Opening sequence texual analysis

An opening sequence conventionally establishes the location, time, period and characters of the movie. It shows actors names superimposed onto the top layer of the opening sequence to show you who is playing the characters usually in the order they are presented or the higher paid actors first. The opening sequence also shows what the name of the movie is and the production companies that are involved.

Shaun of the Dead
In the opening sequence of Shaun of the Dead it shows the production companies to begin with starting with Studio Canal, it then continues with Working Title.

The main character, Shaun is seen in a bar having a conversation with his girlfriend. He is seen drinking and smoking sitting opposite his girlfriend. The dialogue continues throughout and shot-reverse-shot is used to catch all parts of the dialogue on camera.

The shot is moved from over the shoulder shots of the two characters to a long shot of both characters and another character playing on a fruit machine. The use of this shot shows the location better and also introduces another character Ed who is heard to be swearing and cursing. The use of this character helps to create the time period of the movie by his dress, language and actions. The shot then returns to a shot reverse shot of the conversation and then of two other main characters. This shot lasts for a very short time and continues with the pairs conversation.

It then progresses to the opening credits in a car park with a person pushing trolleys. Superimposed onto the foreground are the titles of universal pictures, studio canal and working titles. This is then replaced by a super market till with "A WT Production" superimposed in the bottom centre. It then shows a bus stop with multiple characters standing next to it with "In association with BIG TALK PRODUCTION". The title come up with a group of teens walking towards the camera acting almost like zombies with "SHAUN OF THE DEAD" written in block capitals at the bottom of the shot.

Sherlock Holmes
In the opening sequence of Sherlock Holmes it begins with the Warner Brothers logo appearing in dark which continues with the logos of Village Road show Pictures and Silver pictures. It continues with non-diegetic music being heard as we progress with a series of carriages being shown going over a puddle. This continues with Sherlock Holmes being seen jumping from a carriage. There is now diegetic sound being heard from the crashes of the carriage and the breathing of Holmes.

This continues in a dark manner with both diegetic and non-diegetic sound being heard. The movie continues with Sherlock Holmes continuing through a large open planned building and there is a flash-forward sort of sequence in which it shows how he will attack someone before he does. It then shows him meeting up with another character and continuing to attack more members of a cult.

This continues with a low-volumed non-diegetic sound and the shouts and attacks of the people continue with diegetic sound. It carries on like this until there is the click of a camera and a photo is taken. The non-diegetic music becomes louder and continues throughout the title sequence in which various photos and articles appear on the screen and actor’s names appear on the screen superimposed over various articles. This then turns into the main title in which the words “Sherlock Holmes” appear in white block capitals on a background of green with more newspaper articles behind it.