Thursday 29 October 2015

Media Essay, Title sequence, 'Gone Girl'

Psychological thriller, 'Gone Girl' is a 2014 movie about Nick Dunne and his wife Amy starred by Ben Affleck and Rosamund Pike. The equilibrium is interrupted when Amy Dunne goes missing and Nick is put under the light of accusations.


In the title sequence the movie doesn't start until 30 seconds into the production. The very start of the movie the producers logos are shown in this case it is twentieth century fox and regency enterprises. Regency enterprises includes a library of over 100 titles and distributes it's film worldwide, connoting the film will have a wider broad target audience as it is issued worldwide. Also before the movie starts a black screen with the graphics, 'a David Fincher film'. The typography of the name, 'David Fincher' is capitalised, enlarged and bolded to engage the attention of the target audience, connoting it has important information as it will be the first thing they will notice and remember. For the demographic whom have seen a film directed or produced by David Fincher will have an understanding into his style in his films and can signify and predict the style or theme of the film they are about to watch.

The lighting used is low key throughout the production, this conforms to the expectations of a thriller movie, as the dark shadow like scenes connote a weary tone in the atmosphere. Lighting is a clever way to set the mood for the rest of the film and shift emotions onto the audience. For example, 'Gone Girl' uses low key lighting throughout the title sequence connoting the rest of the movie to conform to this theme, and making the demographic  become sad and weary for the characters in the narrative. 


In the title sequence for, 'Gone Girl' all the shots are long and paced connoting the tiresome and lack of fight the husband has which is clear in his voice within the voice over. Camerawork such as panning is mostly used, this technique shows more area than the frame can hold, or reveals more information. For example, one of the ending shots is an establishing shot of a neighbourhood, the camera slowly and steadily pans to another house, connoting the importance of that house. This makes the house stand out and create enigma within the demographic of why the house has such great importance and who lives there. The reduced sign outside of the house, signifies the house is empty and had been for a long time (since the price as been reduced), leaving the target audience with enigma to how this house will tie in and play a part in the narrative. 


Within the most effective title sequences the narrative is restricted however giving enough subliminal hints to keep the audience engaged and hooked, to watch the rest of the film. In the film opening the only information we are given is that the husband is very confused by his wife and whats to know what she's thinking and doesn't seem happily married to her this is all signified from the voice-over where the male protagonist says, 'When i think of my wife... i think of spooling her brain, trying to get answers.' This isn't a normal statement to infer to your wife, this leads to connotations of conflict forming between them within the past, that still lingers in their presence. Non-diegetic soundtrack is continuous throughout the film opening as a soft low harmony soundtrack. That is parallel and synchronous to the images however contrapuntal and asynchronous to the voice-over of the protagonist saying, 'When i think of my wife....cracking her skull and spooling her brains to find the answer.' This connotes a conflict grown between them leaving the demographic in enigma. The two different sounds juxtapose each other. With the voice-over over-powering the soundtrack- drowning it out. Signifies that the sweet harmony of the non-diegetic soundtrack is just a cover up to disguise the truth, and the conflicts of their unusual marriage.

The website which the title sequence was found was: Art of the title.

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