Sophie Ebrahimi Wentworth Year 12

CONVENTIONS ARE WHAT THE TARGET AUDIENCE EXPECT TO SEE WITHIN THE OPENING OF A FILM. The Company Logo: The company logo is something featured in every opening to a film, it begins by showing on screen the logo of the production/distribution company that has contributed to helping produce and distribute the film. This is a form of advertisement, an example of these are: Titles and Opening Credits: The titles are the opening credits and these include some of the most important members in production, the directors and featured actors. Sometimes the names are displayed in a certain order in order to signify the importance of the people, the film title also appears on screen and this can be done using computer graphics.  Genre: The genre of the film can be connoted to the target audience through using the four conventional micro elements (mis-en-scene, lighting, sound and camera shots and angles). For example in a thriller opening scene the target audience...

Mission Impossible: Opening Scene - The non-diegetic background music at the start is slow and tense in order to create a sense of suspicion for the audience. - The close up of the man watching the computer screen, allows us to see his concentration, perhaps suggesting that he is looking out for something important, creating mystery for the audience. - As no characters are introduced, the audience will not know who is who creating confusion for them and making them want to find out more. - Low level lighting is used throughout the majority of the scene, adding to the effect of mysteriousness. Finding Nemo: Opening Scene - The gentle non-digetic music emphasises the setting of the film being under the ocean. - The bright lighting and colours used help to create a positive effect for the audience. - The sinister non-digetic music towards the end, creates a sense that something bad is going to happen. - The scene finishes off with a black out, leaving the audience w...

The Meg: Opening Scene  - The sinister non-diegetic sound implies to the audience that the setting of this scene is perhaps unsafe. - The use of several close ups and tight framing might suggest a sense of being trapped or isolated. - We can see through the use of mis-en-scene (red danger lights, non-diegetic sound effects, character yelling for help etc) that the location is dangerous. The Shining: Opening Scene  -  The unsettling non-diegetic music implies to the audience the genre of the film. - The location of the narrative is introduced through the use of establishing shots and loose framing to signify a deserted area.  - The location of the narrative is up in the mountains, perhaps suggesting that something bad will happen later on due to the restricted amount of help the character's will have access to (e.g. no phone signal). 

Spectre: Opening Scene - The protagonist is easily identified within this opening scene, due to the amount of shots he is in. - He is first shown with no identity as he is wearing a mask reinforcing both the genre and his character within the film. - He also has a girl beside him, perhaps suggesting he is powerful and also makes him look confident. - He is smartly dressed in a nice suit, illustrating his importance. My Sister's Keeper: Opening Scene          - One of the main characters is first introduced through the use of a voice over, in order to help give the audience an insight to the genre and narrative of the film. - Although, as the character can only be heard here and not shown, this evokes confusion from the audience. - As the character here is introduced so early on, this could signify her importance within the narrative.

After I had looked at several different opening scenes and analysed each one with the conventions they may or may not have contained, I found that the majority of conventions are normally found within an opening scene. However, if an opening scene were not to contain a particular convention this would most likely be because of the type of genre. For example diegetic sound can be used to deepen the audience's understanding on a character through conversation. But is something more commonly used within comedy films to emphasise humour, therefore this may not be found in an opening scene for a film with a horror or thriller genre. Following on from the use of genre, I found that for the action related films I used, (Spider-man) and (Fast and Furious 7) that the more commonly found conventions were things such as upbeat non-diegetic sound, saturated lighting, a bright, vivid use of colours, quick editing pace and so on. Where as for the romance I chose (Dear John) the lighting was mo...

NOW YOU SEE ME OPENING SCENE: - Company production logos. - Non-diegetic music played at the beginning matches the genre of the film. - A voiceover is used for the introducing of the protagonist, in order to set the scene and give the audience an insight on the character's interests and role within the narrative. - We can see through the use of mise-en-scene that the protagonist is holding some playing cards (which he uses for a magic trick), and dressed in dark clothes perhaps suggesting his mysteriousness. This gives away the theme and introduces the narrative of the story. - A use of de-saturated lighting is mainly used throughout the scene to establish genre. - Empowering non-diegetic music is played towards the end once the protagonist has successfully finished his magic trick.

DEAR JOHN OPENING SCENE: - Production company logos. - Voice over - helps give the audience an insight into what is happening within the scene, and to also introduce the protagonist. - Non-diegetic emotional music is played at the start to reflect the genre of the film. - We can see that the protagonist is wearing an army uniform suggesting his role within the narrative and also establishes the genre. - A use of mellow/de-saturated lighting is used within the first half of the scene to reinforce the genre. - Slow camera work and editing pace is used to also reflect the narrative and the genre. - Opening credits. - Mellow, soft non-diegetic music played within the second half of the scene to also establish the genre. - Title of the film.