Paid in Full - Opening Scene - Sound

Paid in Full - Opening Scene - Sound

After Wood Harris' character (being the protagonist) narrates the scene then dissolves to Cam'ron, Mekhi Phifer and Wood Harris sitting down having Chinese Carry-Out.

You hear eating over Cam'ron telling a story. Letting you know of course the sound accompanies what's going on in the movie. 

Then Mitch (Mekhi Phifer) and Ace Boogie (Wood Harris) have an argument about Soya Sauce, characterising both, letting you know they are friends and both hustlers arguing over something petty like Soya Sauce. Rico (Cam'ron) has to calm Mitch down, which had me thinking 'woah Mitch was really mad over some Soya Sauce huh'

Rico proceeds to tell his lame story. Mitch and Ace both tell Rico 'He's bugging' characterising Ace, letting the audience know he is the conscious one of the group being the protagonist. And Rico being the hot head without home training, eating with his mouth snapping. Mitch continues to moan at Rico for his callous acts, while eating ribs or something, you can hear him doing both, thus characterising Mitch. Personally the sound here made me laugh as they are having such a stupid conversation: Arguing over soya sauce, birthday cake and life rules at the same time over chinese carry out.

Ace realises how stupid and pointless arguing with Rico is so he scrunches up the take out holder and throws it in the bin, sparking a game of male egos, basketball with paper.

Rico then asks Ace to make the basketball shot again for 5 thousand dollars. Ace replies bragging about he doesn't need 5 thousand over basketball with paper. The sound here both characterises Rico and Ace again.

Rico moans at Ace for being to cautious, saving his money opposed to living the great hustler life, Mitch cuts in throwing a band of money on the table. The whole sound here, being dialogue, excites me as it's one of my favourite actors and rap personalities going toe-to-toe over basketball with paper.

Rico then taunts Mitch, Mitch responses like it's a real free-throw from Michael Jordan, hitting the bag in preparation, Rico cheering, sound indicating that Ace isn't bothered about this alpha male game.

Mitch makes the shot and silences Rico. Rico is left insulting Mitch whilst Mitch and Ace dap up in celebration of Mitch making 5 thousand. Then comes ad-libs/quotes from Rico which contain swearing so I can't quote myself. All the sound used here makes it authentic, makes me really feel like i'm there, like i'm one of Ace's confidants having Chinese with them, betting money over folly. 

Rico continues to taunt Mitch, throwing another 'band' on the table, saying "Double up, double up" This actually creates tension despite it not being a scene with any real gritty, grimy actions just a bet between fellow Harlem hustlers.

The sound coinciding with the visuals show that Mitch rimmed the shot. Creating a sense of sympathy for Mitch knowing he just lost 20 Grand or something over paper bag basketball. The sound here characterises all in that it shows the hot head Rico trying to punk Mitch, Ace not caring at all, and Rico in triumph over winning 20 grand.

The silence from everyone is evident as the background music, being rap from the era, booms over with only Rico taunting Mitch to be heard alongside. The sound here sets the sombre moment of the scene.

Then the funniest part of the whole sequence changes the pace and tone of the scene in Rico taking Mitch's food away in probably the second best quote from the movie behind "What's popping Kermit?"... "No ribs, no rice, no champagne... You don't eat nothing." This makes me laugh every time I see the movie, the sound in the form of dialogue makes this scene a classic.

Skipping a bit of Rico's taunts, snapping while eating and Mitch whining about being in debt, Ace states "I'm not paying for your paper bag games" characterising all three characters at the same time.

The scene ends with a phone call for Ace which at this time the audience don't know what is for, however when the story unfolds we know this was in fact foreshadowing what is yet to come. 

Overall, the sound from Paid in Full's classic opening sequence made me laugh, while at the same time made me know the characters before the movie started and worked as a weird deterrence and contradict to the glamour of a hustler's life.

Credits / Titles

 Hunger Games: Catching Fire - Opening titles

Production Companies
Actors
Casting
Music
Costume designer
Editor
Producer
Director
Executive producers
Any story line relations - credit to that based on true story / author
Screenplay
Written

For further research I saw Spider Man 3's order of credits which included more. The list is:

Production companies
Film studios
Name of film
Actors
Casting by
Visual effects supervisor
Original music themes by
Score by
Costume designer
Film editor
Production designers
Director of photography
Executive producers
Executive producer
Produced by
Based on
Screen story by
Screenplay by
Directed by

I also researched Zombieland:

Production Companies
Main Actors
Casting
Costume
Music
Editors
Production Designer
Director of Photography
Executive Producers
Producer
Writers
Director

Belly - Opening Scene - Sound

Belly - Opening Scene - Sound

The first sound you hear is like impact with thunder in the background. Naturally this gets your heart going and you know the movie is going to be gritty and grimy like a Hip Hop movie should be. This sound sound-bridges onto the next title. This sound then trickles out to sound like the rolling of a movie tape as screen moves right. This lets you know something is about to happen and gets you hyped up for DMX about to start the opening sequence with sound.

