Opening Title Sequence Analysis - Se7en

In the beginning of the opening title sequence of Se7en there is a clear focus on hands and this conveys to the audience that this person that is being filmed closely clearly uses their hands for a lot things. The hands also look like they would be the hands of a man so I can infer that this is a man. There is also a lot of usage of unconventional items, like a book in the first clip and bandage-like material. There is a lot of short fade ins and fade outs which makes the sequence go by really fast. This man appears to be cutting a lot of pictures and we get flashes of gory images which tells the audience that this man is most likely a serial killer psychopath of some sort. Also, the text of who is involved in this film is only shown on the darkest parts of each clip. This is done because the director wants the audience to pay attention to what is going on as it might give hints as to what will commence in the future. It also allows for continuity, which keeps the audience member engaged and not all over the place. There is also reoccurring images in this sequence, which highlights the importance of it, particularly the hands which pop up several times. The song used in this sequence is very grainy and tells the audience that this is a disturbing film. There are also disturbing sounds like nails on a chalkboard which is supposed to make the audience cringe and feel uncomfortable. This opening title sequence has a clear start and end to it which keeps the audience members engaged and excited to see the film.

Kyle Cooper

 

Kyle Cooper

Kyle Cooper is an American designer most famously known for his work in creating title sequences. Cooper has always been interesting in film and editing sequences from an early age. Cooper has founded two companies, Imaginary Forces with Peter Frankfurt and Chip Houghton in 1996 which he later left to go on and create a creative agency called Prologue in 2003 where him and a small team focused on creating opening title sequences. Cooper says his greatest inspiration is Stephen Frankfurt's opening title sequence for 'To Kill a Mockingbird'. Cooper is one of the greatest digital designers in the history of film and television and his work will inspire future generations to come.

Peeping Tom vs A Schizophrenic Murder

 Peeping Tom vs A Schizophrenic Murder

In our next meeting, we discussed our ideas once again because my group can't decide which of the three ideas we wanted to use. In the end, my group decided that my idea was not the best so we cancelled that idea out. We are now in a bit of a situation where we have Luiza's idea, 'Peeping Tom' which is about a man who stalks people through cameras, and Lily's idea which is about someone with schizophrenia who murders his brother but does not realize that it was him due to one of his multiple personalities taking over and killing his brother. 

First Meeting - Opening Title Sequence

 First Meeting - Opening Title Sequence

For my opening title sequence coursework project, today my group had our first meeting together. I am with my friends Lily and Luiza. I presented my best idea which was about a spy  in a political leaders party. I got feedback from my teacher, and he said that it was a good idea. The criticism that I got was that because we are filming an opening title sequence, that I should not reveal what the movie is entirely about in the beginning. That I should only give a subtle hint that this person is a spy that only the engaged audience members would particularly notice. But, my idea was doable. I would just need an older cast that I could choose from, realistically speaking it would be from the selection of teachers at my school, and I would just need an office or something that we could turn into an office.

Ideas For Opening Title Sequence

 IDEA 1

One idea I came up with is partially inspired by the break in of the US Capital on 6 January 2021. The idea of the film would be that there is this political leader that has hypnotized his believers into thinking that they are the best. That, no matter what, this political leader is always right. Throughout this leaders term, there are numerous amounts of protests and riots and this country has turned into mayhem. But, within this political leader's inner circle of people, there is one person secretly working against them. This spy has been leaking information for years and has framed others and put the blame on them to keep their own cover. But, the main focus of the film would be that this political leader has gone too far and now it is time for the spy to assassinate them. The whole film would focus on the spy planning this assassination and how much chaos this political leader has caused.

For the opening sequence, I would have the spy in a conference with this political leader and their inner circle and plans for the future. But, in the middle of this meeting the spy says they have to go to the bathroom but instead he actually goes to the bathroom and gives all the information they have just obtained to someone who is against the political leader as well by calling them. And after he is done, he walks out of the bathroom and gives a fake smile to someone who is in the political leader's inner circle then drops the expression as soon as they've walked past each other to show the audience that the spy was being fake does not like them. The opening sequence ends when the spy goes to sit back down in the conference.

IDEA 2

Another idea I came up with is that one year during halloween there is this haunted house set up in a small town that is self proclaimed to be the scariest haunted house in the world. The catch is, once you go in, you'll never come out. The plot of the movie is that these young adults go into it thinking it will be a joke, that since it ids a haunted house made by people everything is fake, and that it will be over quick. they walk in and it starts off not scary, just a few screams, stabbing noises, etc. As they move on, it becomes scarier and scarier, but they soon realize that this is not a joke and that all of the gruesome murders they saw were real. They try to escape but it is too late for them.

For the opening title sequence, I would set the scene by introducing where the haunted house is located. Then, I would introduce the characters by having them walk up to the house and have them talk about it. Finally, the opening sequence would end with them entering and you hear a faint scream in the background as they step in.

IDEA 3

The third idea I came up would about a teenage girl who has had a pretty rough life (abusive parents, getting bullied, etc) who finds out about manifestation in the media. But, everything she manifests comes true. Everything and anything. In the beginning, she would think everything was a coincidence and she would only manifest things like finding money on the floor, etc. But one day, she gets in a really big fight with her mother and out of rage, she wishes for her mom to die. The next day, the girl gets picked up from school by her mother and they end up getting in a car crash, resulting in her mother's death. From this point on, she realizes how powerful she is and manifests everything she ever wanted in life.

For the opening title sequence, it would be this girl in her room scrolling through instagram and seeing a video about manifestation. It would end with her trying it and it coming true.

IDEA 4

The fourth and final idea I came up with is about this teenager who runs away from home. The whole movie would just about where this kid goes and the struggles and hardships they face from running away from the police, house hopping, sleeping on the streets etc.

For the opening title sequence, I would want the film to start out when the teenager wakes up early in the morning and packs their bags (just essentials and a few change of clothes, also maybe steals cash from parents) . They then call a friend, asking if they can stay at their house for the night, then break the phone so they can't be traced. The opening sequence would end when the teen leaves their house and starts walking down the road.