Film opening times

Film Openings: List of films being covered

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TOM CROSS - Bridget Jones' Diary (WT rom-com)
LENGTH OF OPENING: 7:00
IDENTS COMBINED LENGTH/TIME OF SHOT 1: 1:00
SHOT 1 + ANALYSIS:

LOUIS - The Boat That Rocked (WT rom-com)
LENGTH OF OPENING: 3:15
IDENTS COMBINED LENGTH/TIME OF SHOT 1: 0:41
SHOT 1 + ANALYSIS:

MILO - Atonement (WT war drama/romance)
LENGTH OF OPENING: 1:44
IDENTS COMBINED LENGTH/TIME OF SHOT 1: 0:30 (idents) 1st shot 0:52
SHOT 1 + ANALYSIS:

ROBBIE - Napoleon Dynamite (Indie teen comedy)
LENGTH OF OPENING: 5:19
IDENTS COMBINED LENGTH/TIME OF SHOT 1: 0:56
SHOT 1 + ANALYSIS:

ALEX - Burn After Reading (WT, Coens arthouse)
LENGTH OF OPENING: 6:22
IDENTS COMBINED LENGTH/TIME OF SHOT 1: 1:22
SHOT 1 + ANALYSIS:

NIAMH - Ferris Bueller's day Off (80s teen comedy)
LENGTH OF OPENING: 3:17
IDENTS COMBINED LENGTH/TIME OF SHOT 1: 0:14 (1 ident), 0:35 to shot1
SHOT 1 + ANALYSIS:

RIAN - Wish You Were Here (WT's 2nd film, drama, some comedy/social realism)
LENGTH OF OPENING: 1:28
IDENTS COMBINED LENGTH/TIME OF SHOT 1: [none]
SHOT 1 + ANALYSIS:

NICOLA - Four Lions (Warp, social realist comedy)
LENGTH OF OPENING: 3:20
IDENTS COMBINED LENGTH/TIME OF SHOT 1: 0:20 (1st title appears later, 3:11 in)
SHOT 1 + ANALYSIS:

CHARLES - Le Donk and Scor-Zay-Zee (Warp, £48k mockumentary)
LENGTH OF OPENING: 2:30
IDENTS COMBINED LENGTH/TIME OF SHOT 1: none;
SHOT 1 + ANALYSIS:

WILL - About a Boy (WT rom-com)
LENGTH OF OPENING: 5:41
IDENTS COMBINED LENGTH/TIME OF SHOT 1: 0:40 (0:53 to shot1, a tracking shot)
SHOT 1 + ANALYSIS:

TOM ATKINSON - Ali G Indahouse (WT2 comedy)
LENGTH OF OPENING: 3:10
IDENTS COMBINED LENGTH/TIME OF SHOT 1: 0:45 (1:20)
SHOT 1 + ANALYSIS:

The Guvnors Opening Analysis

Writer: Gabe Turner 

Director: Gabe Turner 

Starring: Mark Preston, Richard Blackwood, Joelle Koissi 

Storyline

The Guvnors is both love letter and hate mail to the alpha male. This story's alpha is Mitch who lives buried in suburban London, having turned his back on his previous life of casual violence and intimidation as part of a legendary South East London firm. In the modern day he's the doyen of respectability and quiet confidence, but Mitch used to be a Guv'nor. This film holds a mirror up to Mitch and shows him the monster once again, buried deep in both DNA and psyche, desperate to break out and wreak havoc. ( http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2992524/?ref_=ttpl_pl_tt )

Analysis 

There are 2 company idents: Fullwell73 Productions and Metrodome Distribution. There are 20 titles all together including the main title of the film, these titles are white in a san serif font. As the title appears it is in a different place on the screen each time- this could have been done to avoid dullness. When the title dissapears the letters go one by one. They dissapear with smoke almost like an explosion, this could possibly have connotations with guns as they are involved in the film. For the main title it is red on a black backround which could symbolise violence. It is in a simplistic bubble font with black marks on it as if the title has worn away- this signifies decay and working class. From the start to the main transitioning to the film the duration is 3 minutes 45 seconds.

The first shot is a medium two shot. One character is stood up smoking and the other on is sat on the sofa. At this point in terms of sound/music there is like a whistling backround noise which is a bit misterious which creates suspence. On top of this there is diologue between the two chatacters. After this scene it proceeded to a montage where the clips alternate between the older man living in a middle class lifestyle to earlier footage of his working class upbringing.