Starting off with a famous DMX line: "I sold my soul to the devil and the price was cheap" from Let Me Fly. It accompanies the actual picture going on of a boy doing a satanic ritual. This line is set there to foreshadow DMX's character and the underworld theme of the movie.

After another line follows which rhymes letting you know DMX is rapping acapella for the opening scene and every line he says will match what happens in the movie. Naturally being a fan of New York Hip Hop this excites me letting me know a prominent figure in the industry is going to be the main character of a the movie ahead.

After DMX says "It's 2 O'clock and I'm just about to hit the streets". Instantly giving away his character as either a drug dealer or someone going to a party. Again coinciding with the picture as it shows a street sign.

"Until I knock off this rock, I don't get to eat" This let's you know he is in fact a hustler and not going to a party (Which he/his team does at the end of the sequence but oh well...). In this circumstance DMX's line doesn't coincide with the picture.

Skipping two lines... DMX says: "Ain't no real dough" showing his life, letting the audience know he may be a conscious hustler (Which he isn't). As he talks about his trouble with money and how pointless all this crime he does for it is there is a money counter in the background and the beautiful sound it makes at the end 'EEEEEEE'. Personally, his words create pathos but the picture makes me happy as I love that sound.

Skipping forward a bit to 1.04 DMX has now stopped rapping and the screen blacks out. Introducing the last production company title as the spliff burns. You can hear the literal sound of smoking and this to me gets me hyped to see what's about to happen next. 

As the spliff is tossed out of the black BMW/Mercedesesque typical hustler car the squad gets out to some somewhat gospel music which is a contradiction to the acts at hand. Then the 'ahaaaa' adlib comes in as DMX steps on the spiff. 

However, soon after the is an introduction to singing with actual words not just adlibs comes in as the clique get into the night club, letting you know it's not going to be a dreary conscious rant again in fact some action is about to happen. "Cold fresh air" is sang by the singer which is funny as it's the opposite to all connotations of a night club. Personally I got excited thinking it was gonna be like the scene from New Jack City and have Flava Flav say "YEAH BOIIIII'. 

"Take a look around" Coincides with the movement of Nas and suits his first real introduction in the movie. 

After you hear "However do you want it" and everyone in their mind says 'Yeah I know that song!' and you feel like you wanna get up and dance around in your socks.

Opening Scene - Titles

Zombie Land - Opening Scene - Titles

starting from 0.15 to accompany the action exaggeratedly satirical feel of ZombieLand comes the slow motion throwing of prison sniper from his roof by a jail inmate. The title is then ran through as if it's a finish line by man thrown off the tower to give an exciting interactive feel.

This imploding and gradually scattering of select letters of titles is a film throughout the opening scene title sequence as the next title (0.24) shows us. As the zombies throws up blood it intrudes the fixation of the title sequence again giving an interactive feel.

at 0.29 the title is in the background on the wall and to the left, however still in main sight. This is done as this mention is not a main contributor to the movie and thus doesn't need the validation of the previous companies, therefore placed on the sideline. Again the theme of letters breaking away is present.

at 0.34 Woody Harrelson's name is present in the middle underneath the hobo's ironic sign. This is of course as Woody Harrelson plays a main character in the movie and is a veteran actor, thus taking the middle screen spot for his title. The theme of the letters being touched by something and breaking off is still present, as well as slow motion.

at 0.39 Jesse Eisenberg's title is present to the left however still the front of the screen so the viewer can tell he's a main character, in this instance the actual main character. This title is only fixated at the left as if it was in the middle it would intrude action and give an unnatural feel, potentially veering the viewer's point of interest away from the action. Again following all the previous themes.

0.44 Emma Stone's title follows in the same sequence on the right to show just like Jesse she is a main character. Her title is on the right to the opposite of Jesse's, foreshadowing the story as they become lovers at the end. Her title too follows the same theme principles.

0.49 The other main character gets her title at the bottom right of the picture as she is the least prominent of the characters and also not to distract the viewer from the action. The theme does not change for her either.

0.57 After one more scene without titles the main title appearing in the middle boldly to of course remind the viewer of the movie name. This is put in the middle for emphasis and is so big as it's the most important title of them all. It again follows the theme of slowly breaking away and being interactive as it is hit with a crow bar through glass.

