Thriller Film Openings

The genre me and my group have selected for our film opening is the Thriller Genre. Three of my favorite movies that all have great openings with unique approaches and different techniques are Se7en (1995), No Country for Old Men (2007), and The Dark Knight (2008). These films' openings create tension, establish mood, and make the audience uneasy.

Se7en is a psychological thriller and sets the tone for the film's grim atmosphere. It starts with Detective Somerset (Morgan Freeman) preparing for his day in a ritualistic way, which creates order before the chaos of the violent murder he's about to investigate. The next scene introduces Mills (Brad Pitt), a young impulsive detective, setting up a father/son type dynamic between the two.

This opening establishes the film's tone and focus on process, and the key theme of the struggle between order and chaos (represented by Somerset and John Doe's crimes). It also establishes order in chaos and vice versa. Mills is impulsive and brings chaos to detective work and John Doe's journey suggests he's orderly and meticulous.

No Country for Old Men is a neo-noir thriller. It opens with wide shots of Texas accompanied by the Sheriff's narration about times changing and new violence. As he speaks,  Anton Chigurh (Javier Bardem) is introduced in a brutal sequence: strangling a deputy to death with his handcuffs, and then washing his hands emotionlessly.

The contrast between the calm landscapes and Chigurh's immediate violence establishes this "unstoppableness". Throughout the film, Chigurh is a force of nature, executing people as an instrument of fate. The opening sets this up in a powerful way. There's no music, the voiceover sets up the dread that runs through the movie, and even the simple dialogue feels dangerous.

The Dark Knight is an action thriller, opening with a high stakes bank heist executed by master criminals. As they carry out their robbery, all of the robbers betray and kill each other, revealing they were all unknowingly following the Joker's plan. In the final moment, the last standing thief removes his mask, revealing the Joker (Heath Ledger), who makes a quick exit on a stolen school bus.

This sequence introduces the Joker as an agent of chaos and a powerful manipulator. He was able to orchestrate such a powerful self destruction. This precision shows the Joker's intelligence and makes him terrifying. 

All 3 films have very technically impressive film openings but also teach us how to hook the audience: Se7en builds atmosphere and mystery through unsettling visuals, No Country For Old Men establishes a sort of philosophical tone with its realism and The Dark Knight grabs attention with action.

I'll think about how I can bring these lessons into my film opening.

Stay tuned.

Genre and Two of My Favorite Films

After explaining my interest in openings that establish either character or conflict in my last post, I wanted to dive deeper into genres that may match these approaches to film openings and two of my favorite movies.

The first genre I'd like to explore is the Coming of Age genre. Coming of Age films are usually categorized by a youth to maturity arc, personal growth, and identity crisis. Some classic CoA films are Stand By Me (1986), The Breakfast Club (1985), and Dead Poets Society (1989). Some modern examples include Lady Bird (2017), Boyhood (2014), and The Perks of Being a Wallflower (2012). 

CoA films are a mix of nostalgia and self-discovery and often blend with romance,  drama, or comedy. One of my favorite CoA films combines with the latter, comedy. 

Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986) is a high energy teen fantasy. A charismatic high schooler, Ferris Bueller fakes sick to skip school and goes on an adventure in Chicago with his girlfriend Sloane and best friend Cameron, all while dodging his principal.

It's opening establishes character in a nonconventional way, let's explore it.

The film begins with a cold open on Ferris in bed, already scheming. After tricking his parents, he breaks the fourth wall, talking to us directly and letting us in on his con. The tone is playful and Ferris embodies the archetype of the older brother. Our point of view is in a way like a second person's, we learn about characters and the world through Ferris' lens. Ferris's charisma and character is immediately developed.

Although I don't think a CoA comedy will be right for our group's project as it would require really good acting, Ferris Bueller teaches us that we can develop characters in a nonlinear way.

The second genre I'd like to explore is the Drama genre. Drama is one of the largest genres there is, and as such some of the most classic and renowned films belong to the drama genre. These include The Godfather (1972) , 12 Angry Men (1957), and the film I'll be exploring, one of my personal favorites The Shawshank Redemption (1994). 

