Research -Se7en

Se7en (Cooper, 1995)




Camera

• Only close ups are used throughout the whole opening sequence

The use of close ups throughout the whole of the opening sequence create a lot of questions that the audience want answering, (narrative enigma). Because of all of the close ups used the audience only get to see certain parts of what is happening, this helps to create the unknowing factor which is part of the conventions of a Thriller.

Editing

• Mostly straight cuts are used but they are all very fast
• The title sequence are edited so that it looks like they are being played through an old fashioned projector

The use of the very fast straight cuts help to make the opening sequence seem very different and it feels as if the narrative is not really began to be explained, this helps to give the ideas of a complex narrative structure which is one of the characteristics of a Thriller film. The titles played through the projector style helps to link the title sequence with the montage that is happening in the background, it also helps to make the titles seem a lot more interesting.

Mise-en Scene

• The opening sequence is filled with the close ups of different parts relating to a 'stalker theme' with such things as: pictures of people, finger tips, writing in diaries etc

One of the clips shown in the opening sequence

These small clips are all centered around the 'stalker theme' this is because this is also a characteristic of the Thriller film genre through the idea of crime. They all show a different way of how this character work giving the audience a lot of narrative enigma to the opening sequence.

Sound

• The opening sequence is a montage the soundtrack that this is to sounds very mechanical and is very repetitive

The use of the repetitive noises helps to create a creepy atmosphere as the soundtrack is not something that we would generally hear being played unless some kind of atmosphere was being created.

Creating Tension

The use of the close up clips helps to create a large amount of tension in the opening sequence as all of the audience are wondering what the character is about, and what is going to happen next. This also links to the idea of the complex narrative structure.

The soundtrack used helps to create tension in this opening sequence as it creates an uneasy atmosphere, because the soundtrack is very modern and different which connects with the short clips that are being played on the screen.

Opening Titles

New Line Cinema presents
An Arnold Kopelson Production

One of the opening titles.

A film by David Fincher
Brad Pitt
Morgan Freeman
Se7en
Gwyneth Paltrow
Richard Roundtree
R. Lee Ermey
John C, Mcginley
Julie Araskog, Mark Boone Junior
John Cassini, Reginald E Cathey, Peter Crombie
Hawthrorne James, Michael Massee, Lelan Orser
Richad Partnow, Richard Schiff, Pamala Tyson
Casting by Billy Hopkins, Suzanne Smith, Kerry Borden
Music By Howard Shore
Costumes Designed by Michael Kaplan
Edited by Richard Francis-Bruce
Production designed by Arthur Max
Director of Photography Darius Khondji
Co-Produceers Stephen Borwn, Nana Greenwold, Sanford Paritch
Co-Executive Producers Lynn Harris, Richard Saperstain
Executive Producers Gianni Numari, Dan Kolsrud, Anne Kapleson
Written by Andrew Kevin Walker
Produce by Arnold Koplesan, Phyliss Carlyle
Directed by David Fincher


These are all of the titles used in the opening of Se7en

• They are placed randomly on screen and appear as if they have been placed on a old fashioned projector
• They are small in size and written in a handwritten style font
• The names are always bigger than what they did e.g. producer
• The people who are more famous (actors) are placed at the beginning of the Opening Sequence