Ben Carnet - OTS Textual Analaysis'

OTS (Opening Title Sequence) Textual Analaysis'



For each of the OTS' that im going to analyse i will talk about four elements:

-Mise-en-scene

-Camera Work

-Sound

-Editing


The first opening title sequence that i am going to analyze is from Se7en (1995) ==========>




Camera Angles/Shots

-The Majority of the shots in this sequence are either close-ups or Extreme Close-ups specific items and actions such as:
> The razorblade and cutting of finger skin - Hints that the subject is a criminal and wants to be hidden and also creates a sense of danger.
> The tea bag being dipped - Could be a photograpghy technique or it is a way to link the subject to normality with an everyday item.
> The book(s) and subject writing - The subject is planning or logging, showing a sense of organisation.

-The close-ups create a restrictive narrative, when the spectator knows as much as the character, by keeping the surroundings and identity of the subject hidden to build the mystery and keep the spectators hooked. All of the shots focus on the specific items and the majority are high angles perhaps giving the perspective of someone else watching the subjects strange actions.


Editing

- The use of quick cuts creates a distorted and uncomfortable effect especially with the disturbing image of the mutated face being cut in very quickly. The Text and the quick editing pace compliment eachother because the text is constantly moving very slightly almost as if vibrating. The text also looks like the scratches from an old VCR tape so its as if the text is part of the scribbled scratching from old strips of tape which could be emphasising the subjects actions of making this obsessive collage/project

-The majority of transitions are straight cuts, which compliments the quick editing rate, but there are several dissolves as well which add to the strangeness, the sequence slowly gets harder and harder to understand and the dissolves combined with the quick cuts and small ellipsis jumps, like the scribbled face, stop us from putting the pieces together in time but even with all that there is still a very limited understanding and therefore creates the restricted narrative.


Sound

-The soundtrack to this sequence is  a good example of Parrallel sound (When the sound/music fits the actions in shot) because the distortion and random electronic screeches follow the fast pace of the cuts and also at the end of the sequence when the final shot ends and it cuts to the final title the last lyric "god" is echoed and slighly emphasises

-There is no diolouge throughout the sequence except for a small amount of lyrics in the soundtrack which says "you get me closer to God" which alone may seem like there is no connection to the subject but as the lyrics are sung there is a very brief shot of the subject cutting the word God out of a dollar note and that creates a link from the soundtrack to the shots but also links the whole sequence to a religious aspect. Is the subject religious? Is he/she on a religious journey/conquest? These are the kind of questions going through the spectators head.


Mise-en-scene

-The use of props allows the spectator to get a strong idea of the subjects personality:
> Using a razor to cut off his skin on his finger tips - This shows he is intelligent and well prepared for whatever he is about to do.
>  The cutting of the film strips - The subject could have a good knowledge in photography and is also quite creative and knowledable in editing and perhaps manipulating evidence.















 The next opening title sequence i am going to analyze is from a film called Collateral (
















Camera shots and angles

-The long shot of Tom Cruise walking towards the camera, and same with Jason Statham, shows his importance by being the only person in focus.

-The close up of Cruise's face shows he has a very neutral expression, which goes with the neutral grey suit he is wearing, and also highlights that he is wearing sunglasses inside which indicates his desire to hide his identity.

-The mid shot of the briefcases on the floor and the shot of the swapping of the cases shows their cooperation with each other and that the briefcases will be a large role in the film.


Mise-en-scene

-The use of Mise-en-scene lets us know a lot about Jamie Fox's character:

>Cleaning his car shows he cares about his job and is good at it, cares about the customers being in a clean environent and shows he cares about presentation.

>Checking all the lights of his cab works shows he is cautious, cares about the safety of himself and his customers and perhaps indictates he has had a bad experience in the past due to faulty lights.

>The picture of the tropical island could show that he hops to move there meaning he has big plans or perhaps he wants a vacation which and already we can see he is determined to do well in his job. Another reason could be he had a past there, perhaps a good vacation with his family.

> The crossword that he is doing shows he is most likely quite intelligent and also likes the quiet patient life.

-The spectators know that this is going to be an action movie and already they have the rock solid expression from Cruise and the well behaved, clean, neat personality of Jamie Fox and we can tell that those personalities are going to conflict all through a few facial expressions, objects and harmless actions.


Editing

-Slowing down shots of Tom Cruise walking towards the camera mimics his current state of behaviour, the slowing down gives it a cool, smooth and calm effect and that is how cruise is behaving.

-





Sound

-The audio cleverly establishes where the first sequence is going to be by having the diegetic sound of an airplane flying overhead during the company titles meaning the spectators know where the shot is taking place before it has even begun.

-As Cruise and Stratham drop their bags it is emphasised with a loud whoosh which not only indicates to the importance of those bags but also gets the audience thinking and asking questions like:
-Are they working together or has a deal been struck?
-What is in the bag?
-Are they on a mission?
And so on.