Main Analysis:
For this
media task we were asked to research different types of opening sequence based
on a genre of our interest. My main shows that I have analysed that are
specific to the genre are already posted and then there are a few which are
more varied and not entirely specific to the genre.
The genre
that I have chosen to analyse is Thriller now as I was not 100% certain of what
this lose title meant I assumed that it meant to be a kind of police crime problem
solving type of theme. As this was the case I decided to analyse a variety of
different opening sequences. Some are American and some are British and
although there is a large cross over between the two there are also a few
differences between the different types of opening sequence.
An American
title sequence usually follows a distinct pattern. The opening sequence will
start with an iconic shot and the music will probably come in quite loudly to
accompany the iconic image. An example of this is the opening of NCIS which
starts with the opening which is a boat and the sound of what I think is a
simulated fog horn sound. But in contrast this could start with the iconic
image and a softer sound that will get louder and more powerful as the credits
role. In Tru Calling there is the image of the eye and then there is a falling
and light motif that is played before the rest of the titles role in. The music
is established as well as the location then the actors are shown in order of
importance like the main character is shown first and then the smaller
characters or parts are shown and they are usually preforming some kind of
action but they have a moment where they all look into the camera for their
close up and then their name appears. Whatever action they are preforming will
usually have to do with what is iconic to their character whatever they portray
for example if you were looking at a crime thriller there would be the cop with
his gun out in front of him and then he looks into the camera then there would
be shots of the other characters such as the forensic scientists in their labs
and maybe a man on a slab in a mortuary so the actors are shown in role and
importance which gives away clues as to what the show is about. Then the most
obvious American feature which is to have the name of the creator appear on the
screen right before the opening sequence fades out.
A British
title sequence is slightly different but they still follow the same principle
of having the actors show with a montage of their role and the action. But what
is different is that it will not necessarily show the actors in order of
importance. And the opening sequence will not necessarily have an establishing
shot but it seems to focus more on the people who are acting in the show and
the characters not as much as to what they are doing or where they are.
Although they will try to show what the characters do.
There are
also some different title sequences that use special effects or are all
animated and then the names of the actors just appear and they depend on the
use of the iconography to show what will happen in the show.
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