EN: The Conventions Of A Film Opening

28 Weeks Later (Fresnadillo, 2007) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wHf6Th-E3kE

• There is a key use of low key lighting as only candles are used. Also this adds to the sense of isolation and secrecy from the outside world.

• I find the use of non diagetic sound very profound as it is only used when the knocking at the door starts, which heightens the dramatic effect this scene has as it is a binary opposition with the almost silent scenes before it.
• I liked how character exposition was used to add colour to the scene; backstories of minor characters are explored such as the female character waiting for her boyfriend to return.
• Starked contrasts are used very effectively as the juxtaposition between darkness and light and silence and noise.

28 Weeks Later has some useful ideas and techniques that could benefit our group as the use of low key lighting in contrast with daylight is dramatic and is proof that silence and selective sounds can be just as effective if not more than non diagetic sound tracks.

The Amityville Horror (Douglas, 2005)

• Use of moody weather adds to the drama. The use of lightning especially emphasises danger and horror in the opening.
• This movie is quite different in the fact that the opening is nearly all filmed inside. Consquently they have a greater control over lighting and angles.
• A Non- Diagetic soundtrack soundtrack is played throughout the opening. Extremely effective as it corresponds with the action.
• Diagetic sound, lightning and rain is used aswell to create verisimilitude.
• I like how it cuts to black and then to another scene, makes it as though the murder is unpredictable and concealed in the shadows.

Our group can benefit from many of the techniques in The Amityville Horror. The most prevelant being that it is all filmed inside which it makes it easier to control the enviroment and enforce low key lighting. It also uses a wide range of editing techniques that we can encorporate into our work too such as cutting from and out of blackness.

Se7en (Fincher, 1995)

• Quite unique approach to an opening, as it is constructed of montage editing.
• No diagetic sound is used, it is purely made of a soundtrack.
• Uses editing techniques such as speeding up the frames and puttting effects over them.

Se7en shows how a effective opening can be created without the use of dialogue or narrative. It also shows how editing techniques can be used to created tension which is usefull to our group.