Fast and Furious 6
Fast and Furious 6 is the sixth of the fast paced action thrillers. Since Dom and Brian's heist destroyed kingpin's empire and left their crew with $100 million. Meanwhile, Hobbs played by Dwayne Johnson has been tracking an organization of lethally skilled mercenary drivers across 12 countries, whos second-in-command turns out to be revealed as the former love Dom thought was dead, Letty. The criminal outfit had to be stopped, so Hobbs asks Dom to assemble his old team in London.
Mise-en-Scene
During the opening sequence, as the audience, we first see two extremely high powered cars weaving in and out of the winding roads on a remote location. At this point we are almost certain this is a race, as we have seen in the first 5 of these action packed thrillers. During the sequence, the two cars are surrounded by bright vibrant colours from both the bright azure coloured seas, and sky. Also during the first opening shots we are shown the key aspects of racing we are now used to seeing throughout the infamous Fast and Furious films. These shots include close ups of props such as the gear stick and the foot pedals. However as the two high horse powered cars reach the hospital we are shown the bright white colours of both the hospital and the costumes worn by the two characters and the nurses dressed in bright blue dresses. Which connotes a positive message.
Sound
During the opening sequence the most of the sound heard as the audience includes the diegetic sound of purring high powered cars. During the opening sequence we can also hear the high pitched screech of the sea gulls above, emphasising further the fact that they are in a remote area unlike the industrialised locations you would normally see these films set in. During the first set of shots as the cars are travelling there is also a low drum like noise repeated in triplets as they drive through the winding rural roads. This creates a sense of danger, urgency and anticipation for the audience as to what is at the end of this long winding road. The final piece of sound used during the sequence before the film cuts to the title sequence is dialogue. This is used in order to create anticipation for the audience as the dialogue spoken by Dom played by Vin Diesel reads; 'Brian, remember the second you go through those doors, everything changes our old life is done' This dialogue for shadows to the audience that this is not in fact the end of their 'old life' as reckless criminals creating their own justice. As the sequence cuts to show the titles, a high paced R and B song is played over the top, increasing the heart rate and anticipation of the viewer. This is shown below.
Editing
Editing during the opening first shots it key In the sequence as it increase the level of danger whilst the two cars traveling at high speeds down a winding road continue to accelerate a key example of this is. Is the cuts between mid shots of each car quickly cutting to a low angle shot from the bumper of a cars point of view. Then quickly cutting between the shot of Brian quickly shifting up a gear, then a quick cut to him slamming the accelerator pedal to the floor. Before a low angle shot of his car seeing Dom's car overtake. Then cutting to the serious face of Dom in the car ahead. Then cutting to an extremely high angle shot known as a birds eye view. The quick alteration of shots then continues to a close up of Brian's wing mirror to see Dom directly behind him. This high number of shots in such a short period of time increase tension dramatically. It increase the heart rate of the audience as this sequence is shot as though they are in a race through the mountains. This increased number of shots continues into the village repeatedly seeing each driver changing gear and slamming their foot to the ground. Before the pace of the sequence drops dramatically as the audience see a shot of the hospital sign and then cars slowing In the distance. The series of shots which follow are mainly over the should shots of each character helping the audience follow the conversation. As Brian enters the room his wife is giving birth in, the shot is cut to a close up of him kissing his wife. Before cutting to a black screen before the titles.
During the Titles their is a fast paced order of shots from the different previous films, this shows the intensity of their 'old lives' in comparison to their new lease of life as Brian's wife has a baby.
Camera
Different shots are used during the opening sequence in order to show the level of intensity from the cars racing down the rural hills, in comparison to the relaxed shots as Brian's wife is having a baby this is shown. By the repetition of the shots such as the shot of each driver changing gear and accelerating this shows the viewer the intensity felt by each character as they rush towards the hospital. Shots are also used in order to compare the drivers of the high powered cars in comparison to the still landscape surrounding them. This is shown in the birds eye shot.
List of Titles
Universal picture presents
In association with relativity media
An original film/one race films production
Vin diesel
Paul Walker
Dwayne Johnson
Michelle Rodriguez
Jordana Brewster
Tyrese Gibson
Chris 'ludacris' Bridges
Sung Kang
Gal Godet
Luke Evans
Gina Carano
John Ortiz
Shea Whigham
Elsa Pataky
David Ajala
Kim Kold
Thure Lindhardt
Joe Taslim
Casting by Lucinda Syson
Music by Lucas Vidal
Costume designer Sanja Milkovic Hays
Visual effect supervisors David Vickery and Kelvin Mcilwain
Edited by Christian Wagner Kelly Matsumoto Dylan Highsmith
Production director Jan Roelfs
Director of photography Stephen F. Windon
Executive producers Justin Lin Amanda Lewis
Executive Producers Samantha Vincent Chris Morgan
Produced by Neal H. Moritz Vin Diesel Clayton Townsend
Based on characters created by Gary Scott Thompson
Written by Chris Morgan
Directed by Justin Lin
Furious 6
Today I watched a selection of thriller opening sequences,
during this I found inspiration of how to enhance my thriller opening
sequence further by adding different types of shot. I watched several examples
of AS media opening sequences, during this I picked up on a simple close up
shot of the characters slippers. This added a sense of normality and realism to
the sequence as well as showing off different kinds of camera techniques. I
decided to add this into my sequence as it shows a sense of normality added to
the characters. Despite them being derranged.
Taken is a thriller which keeps the audience constantly on the edge of their seat. As Bryan Mills playes by Liam Neeson, ex CIA agent uses his unique skill set in order to help track down his young naive daughter. Ex Agent Mills' daughter Kim, manages to convince her reluctant father to
allow her to travel to Paris with her friend Amanda. When the girls
arrive in Paris they share a cab with a stranger during conversation Amanda
lets it slip that they are alone in Paris. Using this information an
Albanian gang of human traffickers kidnap the girls. Kim has just enough
time to call her father and give him information about their capture. Her father, Liam Neeson briefly speaks to one of the kidnappers, where he uses the infamous speak;
The
initial scene shows a young girl of five years of age. With what appears to be
her mother in a ‘home video’ shown by
the poor quality filming. The scene then cuts to a man in a poorly lit room
opening his showing it Is a flashback and we have now cut to the present day. Throughout
this titles are appearing and fading. In a large square shaped font, all in
capital letters, this represents Liam Neeson’s characters personality as he is
sharp, appears at face value much like the text. It becomes obvious of what the
film is going to entail, a family being taken away from each other
During the opening sequence of Taken, the first piece of editing used includes the fade of the titles as they fade into the beginning of the film. Shortly followed by the quick cuts between the home movie and the shot of Liam Neeson sat in a low lit room this informs the audience that this is simply a flashback. Another significant piece of editing in this sequence is the extreme close up on the photo of his daughter, this follows the extreme close up of what seems to be an advertisement for a new singing machine. Showing there is a connection. This sequence then