Comparason between a thriller opening and thriller trailer: Moon (2009)

Moon- opening and trailer difference

Opening sequence:

The opening sequence for moon is particularly effective. I was watching this film with my family, as it was on television. The opening titles really inspired me.

To start with, the very beginning of the opening sequence is an advert for the Lunar company within the film. This was effective because it gives the audience an insight into what the company do, and what the film is going to be about; space. The ending of the 'advert' is indicated by the screenshot shown below- a simple logo.

I thought this part of the opening sequence was very effective.

After this, the titles begin to appear. This was done in a very effective way because each title fitted in with the surrounding images. Each title that appears is in the same sans serif font, in a silver-white colour. The titles are very simplistic and therefore do not distract away from the images appearing on the screen. This is something I would like to do when adding my titles to my opening thriller sequence.

Here, the title appears subtly on the screen behind the character running.

Then, shortly after a few more titles appear, the main title of the film is shown. This is done effectively through a slow panning shot to reveal the bottom image of the Moon and part of the Earth. Again, the title of the film is in the same silver-white sans serif font as the other titles. This really fits with the Sci-Fi/Thriller genre and is particularly effective to the audience as it helps to identify this aspect.

This is the main title of the film

The titles then continue to appear for another minute and half (approximately). They continue to fit in with the surroundings, at different angles. Shown below, the title fits with the angle of the wall which is particularly effective. The non-diegetic sound of piano music is also very simplistic for the duration of the opening sequence, so like the titles, not distracting away from the footage. 

Here, the title fits in with the wall.

The opening sequence analysed shown below:

Trailer:

The trailer for this film is different to the opening sequence. Even though the beginning of the film is shown at the beginning of the trailer, it is still effective because it allows the audience to gain and insight to what the film is going to entail and will make them want to watch the rest of the film.

Here, the same part of the opening sequence is used in the trailer for Moon.

Then, some of the characters are shown which do not appear in the opening sequence. This is so any actors which have a good reputation from other films they have starred in, will help to gain audience figures, but also allows the audience to have a preview into who the main characters will be. Not all the characters are shown in the opening sequence.

The main characters are shown in the trailer for moon.

Throughout the opening sequence, non diegetic music is used. It starts off being calm, but as the trailer progresses, the pace increases, suggesting a rise in tension. Intense and action packed parts of the film are shown in the trailer, but up until just before the climax of the film to engage and make people want to go and watch the film when it is released, to find out what happens. This differs to an opening sequence because their is more tension in an opening sequence compared to action in a trailer to make the film look exciting, action packed and engaging.

The trailer analysed shown below:

So, how do you distinguish an opening thriller to a trailer?

An opening sequence involves the first 2 minutes (can sometimes be longer) of a film, whereby the opening titles and usually the title of the film are displayed. The titles are introduced whilst the beginning of the film is shown, usually portraying a background to the narrative, or showing an insight into what the film is going to entitle. An opening sequence will often contain a narrative enigma, not giving too much away about a given character or the plot. To contrast, a trailer for a film usually shows a short extract from the beginning of the film, and then moves in chronological order to convey the build up to a climax in the film. This way, the producers are drawing in an audience as they will want to know what is going to happen. As well as this, sometimes quoted reviews are shown in the trailer to excite the audience and make them want to see the film. A trailer is created for promotional purposes to draw audiences in.