Total Opening Sequence Time: 2:55
This opening sequence follows these generic conventions:
Introduction to the character type: Girl doing ballet and Male dancer in all black.
Introduction to theme tune: Swan Lake Composed by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky.
Indication of place/ location: Dark Stage area with spotlight.
Film Title: Black Swan.
Information on Distribution company: Fox Searchlight Pictures
Studio Information: Phoenix Pictures
Micro-Areas that contribute to the Sub-genre Conventions:
Mise-en-Scene:
Costume: Mid-length ballet dress which later changes to a shorter ballet dress. This tells the audience what the main theme in the movie will be.
Lighting: Lighting is mostly low throughout whole of opening sequence except for a spot light on the Girl and Man dancing and on the girls face. This could show that she is on a stage performing, could show the audience that it will be a 'Dark' movie. The lighting changes when we see her lying in bed, realising it was actually a dream. It is still quite low lighting but with an orange glow that resembles sunrise.
Location: This is defined by the lighting- On Stage then in her bedroom.
Sound:
The only sound used in the opening sequence was the Swan Lake theme which was composed by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky in the time of 1875–1876. This played throughout the whole sequence and depending on the action on screen, occasionally picked up pace or slowed the pace. It is most likely that it was diagetic while the female was dancing, but as the same music continued on into when she is waking up from her dream it switches to non-diagetic.
Camera-Work:
There were a few long shots in this clip and they were used mostly in the beginning and when the two people were dancing. This could have been to establish the theme and general concept of the movie, it also allowed the audience to have a full body shot view of what was happening while they were dancing.
As well as long shots being used to show the dancing between the two characters there were also medium shots used, which gave the audience a better look at the emotion on the dancers face plus showed upper-body movements closer up.
Close up shots were used in this sequence, especially on the female dancers face and feet as she was dancing. This showed the fact she was a ballet dancer, from her pointe shoes, and also showed the emotion on her face while she was dancing.
It is likely a steady-cam was used to catch all of the dancing as it followed pretty much every dance move.
Cuts were used to get to another camera angle. Long shot duration was used as it let the audience watch the dancing for a pro-longed time, which also kept the movie very fluid rather and graceful like a ballet dancer. Just before the girl woke up from her dream it faded to black just like if your dream was ending as you wake up.
This opening sequence contained no information on cast and crew which is unlike any other movie. To look further in detail to see if this was the only kind of movie that did this, I looked into another Psychological Thriller to see if this was a convention in this genre of opening sequence.
Total Opening Sequence Time: Between 0:40-1:10.
This opening sequence follows these generic conventions:
Introduction to the character type: Man called Teddy who is obviously scared of water.
Introduction to theme tune: Fog Tropes composed by Ingram Marshall
Indication of place/ location: On a Boat on the way to Boston Harbour.
Film Title: Shutter Island
Information on Distribution company: Paramount Pictures
Studio Information: Phoenix Pictures
Micro-Areas that contribute to the Sub-genre Conventions:
Mise-en-Scene:
Costume: Beige Trench Coat, Smart Shirt, Gun Holder. This indicates a Federal position of authority which was recognised from when the film is set, 1954.
Lighting: Lighting is fairly dim as we see the boat emerge from the fog which could show the boat is potentially going to a dim place that is barely visited. Lighting is ambient in the boat and is fairly low but bright enough so the audience are able to see what is going on. This could indicate a neutral approach to the movie, where anything can happen.
Location: This is shown through the text that shows just after the opening credits were it shows "Boston Harbour, 1954" on a black background. We then see a boat emerge from fog which again indicates the location.
Sound:
The Sound used in the opening sequence is called Fog Tropes composed by Ingram Marshall. It starts out non-diagetic as the opening credits roll but as the action comes on screen and the fog horn sound starts that then becomes diagetic but the background music that goes with the fog horns stays non-diagetic. There are also ambient sounds such a shuffling of the feet which indicates the characters nervousness and water that the character is putting on his face to calm himself down.
Camera-Work:
A lot of the camera work in the opening sequence is Close up shots this could show how nervous the character is about being in a boat. This is also defined by the dialogue of the character ("Its only water... a lot of water!" ). An over the shoulder camera angle is used when "Teddy" is looking in the mirror telling him to pull his-self together. This tells the audience of part of the narrative and how the character is feeling.
Editing:
Cuts were used to get to another camera angle, which is common in all TV and Movies. Short shot duration was used which may show, again, the characters nervousness about the water.
Just like Black Swan, Shutter Island contains no information of Cast and Crew. They simple both say the Distribution Company, Studio name and Title. This may be a common convention in Psychological Thrillers that myself and the group may have to consider using to fit into the genre conventions.
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