Film Opening Research #2 - Interstellar

                                                      

                                                                             Interstellar Opening Scene     

1. How many titles are displayed during the opening sequences to the film? The only title displayed during the opening scene is the title of the movie at the beginning.
2. What images are prioritized in the opening sequence? The images prioritized in the opening sequence are shots that establish the setting. It shows wind blowing through a corn field and contrasts this with a dream of a jet flying through the sky and a man failing to control it and crashing. It combines this with the man waking up from this dream mixed with a documentary-style of interviewing old people who were probably alive during this time.
3. What connotations do the images carry? The connotations that the images carry are that something has happened that has changed the setting from what it used to be. It shows how windy, dusty, and barren it was, other than corn fields. The dream of the man flying the plane shows that he still thinks about this time and may either miss it or is still traumatized from it. The man looking out the window at the corn field shows that he is concerned about the future with the dust getting worse.
4. How is genre reinforced through symbolic and technical codes from the outset? This genre is reinforced through the setting being barren. It may be seen as taking place in the future because of the increasingly concerning environmental issue. The technology of the jet looks different from jets we see today and more advanced, which makes it seem futuristic. The score was low, and then got louder, but it almost sounded vibrating, which makes viewers a bit uncomfortable or concerned. The colors are mostly dull and dark, which can create a sad and/or hopeless feeling.
5. How does the film establish an enigma [mystery] from the outset?. The film establishes enigma by contrasting the interview from flashbacks. It shows that these people survived the dust, but the man from the beginning is not there, so that makes viewers wonder where he went. It shows that he flew the plane, but probably doesn't anymore, so viewers may wonder if he stopped flying because of the crash or if he will ever fly again. The dust seems to be getting worse, so viewers will wonder how the people were able to survive it.
6. What strategies are used to ensure the film appeals to its target audience? This movie can appeal to many audiences, but it draws them in from the mystery that is set up in the beginning. People will wonder how or what things happened and that keeps them watching. The score building and getting quieter adds to the mystery.
7. How has technology been used effectively? Technology such as lighting creates suspense and concern when showing bits of character's faces in the dark. When the man looks out the window and sees the blue sky, it shows him looking concerned with a close-up, which emphasizes this emotion. The dull colors add to the suspense when contrasted with the more vibrant colors in the future scenes. The score adds to the suspense rising and falling to emphasize certain frames of the scene. In the plane crash scene, the camera shakes and alarms beep. Along with the wind sounds, this creates a sense of fear and being overwhelmed, only for viewers to learn that it was actually a flashback in a dream.