Film Opening Research #2-- Remember the Titans

 8 titles are displayed during the opening sequences to the film.

The images start with close up shots that show it is fall. They are clearly in a cemetery, and a man steps out of his car in a black suit with a woman. In the next scene, another man also steps out of his car in a black suit with a woman. Narration starts as the second woman steps out then it cuts to the backs of a group of people in black suits walking across the cemetery. The last opening scene, while displaying the title of the movie, shows the group walking huddled together in their matching black clothing at the cemetery.

Because this is a race movie, the first man and woman and the second man and woman stepping out of their cars being different races may symbolize that they are different races but one in the same. The narration being told by the second woman after she exits the car can foretell that she will be a major character. The title of the movie not being shown until all the characters are walking together, dressed in black and looking connected can show that this is a movie about making or maintaining connections.

The setting in the opening of the movie doesn’t really help to establish the genre, since it is a scene that happens in the future from the actual plot of the movie. However, the narration done by one of the main female characters, which is non-diegetic sound, give great context as to the topic of the movie (racial issues and football). The music is subtly uplifting and gentle, and the lighting is similar. The drums starting right before the end of the opening scene can also show that this is a victory movie of a sort.

Having a sports movie about football and race start off with a funeral is a bit different, but not necessarily an enigma, since a lot of sports movies actually focus on past athletes or coaches during their “prime time”.

I feel like the music used in the opening scene is heard very frequently in underdog or obstacle overcoming movies, so a lot of people who root for underdogs would have liked the opening. The southern accent of the narrator would also interest underdog film lovers and old team sports fans. The film being based on a true story would also target a specific audience, since a lot of people who like underdog stories like stories of real people, usually that end with where the people are now.

The transitions were all cuts and the angles were all either back to close ups done to establish setting, two shots to show the two pair of couples exiting their cars, or medium shots to show the group of people walking together. All in all, the technology was used effectively.