Overall, the titles are regular with a five second showing for them. They all follow the theme of being interactive and in slow motion as the actual sequence is too. All titles are the same font and size except the actual name of the film as that's the most important title.

Movie Opening Scenes

Superman - Man of Steel - Opening Scene

 

Starting off with a black screen to prepare the audience for the high key lighting about to come in. First seen is the mother, this is known by the pain on her face, hinting at child birth. This is accompanied by an out of focus shot to show a feeling of distortion to emphasise the mother's pain. This is all filmed in a close up to get all the facial expressions in.

Shortly following it cuts to a silver heart looking thing. This instantly gives away the genre of sci-fi. After a short two shot of the mother and i'm guessing father (by using initiative and the fact this same hand appeared gracing hers with a grip earlier) it then cuts to a more scenery filled shot with the transformation of a weird silver heart beat to a baby on a monitor, furthermore indicating the genre of the movie.

The father's face is now introduced in a two shot with the mother, this is shown incorporating mise-en-scene where the father is wearing a silver jacket and the mother brandishing tribal looking robes, again using mise-en-scene to indicate genre. -- 0.00-0.29

0.53 - There is now a long-shot of the baby(seeing that it does involve all body parts), as the title is Superman: Man Of Steel, it is made obvious to the viewer that this is indeed the birth of Superman.

There is now a two shot of the baby and father, the father being the made object of the shot despite not being in the middle of the shot. The father has the lighting focused on him so the viewer can see the expression on his face, furthermore prognosticating the decision yet to come by the bond from the son and father, seen through lighting being focused on his facial expressions.

1.04 - To put all our minds at ease and finally reveal the movie is going to be a sci-fi flick, there is a shot of the scenery of the supposed planet they are on. Featuring an unknown animal to us in the center of the shot. Zooming out to the sunrise to show the birth a new born king.

  

 Snatch - Opening Scene

Starting off with speech from the 4 soon to be robbers. The location of the robbery. Nothing indicates it's a burglary yet. In fact the mise-en-scene represents the actors as orthodox jews. The high security at the start, present in the mise-en-scene letting the viewer know they are going through a security check, does in fact hint at a burglary or something suspicious, given the films genre. There is the effect of a security tape, through a monitor and in black and white. This effect in turn tells the reader it's security footage.There is an effect on the tracking of the two Jewish men in which as the characters walk the the left so does the camera and in turn switching monitor to the left. This concept edit draws in the viewer as it's unusual also fitting to show the progress of movement. This same effect is further used when they proceed to walking into the lift. Props wise in the background of the men there is a no smoking sign in a foreign language, this also is a give away to the setting. As the four Jewish men go up in the lift another concept edit is used in the metaphor of going up in a lift meaning going up on the security monitor. The scene continues on with concept edits until the characters are all on the final monitor and one character lets out an English accent. Letting the viewer know these men are frauds and due to the genre this is a heist of some sort. The effect of a wipe of screen is used as there is a continuation of sound through the screen changing effect.

In fact it is unfortunate this footage is longer as later on in the opening scene when the heist actually happens through mise-en-scene Brad Pitt is revealed prognosticating his role throughout the film as a 'pikey'. Guy Ritchie also uses edits going into dual screen showing different characters doing different things during the heist, this gives an uptempo off beat feel to the movie, also contributing to the genre of action.

Zombieland - Opening Scene

0.00: To me this is the indubitably, undisputed, undefeated best opening scene of all time. Scene starting with a sound-bridged transition from a black screen to the American flag seen to be as if it's on the presidents cavalcade. This let's the viewer instantly know the setting of the movie, USA, and in this particular part of the movie Washington DC. This is fitting seeing that the narrator is sound-bridging the scene telling the audience about the zombie apocalypse in America. The black screen with a sound-bridge also let's the audience know the movie is starting so they better pay attention. 

Then the camera pans around awkwardly to give a POV effect filled with action shots to see guns, the White house and burning cars and the BOOM in your face a zombie to end all viewers question on genre. The camera jogs to give a more POV view to show both that the camera man is running to get away from the zombie, during this the camera displays the zombie in both medium and long shots showing again the natural bounce while running with a camera to create a POV shot. To make it obvious to viewers the person that is now getting eaten is the camera man there is an effect to represent the breaking of a screen and the occurrence of minor distortion to the viewing experience to show both the viewer is now in trouble and the camera is broken. - 0.39

0.55 to 1.07 - Starting with a rather plump man running in slow motion with a medium shot. Then posting a sub title of 'CARDIO' beating to emulate the pumping of a heart and give the audience an interactive feel. To show the pace difference between both the fat man and the zombie the camera then tracks the lateral movement of both in a medium two shot. Then transitioning to very quick close-up-action-two-shot to show the man has been caught. Then cutting to an extreme long shot to show the zombie devouring the man.

