Media Studies
Max Hill
Comparing Film Title Sequences.
In this essay I am going to contrast two different films based on their title sequence's. I am going to analyse the title sequence of Saw (I) and contrast this to the title sequence of Love Actually. I will be mainly looking at the way in which the opening supports the genre or target audience of each film, camera shots used, voice, how the music enhances emotions, and if I believe it is successful or not to capture the audience.
The first Saw film was released in 2004. It’s genre is Horror/Mystery, and it is mainly aimed at adult males who seek thrills and shock (18-30). I believe the title sequence for this film and genre is very successful. Not to much information is given but enough for the view to want to ask them selves questions that they hope they will find the answers to later.
The title sequence starts with the companies who made the film, Lions Gate Films and Twisted Pictures, then we hear a scream in pain or of suffering I would guess as we also hear a whip crack which I presume has created the scream. As this is happening there is a blackout and the music begins. Blackout are usually used to create suspense or show time passing, so to fit with the genre and the scream this is defiantly here to create tension and suspense. There is then a flash of scribbled writing which reads “Twisted Pictures presents” which then is places in top left corner of the extreme close up shot of a stop watch counting down to 0. This then makes you wonder want this stop watch/timer is for and why is it counting down? There is then another scream but the eerie music is played though the whole sequence.
Throughout this title sequence there are lots of references to time, a clock with the second hand stuck, and more extreme close ups of stop watches counting down. We also have some shots of newspapers, with titles such as ““Jigsaw” Killer Still at Large” and “Missing Man Discovered at Bizarre Murder Scene” so from this we can guess that this will have something to do with later events, and we ask ourselves more questions due to this.
Toward the end of the sequence we see some location shots of what looks to be a warehouse, a name of a street with a warehouse on, and a sign saying “Caution Raw Sewage” so we now have some more idea of location but not completely so more questioned have been raised in our minds. There is also a TV screen with images from a security camera on, so we could make assumptions that someone is watching this or will link to what we have seen so far. Between these shots there are black outs with these strange white scribbley line, and the names of produces, directors and other persons who have created this film. At the end of the sequence the name of the film is revealed in this scribble writing “SAW”.
Love actually was released in 2003. It’s genre is Romantic Comedy, and it is quite a main stream audience but possible aimed at families with elder children. I’m not too sure if this title sequence is completely suitable for the rest of the film. However there are some great aspects of truth in it. The title sequence is extremely different to the rest of the film as it is not staged. It is filming of really people and their true emotions.
The sequence starts with the companies how made the film, Universal Studios, Studio Canal and Working Titles. After this we cut across to the arrivals gates at Heathrow Airport, we know this because of the voice over run through this scene. There is very sombre music playing throughout to add to the drama and emotions. We see lots of families and friends reunited, and showing their love to one another by kissing and hugging. The audience really can draw on these emotions and I think this is emphasised by the true emotions shown and the way is it shot, in a sort of spying hidden camera way which highlights the rawness shown.
Another way that audiences emotions are played on is the voice over done by Hugh Grant. He speaks of true events, and how love was shown and shared during them. One example he talks about is the attack on the twin towers and how none of the phone calls from the people on the plane were of hatred but of love and affection to another person. At the end of the sequence we finishes on the line, “If you look for it, I have a sneaky feeling you’ll find that love actually is all around.” and the part ‘love actually is all around if then shown on the screen and the word ‘is’ is coloured red, differently to the white the other colours are typed in.
These two title sequences are very different to each other in their own rights. The Saw title sequence is very relevant to the rest of the film it builds up lots of questions in our minds that we want to be answered as well as giving us a small insight to what the film is going to be about. The Love Actually title sequence is more about giving information to the audience and not so many questions raised as of this. However the themes of both are relevant to the genre of each film. Saw is extremely eerie relating to it’s horror genre. Where as Love Actually has a very romantic and joyous theme to it’s title sequence which is closely related to it’s Romantic Comedy genre.
In conclusion I have found out that both of these films title sequences are relevant and can be related to the rest of the film or their genre. Although, in my opinion, one is more affective than the other, they both work well for their target audience and this is what really matters in terms of their film being successful. The title sequence is the first part of the film we see and need to create and impact on us to make the audience want to stay tuned.
Saw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ccZnOc0hbd4&feature=related
Love Actually
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_saCHD4Wzqk
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