Media

1. Film Opening Analysis- The Fugitive
In the lesson we watched the trailer for ‘The Fugitive’. This is my opening title scene
analysis.
Firstly you see the name of the distributor witch is warner bros however they have
used an effective technique to give the audience an instant insight to what time of
film they are watching. They do this by using blue writing on a black background.
This symbolises the colours of the police portraying the crime genre of the film. They
have also used an effective tool where there is spotlights shining on the title to
suggest the detectives flashlights with also help the idea of the crime/thriller genre.
Whilst this is happening in the background the use of non-diegetic suspenseful
music is being played to build up tension to show the viewer’s what they are in for.
There is then big clashes of music when the main characters names are pronounced
on screen for example when Harrison ford and Tommy Lee Jones names are shown
on screen. The fact that they have the clashes of music is an example of Synchronous
sound this is an effective technique they have used to emphasise the importance of
these people in this film.
Then the rest of the main characters are then shown on screen with the same
flashlight blue font effect. The dark background has also been used to inform the
audience that the beginning of the film is set in the night and that something not too
pleasant may have occurred. We are then presented with an establishing shot of
Chicago this effective use of cinematography is used to inform us where this film is
set (Location). Whilst we are seeing this city scape in the bottom corner there is a
carry on of names of people that have contributed to the films production. The fact
they are in the bottom corner and in smaller font suggest they are not as important
as others.
We then see black and white snippets of a vicious attack. The fact that they have
used this black and white image effect is trying to portray that this is in the past
(flashback). We then go back to more shots of the city with a gradual introduction of
diegetic sounds of sirens along with the Non-diegetic soundtrack. This use of sirens
also contributes to setting the atmosphere of the film. Then the use of more black
and white clips of the attack however now more serious events are occurring due to
the shot of a gun shows the audience that there is going to be a bad ending. The
build-up of music also helps show this.
This is then followed by a shot of the ambulance showing up at the crime scene.
Then we see inside of the house where police are taking images of the aftermath this
is to clearly show that this is a crime scene and that the film the audience are
watching is a crime based film. Then a shot of Harrison ford is shown (main

2. character). He enters the room covered in blood this could be used effectively to
make the audience think that he is a suspect or in contrast the dead women’s loving
husband. The blood showing the suspect side and the fact he has not been arrested
showing that he might be nothing to do with is. However Harrison then stands up
and an effective Close up shot has been used to make the audience discover a big
scratch on his neck. The Director has made this obvious to therefore make the
audience want to know if he is guilty or innocent.
After this we see Harrison walk out the house (crime scene) with the detectives and
get into the detective’s car not the police car. Showing also that he may not have
done anything wrong. Then there is the use of an effect non-diegetic sound of a
news report narrative giving the audience extra information telling them that
Harrison is going to get questioned. This is then the end of the opening scene. This
was a very effective opening scene as it keeps the audience eager to know that
happening in the film and to Harrison.