Opening title sequence Textual Analysis:

1. Opening title sequence Textual Analysis: Title of film: Brick

2. Locations The first location in this opening title sequence is in a sewer. In this scene the lighting is dark and no characters are fully revealed, this location if not typical of the thriller genre because thrillers tend to be set in busy places such as big cities. The dark lighting is typical of the genre because its mysterious and ties in with not revealing much, also not revealing the characters is also very conventional as it doesn’t give away anything about them, apart from snippets of their clothes, this makes it hard to establish what the character actually looks like. The second location in this film is a school or college. This location is quite conventional because its usually a busy, residential place, however in this film nobody else is around, though it’s the middle of the day. This is typical of neo noir thrillers because it makes the audience feel uneasy. If it was at night this location would be more suited to a horror film. The fact that nobody else is around also emphasises that he’s alone and doesn’t particularly have any friends.

3. Lighting The lighting throughout the first scene in the sewer is very dark and de-saturated. This is typical of the thriller genre because it makes everything look darker and harder to make out certain, specific things that might be important. Characters appearance The first character we see has old looking clothes, this makes him look like he’s in his late teens the films set a while back. Also its set in America so these clothes might be more typical there in the time its set. His clothes don't look very expensive looking, this could be because he isn't very well off and doesn't have much money. The older looking clothes makes the films look like it is set a while back. His clothes make him look a bit geeky so he could be a bit of an outsider and not have many friends.

4. Props One of the props used is a car, this is typical of the genre typical of genre because it can help generate chase scenes and resembles car chases. A muscle car is a typical car in this age for somebody in their late teens or still quite young, gives an idea as to who the kidnappers are. The car isdriving fast so we don’t get enough time to realise who’s driving it or who’s in it, this Builds anxiety and makes the audience want to know who’s in it, he flicks a cigarette out of the car when he drives by, this makes the person in the car look more aggressive. Also another prop used is the note in the locker, this is a very mysterious note and helps keep the persons identity sealed. It makes the audience think and wonder who put the note there and when they are going to see them.

5. Actors performance Throughout the entire opening title sequence the main character is alone, this shows us that the main character is lonely and quite possibly doesn’t have many, if not any friends. He also has an American accent, the accent lets the audience know where the main characters from and were the films probably set. Camera work Some camera shots I saw was a close up of somebody's feet and knees, can see that they’re kneeling down.Then an extreme close up near the start of somebody's eyes. All close ups and extreme close up make sure characters aren’t entirely revealed, leaving the characters mysterious in the eyes of the audience.A Wide shot is used and this establishes the scene and shows what’s around him.The weird camera angle is a low angle extreme wide shot with a Dutch tilt. The weird camera angle isn’t conventional in thriller but it is in neo noir because it confuses the audience and shows them something weird is happening. Two camera angles are used and they are low and high angled shots, these angles help show dominance within a scene. A camera movement i saw was a tilt, In the first scene it shows an extreme close up of the main characters face, a slight tilt upwards so you can see their eyes, this makes this person look more mysterious.

6. Editing There is reasonably fast editing throughout the opening title sequence, the editing gets a bit faster throughout the scene, this helps slowly build tension; the quicker the editing gets the more the tension rises. Also the quicker the editing the more mysterious the scene becomes, because you see less in a shorter amount of time. Sound In this opening title sequence there is a non diegetic sound track. This sound track is sad music which creates a rather depressing atmosphere, this makes you feel as if something bad has happened in the film.

7. Opening title sequence Textual Analysis Title of Film: Collateral

8. Location In the first scene Vincent walking through a station with a brief case. This is a typical location, for thriller films because lots of people are around like in a big city which is also a typical location. Max sitting in a taxi in a taxi rank, this is a typical location for an ordinary person because its an everyday job, however it is nottypical for thrillers, but a typical location that helps show he’s a normal guy just getting on with his life. Lighting There is bright day-light in the airport, this helps show its during the day beginning of the day, but its still de-saturated.In the Taxi rank it is dark however you can see natural light coming from the front of the building, this lets the audience know what time of day it is.

9. Appearance of Characters Vincent’s wearing a suit and glasses Vincent’s suit shows he is well off, he is holding a brief case which makes him look like he’s doing business and his glasses make him look like he’s trying to hide his identity.Max is wearing ordinary clothes, his clothes show us he’s not really well off and his job also shows this. Props In the first scene Vincent is walking through an airport with a briefcase, The brief case shows that Vincent is on some kind of business trip, when he switches bags on purpose with another man they act suspiciously. Vincent asks him twice if he’s okay when they bump into each other, this shows us he’s possibly nervous. Max is sitting in the taxi reading the newspaper and doing a crossword, Max’s newspaper shows he’s not up to much and he’s just an ordinary person getting on with his daily routine.

10. Actors Performance Vincent is walking confidently and quickly, He also asks the guy he bumps into twice if he’s alright, this shows that Vincent is checking that what he’s about to do in New York City is good to go. His walking shows us that he’s trying to get somewhere fast and is on the move a lot. These acts show us that Vincent is confident, professional and serious. Max is sitting down waiting for his taxi to be brought in, Max isn’t particularly wealthy and is quite a patient person calmly waiting for his taxi to arrive, when it does arrive he sprays it down with some cleaner, this shows us he likes his space to be his and doesn’t want stuff from previous taxi drivers around him. These acts show us that Max is calm, patient and clean. Narrative Hints The few seconds that it pauses on them switching bags at the airport to show that something is going on and it makes it clear that they’ve switched bags, this tells the audience to keep an eye on Vincent's briefcase and makes them wonder what is in it.