The Shawshank Redemption has probably been called "the" movie. It's #1 on IMDB and considered by many the greatest film of all time. It embodies the other approach I mentioned in my first blog - establishing conflict.

It starts with a mystery-driven flashback of Andy Dufresne's trial, presented almost like a crime noir film. We have an unreliable perspective, and a non-linear puzzle. Tension and a melancholic tone is immediately established.

Compared to Ferris Bueller, the tone is extremely serious. Fate seems stacked against Andy, and while Ferris pulls you in with charm, Shawshank pulls you down with weight.

Incorporating concepts from both openings, like perhaps the non-linear character building of Ferris and the serious tone of Shawshank, both achievable through editing (and perhaps mise-en-scene for the latter) could potentially go into my Film Opening, but I still have to consult my group and decide together.

Stay tuned.

Works Cited:

Kench, Sam. “Video: 3 Elements in the Best Coming of Age Movies.” StudioBinder, 25 Sept. 2023, www.studiobinder.com/blog/what-is-a-coming-of-age-movie-definition/#:~:text=A%20coming%20of%20age%20movie%20is%20centered%20around%20the%20themes,next%20stage%20of%20their%20life.

“Media Studies: Drama Films.” Vaia, www.vaia.com/en-us/explanations/media-studies/filmmaking/drama-films/#:~:text=Drama%20films%20are%20a%20genre,foster%20conflict%20and%20personal%20growth. Accessed 2 Feb. 2025.

“Ferris Bueller’s Day Off Opening Scene.” YouTube, YouTube, www.youtube.com/watch?v=qwDH3BpaCQI. Accessed 2 Feb. 2025.

“The Shawshank Redemption Opening Scene.” YouTube, YouTube, www.youtube.com/watch?v=MrpVQpKseXU. Accessed 2 Feb. 2025.

Transitioning into Film Opening Project

Hi blog! As we transition into our Cambridge Final Project phase, all future blog posts will document the journey of creating a two minute film opening. 

I'll be working with three other students on this project. We'll be navigating through every stage of production, from ideation to filming to reflection. Our goal is to create something unique and interesting while still adhering to the parameters set by conventional commercial cinema.

From our class discussions on film openings (notes shown below), I've been particularly drawn to approaches that focus on establishing character & establishing conflict. Openings often establish a question, whether literal (what just happened?) or thematic (what does this mean for the character?). The best openings create meaning from even small moments, which inspires me despite our limited resources. Openings go beyond meaning too, they set up the visual language and tone of the whole film. We'll have to consider this in our opening.

In upcoming posts, I'll be documenting our research process, sharing our inspirations, and explaining how we plan to approach this challenging but exciting project. Stay tuned.

Music Marketing Project Blog

Music Marketing Research and Planning

The Music Marketing Project is the most challenging project in our class so far. It’s worth half of our midterm grade and worth 500 points. This time, we got to choose our own partners, and I'm working with Fabiana, Julian, and Kailen.

The main idea is to create a fully fleshed-out marketing campaign for a new artist, for us in the pop genre. This includes developing the brand, the marketing, and even shooting a music video.

As for marketing research and planning, which is what this blog post is about, we started by researching big record labels and artists in our genre. I personally looked at Interscope Records and Any Gabrielly, a Brasilian artist. I skimmed through various sources, some of which discussed how different platforms like Spotify and YouTube can build an artist’s identity, and others that talked about unique fan experiences like themed concerts or limited-edition merch. What I found really useful were all the little tactics that go beyond “just putting music out there." Launching any product, including music, requires a systematic approach that gets the audience engaged with it before you even release it. This also goes for your brand, and my research on Any Gabrielly and what she stands for gave us an idea for Richie Young (our artist) and what he stands for. More on that later.

We set up a schedule that stretches from early December until the day before midterms.

