Group 32: RESEARCH: Analysis of 3 Title sequences

Our chosen genre is thriller, because it makes for exciting and engaging films. I have chosen to analyse the title sequences of:

Gone girl

Macro elements:

Storyline: Something's not right
Key themes: The slow, unfolding nature of the events - elements of the thriller theme
Plot: Something eerie, or spooky is going to happen
Characters: The narrators wife, and then the narrator
Social groups: 30ish white middle class americans (presumably heterosexual - they are married) living in the suburbs

Micro elements:

Typical uses of camera: Woman looking into camera - breaks the forth wall, Panning shot shows the scenery but so do the close up still shots of houses etc
Editing: The blackouts between the shots and credits helps to add to the thriller genre by creating a creepy and suspenseful element
Sound: Quiet, ominous music. Voice over directly addresses the audience with narration
Mise-en-scene: Shot of woman appears to be from the perspective of the narrator, which creates a relationship between the viewer and the character. Having the title of film in white text on the background creates a minimalistic appearance. The dusk lighting also adds to the uneasy feeling created.

Macro elements:

Storyline: Nothing clear about the storyline is revealed in this opening sequence, but the captions do reveal the names of the main actors and actresses, which tells us that that film has a female lead/is female orientated
Key themes: The classical music suggest a ballet element, as does the title. The chalk reveals an artistic element, although the increase in the erratic nature of the music and chalk drawing suggest the increase in erratic nature of the main character/of the events
Plot: No particular details regarding plot are revealed
Characters: A woman, who's hand is seen whilst drawing, but nothing else
Social groups: A white woman (the hand) but nothing else is revealed, not even age although we could hazard a guess of 20s from the appearance of the hand, but nothing definite.

Micro elements:

Typical uses of camera: The camera just follows the shot of the woman drawing, cutting to different angles. This engages the audience as they become curious as to what she is drawing
Editing: The clean cuts between shots help with the flow of the sequence, which again helps to emphasise the ballet theme
Sound: Classical music from the ballet Swan Lake - ballet theme. However it is slightly ominous which links to the thriller genre
Mise-en-scene: The black chalk seen represents the Black swan, whilst the soft lighting shows the femininity of ballet.

Macro elements:

Storyline: Something to do with a murder, set in the late 90s/early 00s - the camera used and glasses suggest that
Key themes: Violence, death
Plot: A murderer who takes pictures of his victims
Characters: The main character, a male murderer
Social groups: White young American men

Micro elements:

Typical uses of camera: The video is shown in reverse. There are lots of close ups
Editing: Lots of very long shots, and also tracking shots
Sound: Slow, creepy music creates suspense. Sounds made by the props are very loud e.g. the camera or the glasses
Mise-en-scene: The glasses and bullet are isolated on the floor, giving emphasis to them. The blood stained walls help to create an ominous effect