Opening sequence still analysis

 

The use of shot is important on the third still in order to show the characters status. It is mid shot at a slightly lower angle which connotes the character has some power or status within the film/TV show but is used as a somewhat emotionally neutral shot which is matched through the characters actual expression.  

The editing within this shot is important as it shows the genre and give more information about characters and plot. Here we have half the character cut out with something fading in, in its place. This is used to show the drama/thriller genre through things related to crime fading in which will interest the audience and connote to them the genre. It also shows more about the character and may be foreboding something bad will happen to the character since the use of half of his figure is a significant part of the shot, could connote it could be a signigificant part of the narrative. Another important part of the editing is the use of the faded out colour to make everything almost black and white, which could be connoting about the plot line and also the time period, as it could be connoting the age of the character or when the plot is based. 

The Mise-en-Scene is used well here to show more about the character and give him some development before we even see the show. Costume is used effectively with him denoting a suit, which connotes he is the protagonist and is the “True Detective”; with a high status, suit wearing detective protagonist which is a typical convention to thriller/drama narratives, meaning people will know exactly what genre they're watching when they see the opening. Lighting is also used effectively with a lot of shadows falling across his face. This is used to emphasise the dark creases on his face which could connote his age and experience, reinforcing him being the protagonist, and could also be used to connote a dark past he is trying to hide or just the darkness in his life in the form of crime. The actor used is effective, as the actor is a middle aged American, with defined features which would suit the character of a detective. 

The use of shot is important in the fourth still in order to show the genre and plot line. It is low angle mid shot which connotes that the character is falling, which along with how he’s positioned is meant to make us feel like we’re falling with him; this makes us empathise with him.

The editing is one of the most important parts of the editing in this opening to show the genre and give more information about characters and plot. Here we have a shot of underground red lights, much like from the red light district in famous cities, which has a low opacity so that we can see the shot of the man falling, through it. This is used to look like the lights are bullets being fired through the man, with the red connoting blood, crime and danger. This editing also is used to forebode the relationship between the red light district, crime and murder.

The Mise-en-Scene is used well here to show more about the character and plot and give some development before we even see the show. The costume is used effectively with how they use a well-dressed man with glasses to be the victim. This works better because it makes him seem like a typical citizen, who wouldn’t be involved in crime, which emphasise the brutality of the murder; if they had used someone who looked like a gangster the shock impact would be softened. The lighting is used effectively as they have made the contrast between the dark shot of the lights to the shot of the man significant, which shows the contrast between the man’s lifestyle (based on his costume) and the murder. The setting is also important as the cloudy sky as a background as it’s very dark and dreary, which could connote how the crime wave hangs over the city like a cloud.

 The typography is also another important part of the editing as it connotes a lot about the genre. The typography is a serif font that's thin and is similar to the typewriter fonts we see in old detective movies, this is important as it connotes the genre and plot line as well as seeming formal and dramatic. It's also either in black or white for most of the piece except the title comes up in red, which connotes danger and crime, like blood and the red light district, which means the audience knows the genre based off just the title.

Overall the titles in an opening influence the thriller genre in many ways as they are the first thing the audience sees, and create an important first impression that determines whether a viewer will continue watching. They must have the same conventions of the camerawork, editing, mise-em-scene as the thriller genre in order to be successful in creating an effective narrative and supsenseful, dramatic atmosphere.