Research: Watching Documentary

Lesson 1- An Intro to the Unit and Film Openings.'Watching' Documentary.

1) What does Thomas Sutcliffe mean when he says "Films need to seduce their audience into a long term commitment. While there are many types of seduction, the temptations to go for instant arousal is almost irrestistible."

-In my opinion, I think he means that the film must make the audience attracted and intrigued in the film to keep watching, meaning that they need to be instantly aroused to be commited to watch the whole film.

2) According to Director Jean Jacque Beineix, what are the risks of 'instant arousal'?

-Without the audience feeling 'instant aroused' it could make them loose insterest throughout the film making them not want to watch it till the end.

3) Explain why "a good beginning must make the audience feel that it doesn't know nearly enought yet, and at the same time make sure that idoesnt too little"

- I think that in a film the apoening should make the viewers intrigued so that they can ask themselves whats going to happen next. However, the title sequence should not give away the plot of the film to the audience otherwise they wouldnt want to watch it if they know whats going to happen.

4)Wht does critic Stanley Kauffmann describe as the clasic opening? why does this work? 

- He says that a classic shot to opena film is by using a panning shot that shows where the film is located e.g New York. Thsi works well because he uses a lot of close ups and shows the audience where the location of the film is and where the characters live.

5)Why is Kyle Cooper's title sequence to the film Seven so effective?

-The opening of 'Seven' is effective because it shows that of the characters, probably main, must have an obsession. We can see this as Cooper uses many different shots and sinister music to create tension for the audience, this would also show the audience what type of genre Kyle Cooper's film 'Seven' is.

6) What did Orson Welles want to achieve with his opening to the film A Touch of Evil? What did Universal Studios do to it? Why?

-Orson Welles wanted to avhieve an openingtitle without music invovled or title credits which makes the audience intrigued. On the other hand his idea was not liked by Universal Studios as they thought it would make people watch it. In the end they added the credits.

7) What was meant by "a favourite trick of Film Noir"? What is the trick?

-"a favourite trick of Film Noir£ means when the ending of the film also becomes the opening of the film. This shows the audience what will happen but would make them more attentive into how it happen.

8) How does the opening to the film The Shining create suspense?

-The opening of "The Shining" creates suspense because it ises a high angle to show that the car is being followed by the helicopter, this makes the audience intrigues and tensed as they would want to know the car is being chased.