1.10 to - In three seconds there is an extreme-long-action shot to show the car crash, then a close up up the two cars to show the crash happening then a crane shot to see both the devastation of the crash and reaction of the sheriff. Mise-en-scene let's the audience know this happening is also in a metropolis and the costume of the man on the right lets the audience know he is a sheriff. There is then a long two shot of the zombies scurrying through the destruction. Then an action shot to the sheriff getting hit by a car and carrying on, emphasising to the audience that this man is no longer just a sheriff yet a zombie too. Then two quick cuts the second being a tracking of two people in the form of a worm's eye view shot to show the panic. Then a medium shot tracking the sheriff till the shot pans over to show the next title 'Double Tap' which is interactive like the last title considering a zombie in the background splits the title which is turned 270 degrees anti-clockwise. Proceeding to an action shot of the sheriff getting shot. Then a reaction-medium shot to woman who shot the viewer: She shot the sheriff but she did not shoot the deputy. Exceberating the dire times.

Opening Scene Ranking

1. 12B2 Snakes & Ladders: Despite looking to me as if it was a spin off from the BBC daytime soap, Doctors, this was the best in my books. It was so corny but working so well cohesively. The two perspectives worked so well and were full of a different range of camera shots. Above all the ending was the best, it really felt like an opening sequence.

2. 12E10 The Slayer: Poor music overshadowed performance - Good setting

3. 12E8 Deception: The metaphor of waking step by step and switching to abuse worked well

4. 12B6 The Resistance: I thought it was amazing, I was dazzled by the red subtitles to tell you the target and let you know what is going on. UNTIL the opening scene turned into an interview of a slumber party in a shed, I was so confused. Then I had to deal with a seven second black out to which I threw my papers up high, folded my arms and gave up. It did not cause tension, it merely wasted seven seconds of my life. I know now that pauses do not cause tension, especially if they are a ridiculous length.

Unfortunately, Chris and I were so heavily into the opening scenes we were watching didn't get to complete them all. However from what we did watch we can rank best to worst

9. 1962: An abysmal attempt to say the least. It didn't veer away from any cliches from girls screaming in the woods and the whole horror genre. The script was ridiculous and the story line was in no way clear. However, I refuse to let it be the worst as they did in fact use the camera and certain shots to foreshadow and give information.

10. Chroniker: It felt as if the opening scene was shouting at me. Credits rolled from start to finish and blurred the whole video, my attention was on the spinning fancy credits instead of the actual opening scene at hand. There was about two moments where there weren't any unnecessary spilt screen effects. The music was a complete contradiction to the story and above all monotonous. The storyline was not clear at all.

11. Bacterium: Seeing them all together I can see why this isn't officially the worst, however to me this is. The nuclear green titles frustrated me, the tracking of him walking for what seemed so long made me want to scratch my face. I guess there were some ups, the set up of The Boss' office was good and believable.

I have learned: I must steer clear of any unnecessary editing and putting in effects that confuse the story. Try to make elements revolving around guns as less cliche as possible. Don't get too involved with the story, focus on what picks up marks. Let the action come to the Intricate details accounts for a lot, don't try to be sloppy and remember to set our filming time and editing time out so we don't have to cram at the end.

The Selfish Giant

The Selfish Giant

The Selfish Giant's genre is Social Commentary/Realist
The film's budget is £14Million

The Selfish Giant's Twitter:

The Selfish Giant's Facebook:

As you can see Facebook adds a promotional value as it can let those that know about the page follow promotion events held by The Selfish Giant

Some Selfish Giant photos:

I can't find the official website for The Selfish Giant ?

The first exhibition of The Selfish Giant was 16th May 2013 at the Cannes Festival

Cinema's currently hosting The Selfish Giant are: 

Soho Curzon, Wimbledon Curzon, Genesis Cinema Mile End, Brixton Ritzy, Peckham Plex, Lexi Cinema, Wimbledon Film Club 

Reviews:

An affectingly truthful movie that touches the heart as it holds a fabulist mirror up to reality, enriching the traditions of homegrown drama, and confirming Barnard as a major voice of modern British cinema. - Observer UK

The Selfish Giant is a stunning film, almost literally so in the sense that it leaves you dazed with its forensic and uncompromising depiction of Britain on the breadline, as well as its achingly sad ending. - Daily Mail UK

A terrific human drama about two boys about to be consigned to the scrapheap, with standout performances from its young leads. - Empire Magazine

The Selfish Giant is one of the great modern British films. - Financial Times

Awards the film has won: