Opening sequences are very important for the filmmaker. This short sequence depends on if people will continue watching the film or get bored and be no longer interested. An opening needs to grab the audiences attention and make them ask questions as to why, what, who etc is happening. Using codes and conventions to establish the surroundings and be introduced to the initial characters.
I am going to look at how effectively Children of Men's opening uses these typical film codes and conventions, and how i personally respond to it.
I am immediately drawn to the first colour used. A black screen opens the film which is followed by the production companies. We then suddenly are introduced to some digetic sound, a voiceover, which is commonly recognised as a news broadcast. This is an interesting factor to be used as we can hear this sound but still can only see this black screen, which could mean there is nothing else to be focused on other then the sound, so it may be important to listen. Throughout these first few minutes we see very dull colours which could represent the pollution that the world is suffering through industrial problems. This is an effective connotation were the viewers will start asking why are we listening to the news, as a news broadcast is to show a problem or to inform you about thins occuring in the world.
We are then introduced to the first characters, from a high angle to establish our surroundings, a group of distraught people are looking towards the camera to involve the audience more. We are seen to be focused in a coffee shop where all the people are huddled together to hear what the news lady has to say. To create the effective atmosphere, dull colours such as greys blacks and blues are used all around the setting and in prop and costume. This makes the audience realise that the news is portraying a shocking/sad story and the people are sad/shocked.
The story being broadcasted is about the youngest person left in the world, an 18 year old boy, had died. This sends out a message as to why was he the youngest? Why are people now infertile?
But we know that despite the lack of human birth, there are still animals living, as the old woman at the front of the shot is holding a dog.
Dialogue can really be a useful bit of information in a storyline, and this broadcast is very important as it is a vital bit of information that may very well be used later on in the film.
The lighting throughout this opening is very dull and dim, and the only light used is the gloomy sky from outside, and artificial lights coming from the telivision and flashing billboards on buildings.
When what is noticably the main character, by tracking shot, moves outside we establish that we are in London, firstly from the busy surroundings, sky scrapers, traditional red london buses, advertising and then a subtitle, stating that they are infact in London in the year 2027. I noticed this opening states it is 2027 many times, as repeating it will make the audience remember this, and not miss out on what could be an important date.
We are introduced to more connotations linked to london such as typical police men in uniform and busy streets.
London seems very degraded, more polluted and much dirtier. There are piles of rubbish at the side of the road, motors on the back of bikes which adds more pollution, and the whole area seems less wealthy then we would expect, and had an economic downfall.
What we think to be the main character is then noticed putting some sort of alcholic beverage into his coffee, this is another factor which would make the audience ask many questions, such as why is he drinking alcohol? why is he being filmed the most? is he ill?
These questions the viewers ask in their head are a very important part of film openings. They are wanting to be answered, so therefore the viewers want to continue watching to find out who the character is, and what their role is. Because Clive Owen, who has also starred in famous films such as King Arthur and The Golden Compass, is the main character we are expecting the film to live up to his star expectation.
At this part of the opening we are already expecting to know the genre of the film, and we find out just as the first exciting bit of action happens, an explosion occurs behind the man, and we see an injured woman walk away from the wreck. We then realise it is an action/thriller/horror type film. Action based referring to the explosion and thriller and horror as we see the gore of the wounded people. From genre, setting and character we can start to understand what is going on.
My personal response as part of the audience was that i found this opening very interesting. The way it uses enigmas to create atmosphere was very effective, and the director was very clever as to make the audience ask questions as to why the characters are acting the way they are etc. I liked how its set in what could be London in years time. It definatly made me interested and made me want to continue watching the film.
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