Analysis of Student Film Openings

Not Quite Alive But Definitely Kicking

• Smooth camera movements from television and out of window at the beginning look almost crane-like
• Establishing shot of the street at the beginning of the opening is like a premontition as to what happens at end with the boy being eaten by zombies in the middle of the same street.
• Good use of camera angles - canted angle of zombies coming over the fence suggests confusion and the zombies' lack of control; extreme close up on zombie's face shows the difference between humans and zombies; the circle pan of the 2 humans shows terror (suggests their heads are spinning/they don't know what to do) and facial expressions; low angle shot shows frantic fighting; use of slow-mo shows fight and who's got the upper hand.
• Good juxtaposition of comedic music against horror story.
• Music fits when zombies charge (builds up to that point).
• Music has been edited well to fit the cuts and zooms at the end with high Scream music before playing off into the comedic music.
• Flows well, very easy to understand what's going on.

Awake

• Opening titles of production companies look very professional (real production company logos may have been used).
• Music flows well and effectively from titles into first shot.
• Tracking of the running girl is very smooth, there are no sudden jerks.
• Good use of sound to build tension.
• Lyrics in the song that comes on the radio say: 'I'm gunna getcha one way or another' - a clever premonition for the audience of the theme of what the film is to be about and what might happen, whereas the character is completely unknowing and oblivious as to what is going to happen to her and is going about everyday life; doing normal things like making tea, however the audience knows something is wrong.
• Very good changes to the volume of the music.  The further away the camera gets the quieter and more muffled the music which is very eerie; especially during the handheld shot outside the girls' kitchen window.  The continuity of this music is also very good and gives an idea of the time-scale (there is another person outside at the same time the girl is in the kitchen).
• I jumped at the part when the girl was pointing at the photo and there was a knock at the door.  Surely this is a good response to get when making a horror film.
• Titles are in the wrong order - the film title being at end of the opening makes it seem like a trailer, as well as the fact it is left on a cliffhanger.

The Hunted

• Good, clear titling and effects at the beginning of the opening, however the titles are in the wrong order.
• It is unprofessional how the music changes suddenly from the titles to the start of the shots.
• Very good editing and cross-cuts create confusion (some canted angles aid this).
• Unrealistic breathing and sound effects suggest the film is set on a different planet or someone (of whom, the audience do not know) is very confused.  The changing colours also suggest this.
• The opening is a fairly long and repeats the same/similar shots: the audience becomes disinterested.
• Quite a good ending as it hooks the audience as they want to find out 'what happens next?', although it is like an ending of a whole film.

The Abduction

• Titles at the beginning of the opening distract (titles need to be more discrete) from very good cross-merges of shots.
• Effective when the tracking shot of the man focuses on the building in the distance that is introduced to the audience in next shot; there has obviously been lots of thought behind this.
• Good editing when the beaty music fades onto a black screen and calmer music begins before the tilt on the building (which looks very professional).
• The black and white/dulled effect works well on the piece as a whole - it creates a dreary, miserable atmosphere.
• Speech (script) is very realistic and well put-together.
• Good use of close-up camera shots through the bobbing heads shows the true-to-life frantic nature of the paparazzi to get a story.
• Clever cross cuts between the storyteller and the story taking place with the camera shots.  This makes the storyline very understandable to audience and more interesting with the visual aid.  
• The whole of the opening has been very professionally-done: the acting is all very good; none of the shots are rushed; the pace of the opening is very good and even throughout; the variety of camera shots are effective and well-placed (they didn't use them just for the sake of using a range of different shots - they all work and have been obviously thought-through) and do not confuse the audience.
• Film title is at end of the opening; like a trailer.

The Memoirs of Eric Heider

• Could have made the film title stand out more from the other titles, as it is not obvious to the audience that it is the film title.  Other than that, the titles are very good.  They are well-placed and do not detract from the shots and the action happening in them.
• Film titles appear on beats in the music which is very effective and brings the different elements together; which makes the opening flow.
• Good variety of camera angles and effects: high angle on man at the beginning shows his power; the increase in speed after throwing his keys shows his happiness and suggests walking down that pathway is something he does every day; use of slow-mo down steps shows his ease in his surroundings which suggests that everyday comes easy to him which has connotations of wealth.  The background music also suggests this, aswell as the stuck-up, bolshy-sounding narrative overlay of his voice which is stereotypical of the upper-class.
• Effective narrative overlay intrigues audience - why may we 'despise' the character so much?