Source:Louis@JayRProductions

Pretty in pink opening analysis

Pretty and pink title list:

• Paramount pictures presents
• A John Hughes production
• Pretty in pink
• Starring Molly Ringwald
• Harry Dean Stanton
• Jon Cryer
• Annie Potts
• James Spader
• and Andrew McCarthy
• Co-Starring Jim Haynie
• Alexa Kenin
• Kate vernon
• Music score composed by Michael Gore
• Casting by Paula Herold
• And Marci Liroff
• Costume designer Marilyn Vance
• Edited by Richard Marks
• Production designer John W. Corso
• Director of photography Tak Fujmoto
• Executive producers John Hughes
• and Michael Chinich
• Written by John Hughes
• Produced by Lauren Shule

Semiotic film analysis

The opening shot in this is a tracking shot which follows the movement of a truck. The setting is situated in a rundown area. From what can be connoted from the first shot, you see the road is broken up and blatantly hasn't been maintained also the grass is growing everywhere. This can be denoted to signify the fact that this specific residential area is not looked after and is possibly poverty ridden. 

My initial film opening idea

Roughly following the ideology of 'This is England' and consequently the social realism movement I have decided to create a montage of lots of clips showing the standard day to day struggles of those living in a working class, poverty ridden area. I will include a non-diegetic backing audio track of a grime song. Grime is typically related to working class and therefore the social realism movement.

Prelim final editions

This is my first copy of the prelim task, this is the most basic of tasks as it is only the footage with no use of editing.

This is the second copy of the prelim task, this is the same as the first one however the camera man has broken the 180 degree rule.

This is the second last version of the prelim task as this time I have included a title preset which I found within final cut pro.

This is the final and arguably the best version of the prelim task as it includes a variety of editing techniques and effects such as sound fx.

From undergoing this task it enabled me to take away many positive things from the experience. This is such as using a camera and getting a feel for how it works in terms of being able to use the device and placing it around the room in the correct spots. This task also enabled me to use final cut pro on the iMac for the first time in school which enabled me to learn quickly how to navigate throughout the programme and use it effectively. I learned how to use all the basic features within the programme such as the use of audio and the use of transitions pre built into the programme.

New technologies

On this post I will be showing the new uses and functions within the computer I have learned to use and apply accordingly:

These are the preset audio files within final cut for use of the user copyright free

Here I have dragged folders into my favourites to enable my navigation to be faster and more efiicient

Here is the list of changeable cursor tools within final cut allowing the user to complete things more efficiently

Here I have used the keyword tool so that in future I will be able to find my event quickly

Here are the standard settings whilst setting up a new event

Here I have used the cmd+A tool which allows me to select all the clips and make changes to them all which will save me time

Here is a list of rest titles within final cut for the use of the user copyright free

Here is the zoom tool which allows me to look closer at the timeline allowing my movie to be more precise and allows me to overcome minute errors which may occur due too not being seen

Ali G indahouse film opening analysis

Ali G Indahouse

(Mark Mylod, 2002)
Produced by Working Title (+2); distribution: Universal
Budget:£5m

 These shots are the opening shots of the film. We can denote that they are wearing heels and dresses is the middle of the day in a rough looking area connoting that they are located in a rougher area. There is a shot reverse shot here. There is also a head over the shoulder shot here. We can also denote that in the background behind these characters the area is rather unkept and dirty, also graffiti is clearly shown. Not much can be conoted from this brief

This shot appears after a brief confrontation between two women and a thug looking man. The camera is static but the car moving towards the camera as if making an entrance.

We can denote from this screenshot that the area is touch looking a rather dirty. This connotes where the film is set in and the area set it. this may lead onto what genre the film may be. The viewer is yet to see the central protagonist which is a sign of narrative enigma. The bright yellow car can be denoted, this may connote what kind of person the central protagonist is and also suggests there may be humour involved in the genre.

The opening montage to this is followed by a very exaggerated shoot out scene which is made comically to make the audience laugh. So straight away the genre of the film is revealed. This shoot out is also a dream, so after this opening shoot out 'Ali G' wakes up, snapping back into reality.

During the opening montage of the film, we see no character apart from extras used to create a sense of where the film is set. As the opening the montage finishes, we see actors which aren't included in the film, just the opening for a short period. We then see the main protagonist (Ali G) who enters humorously. Straight away we get a sense of the character personality.

Duration of opening = 3:10
Source:http://atkostudios.blogspot.co.uk/

The Boat That Rocked Opening Analysis

The Boat That Rocked 
(Richard Curtis, 2007)
Produced by Working Title (+2); distribution: Universal
Budget:$50m
Box Office: $36,348,748 m (world)

Summary: In 1966, BBC radio broadcasts less than an hour of pop music a day, forcing pirate DJs to take up the slack from boats anchored outside British waters. Quentin (Bill Nighy) is the commander of such a pirate station, overseeing a host of seedy, lusty and dope-smoking DJs, including the Count (Philip Seymour Hoffman) and Dave (Nick Frost), who makes it his personal mission to see to it that Quentin's newly arrived godson (Tom Sturridge) loses his virginity.

