Analyzing the opening scenes of films

We used two separate lines to track the sound and emotion evoked by the openings. For different sound tracks and voice overs separate lines were drawn over and under the main base line. The emotion tracking line has separate screenshots coming off of it to show the events taking place.

Halloween 1978
This opening slowly built suspense through the increasingly dramatic non diegetic music and events occurring in the scenes. The opening scene began with an ordinary suburban house and the background music started slowly with diegetic crickets creating a sense of verisimilitude and a calm atmosphere before causing tension with a section of screechy sound. The tension then built as the music grew and became more sinister. The diegetic sounds also added to the ominous atmosphere such as the knife being pulled out of the draw and the girl screaming. Finally the opening finished with 'Michael?' this questioning tone leaves the viewer on a cliffhanger and prepares them for the rest of the film.

Trainspotting
The opening scene to trainspotting was very fast paced and started with action hooking the watcher instantly. The opening starts with fast beat background music which remains steady throughout the scenes. This steady music mean the viewer can focus on what the voice over is saying and what is happening on the screen. There are also diegetic sounds such as the car screech and shouting. After the fist section of voiceover the music increases in volume just before he contradicts what he has just said and the action on screen decreases as he lies on the floor contesting to the running at the beginning. This makes his declaration of going against the norms stand out and be more dramatic.

Amelie
Finally the opening to Amelie used many different diegetic sounds over the top of a base non diegetic track as well as having a voice over. The pictures on screen were very abstract in themselves but all came together as one.