Extension Activity
What does Thomas
Sutcliffe mean when he says “films need to seduce their audience into long term
commitment. While there are many types of seduction, the temptation to go for
instant arousal is almost irresistible”
What Thomas Sutcliffe means is that filmmakers must grab the
audience’s attention within the first few minutes of a film, so that they are
interested and watch the film right till the end.
According to director
jean Jacques Beineix, what are the risks of ‘instant arousal’?
The risk of ‘instant arousal’ is that there is an
expectation the rest of the film to match the quality of the opening sequence
otherwise the audience wont entertain an expectation.
Explain what “a good
beginning must make the audience feel that it doesn’t know nearly enough yet,
and at the same time make sure that it doesn’t know too little” means
This is when the opening of the film gives away enough of
the storyline but not too much in order to keep the audience interested in what
more to expect.
What does critic
Stanley Kauffmann describe as the classic opening? Why does this work?
It’s when the opening scene starts of with an establishing
shot. This sets the setting for the film. It gives the audience an idea of
where it is and a taste of what to expect.
Why is Kyle Cooper’s
title sequence to the film Seven so effective?
It was so effective because it told a story, it introduced
you to the obsessive nature of the main character and forecasted a lot of the
events that were to take place later on in the film. Also, the opening title
was more influential than the film itself.
What did Orson Welles
want to achieve with his opening to the film A Touch of Evil? What did
Universal Studios do to it? Why?
He wanted it not to include any credits and title music to
plunge the audience into the story without giving them time to prepare
themselves. However, the studio were a bit more cautious and ended up putting
in the credits and music. This resulting in the originality of the sharp idea
being lost.
What is meant by “a
favourite trick of Film Noir”? What is the trick?
It’s when you put the ending scene at the beginning of the
film, it’s more like a destination point rather that a departure.
How does the opening
to the film The Shining create suspense?
The opening sequence is so effective as you can see that the
screen is full of omens and the camera pursues the car like a predator from
high up. This suggests that this car is heading towards the wrong direction.
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