Analysis Storm Center

After a black and white Columbia logo, the title sequence begins with an open book of text in black and white. Titles begin to appear in white contrasting against the black and white of the shot and black writing on the paper highlighting the name. The use of fading and opacity to the blinking eyes works particularly well as the movement and face so close is not expected after the bland text. We used this in our title sequence as we thought opacity was a brilliant effect and way of creating atmosphere. The layering of the book of text, face and a title gives the possible connotation that there is more to things than meets the eye and is lots going on. The jerky movements of the eyes looking around arouses suspicion and anxiety to the audience. The audience wonder what the character is looking at as his dilated pupils look scared, causing the same effect for watchers.
The jerky and unnerving music with the spooky droning undertone that has sharp and harsh noises over the top causes the audience to be consistently on edge. The dwelling of the boy looking around over the book causes the audience to possibly lose interest but the sudden change in music and igniting of the page in flames is likely to shock the audience who have been concentrated on quite a plain scene. The black and white effect of the fire shows it not to be red and connoting danger but rather the audience focus on the movement of the flames and how it is destroying the pages, nearing the boys face. The characters eyes are now fixed creating more anxiety, the page fully ignites in flames and the audience is left questioning what this connotes and what has happened to the boy, what the relevance of the book is and why they are being burnt.

In my opinion this does everything a title sequence should do and is so well constructed. The effect of black and white manages to not dull the shot but rather create more mystery, the layering of the pages of text with the face and then the flames is a combination of brilliance. The title sequence is so simple yet so effective, the variety of different interpretations various people could get from that simplistic few minutes is extraordinary. The eye movements and flames evoke a range of emotions amongst the audience and this does exac