Individual Task - Research on opening title sequence - Seven

Film Researched – Seven

Directed by – David Fincher

Genre – Crime/Thriller

Plot – In an unidentified city of near-constant rain and urban decay, the soon-to-be retiring Detective William R. Somerset (Freeman) is partnered with short-tempered Detective David Mills (Pitt) who recently transferred to the department. They find themselves jointly investigating a series of ritualistic murders inspired by the seven deadly sins.

Link to film – http://www.artofthetitle.com/2008/03/26/se7en/

Camera work

The camera work in my chosen opening title sequence, (seven) is very interesting and important for the style of film it’s portraying, crime. The only camera shots used are all close ups or extreme close ups, which are all of the killers work, such as drawings, writing, books, scissors, and pictures. These camera shots all blend in well with the titles, which are both presented on either a black still image or as part of the shot. Other camera techniques are used like Pan, although only slightly towards the end as the camera follows the side of what appears to be books or records. The way the camera work has been used is very important as it is almost difficult to understand what you are seeing, which has purposely been done to leave the audience with questions and draw them more into the film. Some of the camera shots shown are on props from upside down or from strange angles which is interesting as it gives an unbalanced surrounding and plays with the audience imagination.

Editing

The editing in the opening sequence plays a major role on the genre of the film and how the audience are going to interpret ate it. Each clip cuts quite sharp, which makes the audience unable to see fully what is happen, or what is in the shot. The pace of the editing and effects used to dilute the shots makes it seem almost like a blur, or a dream. The editing combines well with the sound as it follows the music’s tempo and builds up near the end for suspense. The technique of building up the editing towards the end creates a real mood of thrill and is to me very much like a heart beating faster and faster. This can have the audience on edge and make there hearts beat faster and faster, really involving them in the film. The lighting used throughout the sequence is very dark and plane, indicating it’s not so happy side.

Sound

The music and different sound effects really create a dark, terrifying atmosphere. The different effects used are almost uneasy to listen to, which tell the audience that this killer is frightening and isn’t going to be easy to watch, or catch. It instantly draws you in and prepares you for the crime about to take place. As said before, the editing flows well with the music. As the tempo of the music builds up, so does the pace of editing and the music becomes loader and heavier. The music is very dark and grunge, immediately setting the scene.

Mise-en-scene

The mise-en-scene is very particular in the opening sequence to ‘Seven’. A lot of the props used are difficult to make out due to the style of the film and the tension it is creating, but we see books, pens, photos of people (victims?), scissors, tweezers, and pieces of hair. These props are all purposely arranged although when watching it, it’s like your watching shot after shot of random items. The colour of these props are all dainty and plain, indicating there secret of existence, as if we are seeing them from the shadow’s. Although most colours’ we see are mainly grey and black, we are introduced to the colour red. This could represent the power of the killer, and the blood of his victims. Other mise-en-scene we see is the killer’s hands which play a key role throughout the opening sequence. You can see that they have dirt under the nails, scratches, marks and plasters on which represent him to be a creepy, and dangerous.