RESEARCH: Art of the Title

 Silence of the Lambs:

I chose this title sequence because it is of the horror genre with thrilling elements which I would like to incorporate in my own work whilst observing the successful techniques that are used to create intense atmosphere.

The title sequence starts with the non-diegetic sound of classical music as a starry image with a dark background is shown on the screen. Then eight stars are visible as they slowly move into a formation of a circle. The calming music combined with the beautiful stars creates a captivating start to the title sequence which highlights the motion picture company which is Orion Pictures. This is strategic marketing. The image then fades to black with the music continuing. Then an image of a tree appears as the music is altered to have lower notes being played which implies an ominous atmospheric change. Ambient sounds of birds and crickets suggest a rural setting of a woods for the tree to be situated instead of a private garden. The camera then pans down and zooms in so that we are shown more of the woods as two paths become visible through the branches of the trees. A woman can then be seen running quickly up the hill and pulling herself up with the rope attached to the bank. This show is impactful as it suggests urgency and possible danger which is hidden to the audience but implied through the diegetic sound of her heavy and rapid breathing. However, as the camera gets closer to her face and she slows down towards the top, it is clear that she is not in any immediate danger as she is seen to half-smile.

A tracking shot then follows behind her as she is running through the woods with her sweater visibly covered in sweat which implies her exhaustion due to her running. The camera then does a zoomed tracking shot of her face which is also covered in sweat. Another tracking shot from the side follows her movements through the forest which appear to speed up and become more frantic as the non-diegetic music’s tempo picks up to mimic the girls’ running. This combination raises the tension as it is emphasising her speed along with the setting of desolate woods which may be done to lead the audience to suspect possible danger as the fog ahead could be seen as shielding something dangerous. These different tracking shots are continued to reveal a difference in her expression which appears to be more pained and angst which is assumed to be part of her exhaustion. A rope wall appears as she runs towards it and a panning shot shows her climbing over it and continuing to run towards an obstacle of wooden benches. This suggests that these woods are intended for some form of training which is reiterated when someone can be heard to call ‘Sterling’ from out of shot which is followed by a man running towards the girl. She is told that she has to see someone in their office which she responds to with ‘Thankyou sir’ and runs back the way she came. We are left with a reaction shot of the man with a concerned expression on his face which suggests trouble for the girl.

We are shown a tree with planks of wood nailed in which read phrases which are about pain and agony and enjoying it which reiterates the idea of her being part of a training camp. This is followed by the girl running into a compound area with groups of boys in matching outfits presumably training with the asynchronous sound of buzzing in and out of a building which could be associated with prison discharging. Non-diegetic sounds of a helicopter accompany a different view of the building with people walking through a glass-panelled tunnel. A tracking shot follows the girl through stairs and into a room with guns and people loading or mending them. A point of view shot shows he girl getting into a lift with only men and the doors shutting. This is significant as it shows a male-dominant environment which she surrounds herself in which could be useful to know later on in the film.

She gets off the lift and walks to the office and non-diegetic dialogue can be heard whilst she speaks to a man in a suit who she addresses, again, as ‘sir’ as he orders her to wait. This could be emphasising her position in this location which could possibly be a student as she addresses these people politely and with a superior level of respect. A pan shot shows her looking around the office she was shown into with her hand together behind her back as she stands looking around. This formal position suggests an uncomfortable formality that she is requires to uphold which, again, implies a militant aspect of her life. The screen then goes to blackout.