Watchings Documentary; Extension Task

1.) What does Thomas Sutcliffe mean when he says “Films need to seduce their audience into a long term commitment. While there are many types of seduction, the temptation to go for instant arousal is almost irresistible”

Thomas Sutcliffe is suggesting that if directors want their audience to watch the entire movie, they need to be drawn in and interested. Therefore, the film will need to have an intriguing and effective opening to the film that will interest the viewer.  Film Openings typically set the mood for the rest of the film and lets the audience know the situation. The audience will in the first few minutes of the film decide whether they will like or even bother to watch the film; Hence, the opening needs to be able to capture the full attention and interest of the audience.. 

2.) According to Director Jean Jacques Beineix, what are the risks of  ‘Instant Arousal’?

According to Director Beineix, the risks of 'instant arousal' is the question that is raised of what to do next? Beineix says that if your start the movie very strongly and you have encaptured and 'aroused' the interests of  the audience, you need to ask yourself what you need to do next to keep their interest at the same level. 

3.) Explain why  “A good beginning must make the audience feel that it doesn’t know nearly enough yet, and at the same time make sure that it doesn’t know too little.'

This is a good opening because the audience is given an idea of what the film is about and little clues of the plot or significant events to occur in the film will be shown in the opening. However, at the same time not too much of the film should be given away because the events should unravel throughout the course of the film so that the audience is always interested.

4.) What does critic Stanley Kauffmann describe  as the classic opening?Why does this work?

Kauffmann describes an establishing shot of  New York City as a classic opening. Starting with a close up of a building, then the camera scales up the building to a window, the camera then goes inside the window; rushing  past the receptionist desk and into the private office. This simple classic opening is effective because it carries the audience through the process to show the setting and where the first scene is to take place.


5.)  Why is Kyle Coopers opening sequence to the film 'Seven' so effective?

Kyle Cooper's  title sequence to the film 'Seven' is very effective because it introduces the audience to a pitch and tone that aren't quite compatible; thus creating a peculiar effect. Also, the  opening font of the cast fits in with the ambiguity of the movie and the non diegetic music also encourages this; building up tension.


6.) What did Orson Welles want to achieve with his opening to the film 'A Touch of Evil'? What did Universal Studios do to it? Why?

Orson Welles intended to start his movie without the credits and without title music because he wanted to push the  audience into the film straight away unexpectedly. Universal Studios included a score and the credits in the opening shot of the film because they were wary of the outcome. However, adding the score and credits took away the initial effect Welles wanted it to have on the audience disappointedly. 

7.) What is meant by “a Favorite trick of Film Noir"?  What is the trick?

The trick is beginning the film  with an event that happens at the end of the film; this makes it seem like this will ultimately be the  ending of the film so the audience know what will happen in the end but not the events occurring before it. This will make the audience want to stick to the film as they will feel like they have to find out what led to this event. 

8.) How does the opening to the film 'The Shining' create suspense? 

The opening to the film 'The Shining' successfully creates suspense because of the way the camera shots and the angles of the shots present the scene. The opening begins with a helicopter shot from above; this suggests that the helicopter is important. Then, the camera follows the car from behind (tracking) like a predator and this tells the audience that the people in the car are about to become involved in a tricky predicament. Also, the non diegetic music suggests this as it creates tension and a sense of pursuit of the car whilst the people inside unknowingly drive on.