Film Opening Analysis

http://watchthetitles.com/articles/00212-Rango

http://watchthetitles.com/articles/00192-Nanny_McPhee_and_the_Big_Bang

Kanaiya Lakhani

What is a title sequence?A title sequence is the method by which key credits are mentioned during the film. To make it less of a chore and so people actually pay attention to it, there would be some sort of visual imagery that would accompany it as a picture in motion. There is usually accompanying music and it pinpoints key members who made the film possible.

What are the conventions of a title sequence?- Credits: This is conventional because it is one of the main reasons

for there to even be a title sequence.

- Name of production company/institution: To spread awareness and show the audience who made the movie actually happen.

- Top billing actors: The biggest actors in the movie: to get the audience interested and make them stand out.

- Title of the movie: so the audience know what they are watching

- Film director: if the director is well known, the audience will think the movie will be very good.

What are the conventions of a comedy title sequence?

- Usually, we would expect there to be some sort of wacky animation to suggest potential implications for the plot.

- Characters would usually come across through weird antics

- Interesting music would usually accompany the animation; music which is fast paced and upbeat

- Visual display that consists of bright colours

Rango - MISE EN SCENE C - Owls wear sombreros which is a conventionally wacky accessory, particularly on animals. Animal wearing detective hat connotes its on the lookout (for Rango)

L - Very low key lighting - lots of darkness - connotes the adventure that awaits whilst being on the lookout

A - Animals who wear the hat are on the chase for Rango who is usually in disguise - gives away a potential plot of the movie itself.

M - fictional creatures that are used do not look like humans - they’re all animals with human like qualities and disguise

P - instruments played by animals as if they are accompanying the music, gun used by a few characters to suggest that they are the antagonists

S - forest like conditions to connote the thrill that awaits. An area of pipes and underground whilst being chased

Rango - EDITING Fast paced editing - Used throughout the title sequence to suggest potential implications of the plot. Also, could be used to reflect on the race against time.

Post production effects - CGI to create animated characters. Superimposition to contrast the chase and distinguish protagonist (hero) and antagonist (villain)

Cutting - Cutaways used when they they show the antagonist who keeps an eye on Rango after he has ran

Transition: Dissolve for each part of the title sequence with ellipsis as it doesn’t show an entire escapade. Wipe when moving to a new setting. Fade out at the end

- Non continuity editing shown with the use of changes of colours and different settings

- Intellectual montage as the eyes do not mean anything without Rango running in the first place

Rango - CAMERAWORK Composition - Rule of thirds for Rango to make it more pleasing to the eye and show that they are looking into the distance

Angles - Canted angles used countless times to create the sense of tension and uneasiness. High angle used to make Rango come across as weaker and more helpless than the antagonist. He is much smaller compared to where the camera is pointing

Movement - Pan when the camera focuses on the owl playing the trumpet and then the wipe that moves to the next setting.

Shot type - XCU of the eye to dupe the audience and reflect on the element of disguise as it turns out to be Rango. Two shot to show the relationship between the two characters.

Rango -SOUND

Dialogue - There is no dialogue in the title sequence

Sound Effects - Guitar strums when the focus is on the owl… connotes the lack of realism and refers to it being an animated adventure comedy, fast paced drum beat to create intensity - connotes heart beat and creates suspense. They are diegetic as the characters play along. Trumpet that is played by the owl is also diegetic

Music - Synchronous, diegetic soundtrack is used throughout the sequence. It is fast paced which links back to a chase and a race against time. It is diegetic because the animals have composed it

NMATBB -Mise-en-sceneC: Nanny McPhee wears a black robe which connotes authority and professionalism. Children wear more brighter clothes and overalls which relates to the setting at the farm.

L: High key lighting used throughout as the hybrid genre is of it being a family film as well

A: The use of animals relates to the setting of a farm and connotes that the mischievous animals are hard to look after as much as the animal-like kids

M: The lack of makeup and prosthetics on the characters make them come across as more pale.

P: Nanny McPhee holds an umbrella which makes her more powerful. The illustration of the people holding umbrellas to be protected in the rain connotes the action of Nanny McPhee

S: Obvious setting is the farmland due to the wide range of animals used and these reflect on their rural conditions, A war office is shown and “London Transport” on the buses shows they are in London.

NMATBB -Editing

Fast paced editing - Used throughout the title sequence to connote excitement and create a sense of enthusiasm

Post production effects - CGI used for the animations - continuity editing is used to make the scene seem natural and not make the audience feel uneasy

Cutting - used when the elephant is being mischievous and wrecks stuff, eyeline match used to create a sense of belonging

Transition - Wipe is used throughout and creates continuity because it isn’t so obvious that we are taken to another part of the scene.

NMATBB - Camerawork

Composition - rule of thirds to make the scene more appealing to the eye. When the kids come out, they travel forward with a wipe

Angles - high angle when focusing on the mother to show that she is weaker and cannot balance/handle so many responsibilities

Movement - pan used when moving to different scenes each time, zoom out to show the bigger picture

Shot type - crowd shot to show the sibling relationship between the characters. Long shot of Nanny McPhee to show that she is important

NMATBB - SoundDialogue - there is no dialogue in the sequence

Sound effects - soldiers marching when the children come from Nanny McPhee’s robe to show how she wants to set them straight. Drums during the fight outside the war office, perhaps to reflect on setting

Music - fast paced, non diegetic, synchronous music is heard throughout the title sequence to create a sense of excitement and reflect on the setting as well. The music fades out sometimes and starts again slower or faster from how it was previously