Film Opening Analysis (DYM)

Catch me if you can from Motion Graphic. on Vimeo.

I analysed 'Catch Me If You Can', an action film starring Tom Hanks and Leonardo DiCaprio.

The story takes place across various locations and workplaces, starting in an airport and progressing from a hospital to a library. During the animated sequence, a figure loiters at an airport before reappearing dressed as a pilot and fleeing as another figure, dressed in a suit and hat, chases and tries to catch him. As the sequence progresses, the setting and outfit of the first figure changes as he runs away from the figure pursuing him. Although no time scale is given, the story seems recent, as it is first set in an airport.

The order of events could be significant, as it could foreshadow what is going to happen in the rest of the film and possibly in Chronological order, however this has deliberately not been made explicit to build audience anticipation. The events link to each other, as the characters in the sequence move from one event to another, and the chase portrayed within the opening titles is almost certainly continued within the film. Additionally, the editing is not in a montage style, suggesting that the events are continuous or related.

The opening sequence reveals quite a lot of story information, but also deliberately withholds some as well. While the sequence and iconic soundtrack establish the action genre, changing settings and main characters, no explicit time scale, character backgrounds & information or main location is clarified, leaving the audience guessing and creating audience anticipation and interest. The film's use of credits contrasted with blank figures also withholds information whilst generating expectation and excitement of the main film to follow.

At the beginning of the film, the audience need to know the basic aspects of the film such as its title, genre and at least a sense of character and/or setting.  In my own film, I would also follow these conventions to build audience expectation and gratify their need for information. aware of the title of the film, the genre, the setting and the main characters. These are conventions of opening sequences and the audience have expectations that need to be gratified. I would ensure I establish them in the beginning of my film so that the audience can understand the plot and any events in the film.