There are many different aspects in the opening sequence of a film to make it what it is, many different shots and angles and other camera movements are used, as well as sound, mise-en-scene and specific editing used. After watching a variety of opening sequences to a film, this is what i believe makes a good opening sequence.
Micro:
Shots: A variety of shots may be used in the opening sequence to a film. Using different shots creates different effects and are able to give a different view on what is being shown, for example, the audience may get a different view on a character depending on what shot is being used. An extreme long shot may make the character seem very small, lost and isolated.
Different camera shots may also including zooming on specific things with purposeful meanings in the scene. Examples of shots: Close-up, Medium-Shot, Long shot, Over-the-shoulder.
The link below shows an example of many shots.
http://www.mediacollege.com/video/shots/
The movement of the camera is also very important to allow the audience to get a good view of the location, the movement may be panning, tracking, dolly, etc.
Angles: Angles are also used to help the show the power and prestige of objects and characters, they create a place for the audience. Using a low angle, looking up on a character makes the character appear more superior and dominant.
For example:
This image is taken from the film Halloween , it is an example of how the camera is at a low angle, looking up at the villain to make him appear more powerful.
Lighting: Lighting is used to help establish the genre of the film, it also helps to set the location and the time of the day. There are many different lights that may be used to help create different moods for a film and a different effect. Examples of different lights that may be used are shown in the image to the left.
Sound and Voice Overs: Another important aspect in micro is sound and voice overs. There are two major types of sounds used, diegetic and non diegetic.
Diegetic sound can also be known as actual sound, this means sounds such as the voices of characters, or sounds being made by objects in the story. It is any sound presented as originated from source within the film's world. The opposite to this is non diegetic sound, this is simply, sounds that are not originally from the story, however they have been added in over the top, for example, background music to help create a different effect depending on the genre of the film. If background sounds have been added in, they may be either parallel or contrapuntal. Parallel meaning the sound matches the action, and contrapuntal meaning the sound contrasts against what is going on on-screen.
Opening to Scream 1
This is the opening to the horror film Scream, in this clip there are examples of diegetic sound, such as the characters speaking and also the phone ringing. There is also an example of non diegetic sound at the beginning over the opening titles, these sounds are also parallel.
Different camera shots may also including zooming on specific things with purposeful meanings in the scene. Examples of shots: Close-up, Medium-Shot, Long shot, Over-the-shoulder.
The link below shows an example of many shots.
http://www.mediacollege.com/video/shots/
The movement of the camera is also very important to allow the audience to get a good view of the location, the movement may be panning, tracking, dolly, etc.
Angles: Angles are also used to help the show the power and prestige of objects and characters, they create a place for the audience. Using a low angle, looking up on a character makes the character appear more superior and dominant.
For example:
This image is taken from the film Halloween , it is an example of how the camera is at a low angle, looking up at the villain to make him appear more powerful.Other examples of angles that may be used, are high-angles, to make an object seem smaller, tilt this may be used to make a character appear drunk.
Lighting: Lighting is used to help establish the genre of the film, it also helps to set the location and the time of the day. There are many different lights that may be used to help create different moods for a film and a different effect. Examples of different lights that may be used are shown in the image to the left.
Sound and Voice Overs: Another important aspect in micro is sound and voice overs. There are two major types of sounds used, diegetic and non diegetic.
Diegetic sound can also be known as actual sound, this means sounds such as the voices of characters, or sounds being made by objects in the story. It is any sound presented as originated from source within the film's world. The opposite to this is non diegetic sound, this is simply, sounds that are not originally from the story, however they have been added in over the top, for example, background music to help create a different effect depending on the genre of the film. If background sounds have been added in, they may be either parallel or contrapuntal. Parallel meaning the sound matches the action, and contrapuntal meaning the sound contrasts against what is going on on-screen.
Opening to Scream 1
This is the opening to the horror film Scream, in this clip there are examples of diegetic sound, such as the characters speaking and also the phone ringing. There is also an example of non diegetic sound at the beginning over the opening titles, these sounds are also parallel.
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