Title Sequence Analysis- Se7en-

Se7en

The title sequence for Se7en begins with a close up of book and someone turning the pages, the light used creates a shadow suggesting that the person turning the pages has a dark side. This sets the mood for the film and subtly tells the audience the genre of the film early on. In the title sequence there is heavy use of shadows, suggesting something sinister is happening. Furthermore it only shows what the editor wants you to see, the most important item on the screen. The small font flashes when shown and is displayed quickly and accelerated creating an uncertainty and acts as a way to keep the audience on the edge. The title sequence includes a variety of close up shots, for example the close up of the person cutting their skin, suggesting that this person inflicts pain. The use of jump-cuts further shows speeds up the title sequence and suggests a discontinuity between the shots, as though we are piecing together the actions. In addition the use of jump-cuts suggests that we shouldn't be viewing this, and that what is happening is something dark and sinister. The title 'Se7en' is the only thing on the screen, creating a heavy emphasis on the word, it quickly dissolves into a smaller font, further creating an uncertainty and uneasiness about the meaning. The title continues to flicker and move, which further create the mood they want their audience to feel, it acts as an unpredictable title sequence, suggesting that maybe the film will also be unpredictable. Also further on in the title sequence the lighting used is red, with a close up of an image of the man. This red filter connotes blood and danger, as though his actions aren't for good, but instead he has an ulterior motive, as though he's up to no good. The man is then see cutting up images. It suggests that he is in control of something as he goes onto place them on a sheet of paper, this implies he can decide people's fates, the use of scissors also suggests this, as the dangerous object can end someone's life and he's in possession of this. The actor then colours out words on a sheet of paper, which further supports that he's in control and the shadows further suggest that something bad will happen from this. There is a flash into a boy's face coloured in, suggesting that he's been killed or that he is next? The pace of the title sequence is reduced, to create a dramatic effect and suggest that what we're seeing is important. The font's movement becomes more violent, suggesting that he is uncontrollable and unstoppable. The non-diegetic music played throughout the title sequence further adds to the eerie nature of the film. It's high pitch suggests danger and unknown, and resembles the sound of a girl screaming, suggesting the nature of the film. The music builds up as the title sequence progresses, it's accellerated pace matches the pace of the video we see, creating tension and a build up, as though we are finally putting together what the person's doing. The non-diegetic music ends abruptly, and we see the opening of the first scene.

Screen shots of the Title Sequence ~

We gained a lot of inspiration from researching into the title sequence for 'Se7en.' We decided to interpret the man turning the pages of the book into our own first 2 minutes of our film. We decided on an over-the-shoulder medium close up shot of our main character Daryl, turning the pages. Another element that we decided to mirror within our first 2 minutes was the man writing in the book. We felt this created a eerie atmosphere that set the mood for the film straight away. We decided that Daryl would write the name of his next 'victim' Evie, in red pen, as red is often associated with blood and death. The actions in the title sequence of Se7en create an evil and unnatural mood, as though the character is piecing together each victim. We felt that this would suit our film idea, so we decided to have worn out newspaper articles of murders, to create this effect. Moreover, we placed a loose photo of his next victim, that he was able to pin up on the wall to show his next target.



Link to the Title Sequence ~