This presentation shows my evidence of inspiratoons and influences that I have from films which I would like to consider for my opening.

1. Inspiration &
Influences –
Evidence.

2. The opening scene to American Gangster is particularly interesting. I want to be inspired by this
movie opening because I feel I could achieve the result I want by enticing the audience through
the first two minutes as long as I follow the stages I am about to discuss.
Firstly I find that it’s very necessary to have a logo of the company that helped you distribute or
produce the film. In American Gangster of course they have known logos however when I am
creating my film opening I would like to sit with my group and create a logo to represent our
group. I think it’s a small touch which proves potentially that the opening had some thought
put into it. Also I find that it looks professional rather than just having credits appearing on
screen. In American Gangster we see the following logos appear.
Secondly I find that the amount of people in the opening scene is the exact right number in
American Gangster. I find that openings which include too many people becomes very
crowded and confusing (unless of course the effect of people is needed and enhances the
performance) but in my opinion I want to be influenced by using this idea of less people
causing more impact. It also gives some suspense as to what is to come by giving bits of
information away yet keeping the main secret intact. In this film opening we see 4 people. 3
who’s faces we see more clearer and the fourth person pours the petrol onto the victim and his
face is not revealed.

3. Thirdly I find that the lighting is very effective. I like this idea of dark and
eeriness. The scenery establishes the place and time of the scene. Which we can
tell is night time or very early hours of the morning. The place set shows
typically where abouts a gangster group would undergoing a task like this. You
wouldn’t expect them to be doing this in broad daylight or amongst a crowd of
people.
In addition to my second point about the number
of characters they should have. I find that less
characters enables audience to know more about
status and in a gangster scene you want to be able
to know who is in charge and who is just doing the
dirty work. Costumer can also define this. In this
case we have someone pouring petrol and their
face isn’t even shown which connotes that they
didn’t have any status. We then have Denzel
Washington lighting his cigar and then throwing it
which implies he has more authority over the
person pouring the petrol. We then notice his
clothes and see that he is wearing more casual
clothes compared to the man next to him in a suit.
We also notice that he is wearing a hat and his face
is covered by the show. This darkness can show
power and authority as he is just stood their
watching what is going on. I want to be influenced
by their costumes worn as I find that in such a
short scene we get to know a lot about these
characters.

4. From completing this task and
providing screen shots from the
opening of the film I have found that it
makes me think more about what
makes an effective film opening. It
makes me think more about what
effects and techniques I could apply to
enhance the film opening. I am now
thinking more about what I want in the
film opening. I would like to consider
logo making, amount of people,
lighting and costume.