A-Level Media
Credit Sequence Analysis'
Se7en
The credit sequence begins with an extreme close up of a book with the pages being turnt, during this shot there is also music in the background and sounds like gunshots. This instantly begins to create an eerie and uncertain atmosphere. The first credit is of the presenters of the film, the text is white and slightly gritty which suggests the film is a horror as it has a creepy and ruined look to it. The text also flashes slighty. The next credit that follows has a more handwritten font which has the style of something that has been calved with a knife, this connotes violence and the genre of horror. This shot then merges with the next which is of a hand-drawn pair of hands, this creates confusion as the audience are unaware of what this drawing is for or why it is there. In this close up shot, dull and dark lighting is included so all main focus is on the drawn image. To follow this, extreme close ups show dirty hands holding a blade. This could suggest a beginning of a murder or shortly after one as his mud covered nails suggest he has been burrying something.
After the film is introduced with text displaying the words 'Se7en' shadows of hands are shown amongst more books. These books suggest the person in the film is recording something or researching something for what they are planning. Another extreme close-up shows a hand clutching a pen writing down notes. The notes are difficult to see so the audience can't figure out what the person is writing. This is suggested by the camera showing snapshots of certain parts of the book. This credit sequence has included black and white colours throughout which connotes mystery, mourning and coldness. However, the lack of colour is interrupted by a splash of red in one of the shots. This connotes death and blood. This implies to the audience that this film includes violence/death and blood. Sounds of children/people screaming is heard in the background of this shot creating a fearful and frightening atmosphere to the viewers. Harmful objects such as scissors, needles and sharp metal show that the person here is dangerous and harmful. The person also seems secretive as they are alone throughout and you can't hear diegetic sounds of their voice in any scene.
As the credit sequence reaches halfway, red covers the screen more and music/other sounds become louder. This conveys that the film becomes more violent and scary as the film goes on. Close ups of the person covering images and texts with marker pen suggets that this person is destructive. This is also suggested through the props used such as plasters and bandages covering the persons hand. A close up of the person placing a piece of hair into a envelope suggests that the person is covering up something such as a murder or trying to solve the crime. The audience will have figured out that this film is a horror and involves a lot of unusual and questionable scenes. The credit sequence then ends with flashing text.
World War Z
The credit sequence begins with fast but quiet music that sounds saddening. The credit text is written in capitals with grey bold writing and a black background. These colours connote mystery, calmness and quietness. This credit text is followed by a long shot of the sea which cuts to a shot of the sky. This creates a calm and uncertain atmosphere which could make the audience feel uneasy. There are many shots of nature, such as trees, clouds and animals. A long shot of a flock of birds flying away could suggest a disaster towards them, or towards animals in particular. As these clips continue, sounds of a man and woman news presenter are heard but not clearly as their voices overlap eachother. Their voices have a calm and cheery tone to them which would make the audience believe that everything is okay and nothing bad is happening in the world or to the people. The music is still heard in the background but is quite quiet and distant.
As the music continues, another piece of dialogue is heard which is of a police officer. Whilst he speaks there is a long shot of him against a police car. This shortly follows by a tv presenter and an audience cheering which gives a happy and enjoyable atmosphere. This could suggest something bad is about to follow. As the credit sequence approaches halfway the clips start to show the disaster. A shot from a news programme shows dolphins laying on a beach whilst the sound of news presenters is heard. Close ups of a man and then an animal shortly after suggests that animals and huans are in danger. Public transport and cars are shown which makes pollution the percieved cause to what is happening to the animals.
However as the credit sequence goes on, humans are also being affected by what is assumed a virus. Props such as blue masks suggests that there is a problem that is struggling to be solved. A crane shot shows a man being beaten by another man and close ups show animals eating other animals. The virus is becoming more and more noticeable as more people and animals are becoming affected. As the film credit sequence goes on and is about to end, each shot lasts for a shorter amount of time. These shots include ambulances, people dressed in white and clips of certain types of chaos around the world. The credit sequence ends with text displaying the words 'World War Z' this conveys to the audience itself that this film about a war around the world and the film itself is chaotic.
Zombieland
The credit sequence begins with a low shot, slow motion clip of a man jumping from a building. The credits are written in bold red writing within the film, this suggests the film could involve violence and blood as red connotes danger. It then cuts to a man covered in blood and spitting out blood in slow motion. This instantly relates to the title of the film as this person is a zombie. The credits break away and fall suggesting destruction and devastation. Another clip of a woman running from a zombie is in slow motion also. Costume shows who the zombies are and who the other people are as the Zombies are covered in blood. This makes them easily identifyable to the audience. The music begins to be noticeable after this with singing and a louder track.
More shots of people fighting and running from zombies is presented within long shots, close ups and mid shots. The consistency of the slow motion clips suggests that not only
is this film a horror, it is a comedy also. This is suggested by the funny facial expressions in slow motion of people trying to escape the zombies. A medium shot shows a man smashing a glass window with text displaying the word 'Zombieland' infront of it. The film is introduced with its name at this point which shows the audience what film it is and what the film is like if there are hints in the title. The amount of zombies increases as the film goes on suggesting more people get pulled into being zombies as the film goes on and that the film becomes more disasterous. Another long shot shows two firemen putting out a fire in a building with a zombie on fire next to them, this imediately shows the audience that the zombies are causing the trouble and the people are finding it difficult to stop whats happening. To finish the credit sequence there is a man coming towards the screen splashing it with blood, suggesting the man is hurt and also that the zombies are taking over the people. The screen is then smashed again, like it was when the film was introduced with a title, to end the credit sequence.