Idents

There are 2 company indents:

- Universal (20 seconds)

-Working Title (10 seconds)

1st shot
The first shot is an extreme long shot and also an establishing shot

Titles

There are 14 titles although some of these titles are ones that tell a story. The animated graphic on screen is tuning a radio representing radio dial and the titles are in a strip going across the screen. Each title is positioned differently- this is to avoid dullness. Also the titles have more that one colour, white and red. Each title is transitioned with a wipe edit. This was to create verisimilitude as the film was set in 1966 and now to see a wipe edit being used. In the title "The Boat That Rocked" the words "boat" and "rocked" we're in upper case whereas the words "the" and "that's" we're in lower case and half the size. 

Duration
The opening sequence is 00:03:15 

Sound, Music 

On the working title company ident there is an audio bridge starts. The sound is diegetic because the it is coming out a radio. The music ends when the last title comes on before the 1st shot.

Shot Variety
At the start the shots are fairly short. A shot reverse shot, shot revesrse shot them a cut away show has been used.

Intertextuality + Genre Signifiers 

Narrative + Exposition 

Mise-en-scene: Props, Location, Lighting
The mise-en-scene is a montage with lots of different clips. It is switching between the radio station on the boat and lots of locations around Britain of people listening to the radio live.

The key props that can be spotted is the microphone in the radio station and the radios that the people around Britain are listening to.

Transitioning to the main film 
The opening of the film is separated from the main body of the film by the title which is conventional. The edited footage in the opening links to the audio nicely as he is waving his arms to the sound of the music.

  

Source:http://jayrprodutions.blogspot.co.uk/

Four Lions Opening Analysis

Four Lions

(Chris Morris, 2010)

Produced by Warp Films, (+ Film4; Wild Bunch, Optimum Releasing)

Budget: £2.5 million

Overall, the opening sequence is about 3mins20secs long, with two company idents and four titles. It seems that the lack of titles for this opening is done deliberately so that the audience will focus on the story and characters right away. The film seems to be trying for verisimilitude, as it doesn't start with a montage and non-diegetic sound, but with a long-shot of one of the main characters. There isn't much of a narrative enigma, but this works as it fits with the characters (who seem rather unintelligent) and are rather unsubtle.

The film opens with the company ident for Wild Bunch (10 seconds in length.) As "Wild Bunch" is a German Film Distribution Company, we understand this company ident to mean that they were the distributors for "Four Lions"

"Film4" is a production company, so this company ident (10 seconds in length) reveals to us that they produced "Four Lions".

Both company idents keep their original sound.

This is the first shot of the film. There are no titles - it simply cuts in with a static medium-long shot (that shifts ever so slightly) of one of the characters in the middle third. All the sound is diegetic. It can be denoted that the character looks middle-eastern, is wearing dark, khaki clothing, and a head band with what appears to be islamic writing on it: this exposition shows us that the character is islamic, and given that the audience is likely to have seen videos of terrorist propaganda on the news (intertextuality) we understand that this character is meant to be a terrorist. A narrative enigma is created briefly as an audience wonders what he is going to say and what's going to happen next. The lack of titles seems to have been done to create a strong sense of verisimilitude (as if this were really a terrorist demands video, as that wouldn't have titles.) 

In the next shot (cuts to a long shot - which is important as it increases the shot variety) the rest of the main characters are revealed, and it becomes clear to the audience that they are not actually a serious terrorist group, but just four Pakistani's from Sheffield, West Yorkshire (exposed through their accents.)  However, there is a slight narrative enigma as we (the audience) are left wondering what they're trying to achieve by being terrorists. We can denote that the room they are in is shabby and sparsely furnished, which has connotations of our main characters being lower-middle class. 

However, there is a jump-cut to a medium shot of Omar's (the protagonist's) family, but now the room in which they are in is a lot cleaner and nicer, a direct contrast to the place in which we first met Omar. This creates a binary opposition; the terrorist, and the family man. It must be denoted that his wife is a nurse, and that he has a young son; these two facts both make the audience more connected to Omar, despite his attempts to be a terrorist. All sound up until this point has been diegetic, but non-diegetic music begins to fade in (providing an audio bridge.)

This is the 1st title to appear in the film, however it doesn't appear until 3:01. The word "presents" shows us that Film4 produced this film. Non-diegetic music (which sounds middle eastern and quite serious) has begun to play by this point. This footage provides the transition (with the aid of an audio bridge) from the introduction to the main film, and also gives anchorage to help with the context (e.g. that it takes place within a city.)

