Opening Sequence Analysis

Trainspotting (Danny Boyle, 1996)

The opening low angle CU immediately puts the viewer in the action, as the fleeing person steps right over the camera. This is short and then the shot switches to a tracking CU now at headheight, which makes it clear the narration is of this man. He is running desperately and the switch back to his feet and then back up to his face shows the speed. The switch from low angle to high angle is repeated three times. This involves the viewer and makes for a very fast paced sequence of shots, some taking up as little as 3 seconds. After a break up shot at 0.12 the original style returns. At 0.16 however the shot switches in front of the man running. This is to make the viewer think about the corner ahead and its importance. A car pulls out and at 0.19 the viewer gets a POV shot from the car driver of the man rolling over the bonet. This sequence leading up to the shot and the POV shot itself makes the viewer watch the ongoings, instead of completely immersing them the director has chosen to put the viewer as a passer by style of view. After this the opening moves towards intoducing the main characters. It does this by putting the viewer right in the middle of a football match they are playing (0.36). Through low angles and CUs of the ball The viewer is immersed. This actaully also switches between the match and Renton (introduced through a subtitle of his name) doing drugs. This is to introduce the viewer to the distinct two sides of Rentons life. The two sequences start to merge at 1.12 to almost symbolise how the drugs take over. The drug sequence uses an arch shot at 1.16 to show Renton.

Taxi (Gerard Pires, 1998)

I wanted to include this opening sequence because I think it uses tracking shots to great affect. The shooting style is steadycam but sometimes jumps about. I think this style of filming is used to portray the speed of this sequence, so the shakes add to that. The camera also moves between distances from the bike, from ECUs to LVSsm, I think the director wanted some parts to be very in your face and to vary distances to keep things exciting. An example of an ECU is at 0.35. I think the director has also chosen to put the camera close to the road to make the viewer closer to the action and more involved. The road lines demonstrate the speed and it gives a lowe angle of the biker. The face is never shown in the sequence, which leaves the viewer wondering if its a chase till the end, where all is revealed. This adds mystery.