12/2/2024 - Planning 

12/4/2024: - Research and form artist/group band identity, - Begin storyboard, - Blog throughout process 

12/6/2024: - Complete 20 slide storyboards, - Blog this process 

12/10/2024 - Begin filming music video, - Blog this 

12/12/2024 - In class filming (blogged) and some editing (also blogged) 

12/13-15 (weekend) - Finalize editing music, start presentation (and blog this) 

12/16 - Finalize presentation and blog video in class 

We've already finished the storyboard and begun the presentation, and as for Richie Young, we decided he's an upcoming teen artist who embodies a troubled and reckless YOLO spirit. His message is that it's okay to be troubled and to talk about it, making his music highly relatable to teens facing similar feelings. We are using the song "We Are Young" by fun. for our music video.

Romantic Comedy - Love and Laughter

Romantic Comedy, commonly known as “Rom-Com,” is a film genre that combines elements of romance and humor. These films focus on the development of a romantic relationship between two protagonists, presenting their journey in a lighthearted and amusing manner. The genre appeals to audiences who enjoy stories about love, relationships, and the comedic situations that often accompany them. The highest-grossing rom com of all time (adjusted for inflation) is Pretty Woman (1990), grossing $432,566,361.

Conventions

Typical content conventions in Romantic Comedies include:

Meet-Cute Scenarios: The protagonists often encounter each other in an amusing or unusual situation that sparks interest

Contrasting Personalities: The main characters usually have differing personalities, backgrounds, or lifestyles, leading to humorous interactions.

Obstacles: Various misunderstandings or external obstacles create tension and keep the characters apart temporarily.

Supporting Characters: Friends or family members provide advice/humor.

Happy Endings: Most Rom-Coms leave the audience with a feel good resolution.

Production Techniques

Production techniques commonly used in Romantic Comedies:

Bright Lighting and Vibrant Colors: Creates a cheerful and inviting atmosphere.

Upbeat Music and Soundtracks: Enhances the lighthearted mood and highlights emotional moments.

Close-Up Shots: Captures the characters’ facial expressions to convey emotions intimately.

Montage Sequences: Shows the progression of the relationship over time through a series of scenes set to music.

How is Genre Marketed

Institutional conventions/marketing conventions for Romantic Comedies usually include:

Eye-Catching Posters: Feature the lead couple in playful or romantic poses, sometimes highlighting their contrasting personalities.

Trailers with Key Moments: Showcase a mix of comedic and romantic scenes to attract viewers.

Strategic Release Dates: Often released around holidays like Valentine’s Day

Star Power: Cast popular actors to draw their fan base and generate buzz.

Film Sample #1: “When Harry Met Sally…” (1989)

The film follows Harry Burns (Billy Crystal) and Sally Albright (Meg Ryan) over 12 years as they navigate a complex friendship that questions whether men and women can truly be just friends

Analysis: 

Content Conventions: Features a classic “friends-to-lovers” storyline with numerous misunderstandings and personal differences that keep them apart. 

Production Techniques: Utilizes close-up shots to capture intimate conversations and emotional shifts. 

Marketing: Posters and trailers highlighted the chemistry between the leads and the quest for love, appealing to a broad audience

Film Sample #2: “Crazy Rich Asians” (2018)

A long flight classic, Rachel Chu (Constance Wu), an economics professor, travels to Singapore with her boyfriend Nick Young (Henry Golding) and discovers he belongs to one of the country’s wealthiest families, leading to cultural clashes and familial obstacles.

Analysis:

Content Conventions: Incorporates the “fish-out-of-water” trope and addresses themes of class differences and family expectations. Balances romantic developments with comedic situations from Rachel’s unfamiliarity with Nick’s world.

Production Techniques: Showcases lavish settings and vibrant visuals to emphasize the opulence of Nick’s family. 

Marketing: Emphasized its all-Asian cast and representation, appealing to audiences seeking diversity. Trailers highlighted the extravagant visuals.

Other Notable Romantic Comedies

             1.     “Notting Hill” (1999)

    2.     “The Proposal” (2009)

3. “10 Things I Hate About You” (1999)

4. “Bridget Jones’s Diary” (2001)

5. “Silver Linings Playbook” (2012)

6. “Crazy, Stupid, Love” (2011)

7. “To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before” (2018)