Se7ven Analysis

Se7ven

I am analyzing se7en to see what production companies think audiences want to see in a horror film opening. This will help me gain ideas on what to include in my work. The film starts at an extreme close up of a book this creates an enigma code as we do not know what is in this book and who the blurred out hand belongs to. This is the first thing we see of the main character so it adds mystery and suspension to the character. The lighting on the book is dark implying it includes something dark and sinister. The back ground is light implying innocence this is a use of binary opposites to highlight the evil within this book. The typography is simplistic however effective in creating a scary effect. The blurring and flickering of the writing gives a horror feel this is the director adding hints of the genre to the audience. 0.5 seconds in the film the production companies are being shown one is New Line Cinema which is a well-known production company so we know the film is for mainstreams who watch horror movies. Also they are two companies showing an example of synergy of companies. Non-diegetic music is being played it is very dramatic and eerie creating the horror feel for the audience.

At 0.8 a close up of hands are shown as a drawing they is theme with hands being put in focus the director has positioned the audiences to them as they may have meaning as the film goes on. The drawing is very detailed showing disfigured fingers it looks life drawn adding the question of who these hands belong to and who drew them. Also a shadow goes across the drawing like someone is turning a page in a book this links with the first thing the audience have seen. The audience will want to know the significance of the book the director has done this to leave questions.

At 0.15 the actors are being showed, the back ground is dark in contrast to the actors name implying that Brad Pit is the innocent character or hero going with the Theory of Propp Character Functions. An extreme close up is shown of someone taking off the skin on their figures this is a graphic and nerving scene for some vuers. The characters hands are dirty this implies the character is insane or uncaring of their appearance. Editing is purposely choppy as it confuses the audience as to much information is being given in a small amount of time. This was done to keep the audience engaged and focused on the scene.

At 0.25 the title of the film is shown Se7ven is an enigma its self. Audiences do not know the link between the film and the number 7. A book is shown once again at 0.28 the audience will be anticipated to find out the importance of the books. At 0.36 the colour scheme goes red this implies blood and danger. Also a blurry picture of a person seems to be in this blood this may be a link to say that this is their blood. At 0.50 blood is shown again representing death. Sound effects have a high pitched sound to create discomfort in the audiences. At 2.90 we finally see the films setting they is a long shot of an urban city environment. This is a popular setting for films which include crime and graphic murders.

What I have learnt from analysing Se7ven is how directors create tension in a scene by making scene changes frequent this adds mystery as the audience are only given unexplained images. Also shot types are used to add tension, extreme close ups annoy audiences as not much is revealed about the film only small clues. The music is an important factor as it creates an eerie effect in the opening scene getting the audiences in the mood for a horror film. With having no diegetic sound no clues are given about the character or the environment they are in. Production companies such as New Line Cinema know what audience expect due to being part of the Warner Bro Company so they take less risks by knowing exactly what audiences want.

Audience Expectations

Audience Expectations

Before film companies create films they need to know what the consumer expects and wants in a film. This will be the same for my film opening I will be exploring audience expectations and existing film openings to help me develop a film opening what will fore-fill the audiences cravings.

Audience theories?

When looking at audiences The Uses and Gratification Theory by Bulmer and Katz can be useful in understanding what audiences want with the media they

Consume.

Diversion- People who want diversion enjoy fiction films as it brings the consumer out of the real world. A highly CGI film would go to there needs as it takes them to another world visually widening there imagination. Also the technology such as 4D and IMAX would help the consumer feel part of the films world and escape from life. Realistically I can’t make such a high cost film with advanced technology. To create the sense of escapism I can use different shot types to give the audience a real sense of setting and character. 

Personal relationships-People who want personal relationships within media enjoy reality TV as it lets you look in to the life of someone else and gives the illusion of you knowing whom the person is and being connected to there world. Geordie Shore is a perfect example of this. In films a relationship can be made for example with the main character. Producers position the audience to care for this character, as they will be invested within the films plot creating impact if anything happens to this character. My film opening will

Not be long enough for the audience to develop an emotion towards the characters so I cannot accomplish creating a personal relationship.

