, what are the risks of ‘

instant arousal’?

The risk is that if the start of the film opening is strong them it will be difficult to top it and build the tension and draw the audience to the rest of the film. On the other hand, if you start on a subtle opening the film can build up creating more action/tension.

4) What does critic Stanley Kauffmann describe as the classic opening? Establishing shot? Why does this work? 

It would show a close up of building, then travels up the building, then to a window, then into the window , then past reception desk, then to the private office; and finally to the main character. This works because the process explains where it is taking place (the scene) and what the occupation of the main character was. Overall it told the organisation of the world and that everything is in place.

5) Why is Kyle Cooper’s title sequence to the film Seven so effective? 

It allocates the viewer to the right dissonant pitch, which become like the first scene of the film, which Introduces us to the obsessive nature of the character; hinting what’s going to happen

6) What did Orson Welles want to achieve with his opening to the film ATouch of Evil? What did Universal Studios do to it? Why?

It throws the audience into the story without giving them time to prepare themselves for what will take place ahead. 

Universal Studios puts the title music underneath it and the credits so the effects were lost. This was because they didn't understand what they had done, as they didn't understand the film opening making them not understand the story itself.

7) What is meant by “a favourite trick of Film Noir ”? What is the trick?

The beginning is like a ending and highlighting that it is really a beginning at all. 

The trick is to make it feel like a destination as much as a departure point making the audience look ahead to what is to come and if you can’t see it first time round, therefore it will almost certainly be clear when the film is viewed second time round.

8) How does the opening to the film The Shining create suspense?

The beginning is picturesque, however, from second view the screen is full of omens. The camera peruses the car like a predator, high up and from behind. Its attention never moves away from what is conventionally spectacular, remaining fixed on the ting object. Everything seems to tells us that these people are travelling in the wrong direction.