This is the (2nd and) main title (the name) of the movie. It's written in sans-serif and is easy to read; fonts like this are commonly used in comedies and dramas ("Four Lions" being a combination of the two.) It's small, and in the lower middle third of the screen, however as the camera zooms in on the Mosque with fairy lights (center, middle third) we understand that this movie is to focus on Islam; the mosque is being used as anchorage. As we've seen the four Jihadi terrorists by this point, we understand the title "Four Lions" is a direct reference to them. 

Just as with the 1st and 2nd titles, the writing here is small, sans-serif style and pale coloured, meaning it is not eye-catching. Again it's also in the bottom two thirds, almost as if it was not meant to be seen (or at least focused on.) This title mentions the production company (Warp Films) and the director (Chris Morris - who is only mentioned once within the titles; this is unusual, as normally the director is mentioned twice.) The mise-en-scene here depicts an empty shopping center, which is revealed to be the place of employment of Omar. The use of the empty shopping center is to anchor the fact that Omar lives in the western world, which makes his involvement in a Jihadi terrorist group all the more confusing for the audience.

This is the final title for the opening, and it simply names two companies involved in the majority of distribution of this film; Wild Bunch and Optimum Releasing. Again, the writing is small and difficult to read, especially as it's placed in the bottom third. (The non-diegetic music ends here.)

*Each title lasts approximately 5 seconds (and they fade in/out,) with the overall title sequence stretching from 3:01 to 3:20.

(Main) Props List

• Camera
• Toy Rifle
• Laptop

Location

• Shabby living room
• Modern kitchen
• City at night
• Empty shopping center\

Source (http://silversaltstudios.blogspot.co.uk) 

Bridget Jones's Diary Opening Analysis

Genre: 
Rom-Com
Romantic Comedy...


The Players:
Richard Curtis- Wrote the original book of which the film was based upon, Andrew Davies adapted that to create the film.

Production Budget:
According to box office mojo, the procession budget was: 
$25 Million

Production Companies

The first few shots taken from Bridget Jones's Diary are the production companies involved in making of Bridget Jones's Diary.

'Working Title' are a major film company, and attract the biggest stars, typically American, and if British, white and southern, this is because, from a marketing point of view, this sells more copies, therefore, more income for Working Title, which is the primary focus of the company.

-4 company idents:

-Universal Studios // 20 seconds

-Studio Canal // 16 seconds
-Miramax Films // 14 seconds

-Working Title // 10 seconds
Altogether 60 seconds

The 1st Shot:

• In BJD, the opening shot contains the main character, with a medium close up shot. Rarely do you see the main characters face immediately, however due to the nature of the film, it is logical with reference to the non-diegetic sound of her thoughts, therefore we can see who's voice it is, helping the viewer follow the plot. 

• Female main character, this could suggest it relates to girls more than guys, potentially making it a romantic film, or 'chick flick'. Uses cross fade for transition between shots. The mise en scene has only a small level of importance, however, it is key in determining the time of year and what this could denote it is Christmas/winter due to the weather (snow).

• The film opening lasts 11 minutes and 54 seconds.

• The opening sequence begins at 60 seconds / 1 minute.

Titles

• Main Title is in bold, and a larger font than the subtitles
• San Serif.






Positioned left side of the screen.
They include names of directors and procures etc
Each last the same length of time and fade in and out
each are the same size apart from the main title
The size of the sub titles don't change, signifying each person has contrubted the same to the overall production and making of the film
The job of which each person named is smaller and thinner, whereas the name is a bigger font and in bold.
the colour stays the same throughout
there is no animation to the titles 
 

Subtitles before main title...

• These subtitles come before the main title... 'Bridget Jones's Diary', the subtitles are a lot thinner in comparison, this could denote that every person involved in production adds up to something much bigger, 
• Signified by the font // Serif font.
• All positioned on the left and in the same font and size.
• 19 subtitles in total before main title
• Each title has a 9-10 second gap between each one and last for 4 seconds each
• Overall the subtitles last 1 minute and 40 seconds after 1 minute of company idents.

Sound, Music:

• The opening sequence has non diegetic and diegetic sound.

• Non diegetic is in the opening shot, we hear 'Bridget Jones's' thoughts over watching her go to her mums for Christmas denoted by the heavy snow, which leads to verisimilitude.
• 
  

• All By Myself, as linked at the top - https://youtu.be/t8iTZm8-mbA

Characters:

The opening scene follows the main character, and uses non diagetic speach from her, from this we get to know the character and can see things from her perspective. There is also binary oppositionbetween 'Bridget', and a 'divorced single man' who her mother tries unsuccessfully to set her up with to begin with.


Shot Variety:
The shot type varies throughout the opening sequence, including and establishing shot in the opening scene. Along with a close up which brings power to the scene.

Source: Shot type studios