Personal Identity- People who watch for personal identity watch soap operas as they include real life problems what are relatable to the audience. Audiences want to be reflected in texts, as they can feel emotionally connected with the program. My film genre will be a Horror so I can’t create content what audiences can relate to.

Surveillance-People who want surveillance watch media what is informative and useful for living such as news or the weather channel. This is the complete opposite of diversion as audiences want to consume media for information rather entertainment and escapism. In my work I will not be going to the criteria of a surveillance audience as my film is fiction and its purpose is to entertain.

When making my film opening I will be focusing of audiences who watch media for diversion. Due to my genre being a Horror, audiences can escape with in the scenes, as they are unreliable and unrealistic. Sound is a main focus in horrors as they make audiences feel within the scene and experience discomfort like the characters themselves. In my work sound will be very important to set the mood for the audience and let them escape within the film.

What do audiences expect in a film opening?

Titles

Directors name

Actor’s names

Setting of scene

Introduction of the main character

Non-diagetic sound

Diagetic sound

Genre reveled

Enigma codes

Production Company

Deadpool Analysis

Deadpool Opening

Within the first 7 seconds we see a montage of comic book photos this implies that the film is based off a comic. The beginning is iconic for marvel films, the targeted audiences will recognise this. From the first 7 seconds it is implied that this movie is a sifi or a superhero movie so automatically the audience know it is a fiction film. Non-diegetic sound is calm music which is unconventional for a superhero movie. They is an element of anticipation as for 13 seconds all we see is the marvel name this shows the importance of the company.Audiences may associate the Marvel name with other films they have enjoyed.

The colour scheme is reds, oranges and blacks this keeps with the theme of comic books. The typography of Marvel is in bold white writing upon a red back ground. This highlights the company name. From the red background danger and excitement is implied this is common for the superhero genre.White upon the red implies innocence this may be a metaphor for the hero's with in the comic genre. Also this shows binary opposites as the white is a positive colour and red is a negative.At 13 seconds the name fades out and cuts to the next scene.

For 5 seconds the screen goes black this sets the audiences up for the start of the film. A close up of a bullet is first shown then pans out to revel a man shot in the head. This is a interesting shot what gives a real feel for the scene. Audiences feel part of the action as the smallest details are shown. The expression on the character is that he is in pain. From this we see the film involves violence and action so we know the film is for a older and mature audiences.

As the beginning carries on we are still exposed to an extreme close up of the action and are in the heat of the scene.The unusual shot leaves questions for the audiences as they can not see the full scene. Editing is seamless so the audience truly feel part of the action. CGI is heavily used this is conventional for a marvel movie. From the opening we see the film has a large budget as it has interesting CGI and effects. At 33 seconds a gun is showed being fired this tells the audience they is crime within the film. The gun answers the question of where the bullet came from. As the scene goes on pieces of the puzzle are revelled and answers slowly unravel.    

The first credits show the company names then moves on to what would be the actors and producer's names it shows an element of humour in the narrative as the film is mocking its self with funny credits. This contrasts with the graphic scene, so does the calm music. Audiences are getting mixed messages about the scene and are introduced to the films dark humour.

The theme of humour carries on in this scene at 41seconds we first see the main actor in a unconventional way. Ryan Renalds is upon a magazine with the worlds sexiest man upon it. This is the actor mocking him self. Audiences will find humour within this. This is a cultural code as the director is expecting the audience to know who Ryan Reynolds is.

At 1.17 Deadpool is put into shot the iconic red and the black costume is shown. The samiri swords are Deadpools trademark and the director expects the audiences to know this. From this shot we see Dead Pool is an unconventional hero as he is pulling a mans pantsback back. This shows that he isn't a serious character like other marvel hero's.