Analysis of the Changeling

The Changeling

(Scroll down to the third video)

http://www.artofthetitle.com/2008/07/23/tension-in-title-sequences/

The changeling was written by William Gray and was released in March 1980.

The opening to the titles is very simple yet links in with the rest of the clip very nicely. The non-diegetic sound of the wind is played and while this is being played a few of the credits appear on the screen in a large red font. These introduce the clip and are shown as the more important people as they appear first and not joined by moving animation in the background.

The wind sound is then continued onto an establishing shot of a snowy location. Moments after a small caption is faded onto the screen to show the viewers where the location is set and what year it was meant to represent. The camera is set on this spot for quite a long time so this may show that its important in the upcoming action and that danger may be approaching. The proairetic code agrees to this statement that something is going to happen at some point, which allows the audience to keep guessing the outcome. This is good for a title sequence as it means the audience will keep watching, as they want to find out what happens. Due to the snowy weather this type of scene does not expect a horror film to take place in as snow is a joyous occasion and can be fun for all ages. The audience can get the impression that this is not scary but still has a relevant part to play. A sound perspective of a few voices talking joins the wind and becomes the ambient sounds of the clip.

As the camera moves on to another establishing shot this soon zooms out and shows a wide shot of a family pushing their car up the hill. The dialogue in this section can be formed as sarcastic and therefore it adds to the effect that this is not a horror film but a Rom Com, which allows the audience to be shaken and stupefied by the horror that approaches in the film. This is good for the title sequence because it may attract different people to watch it-those that don’t like horror films and those that do. The semantic code shows images that are used to mean something else, which relates to the clip before. It shows a normal family pushing a car up the hill but is that what it wants the audience to see?

The camera movement is the changed once again to a wide shot to let the viewers see the entire family achieve their goal of pushing the car up the hill. The diegetic sounds of the car wheel on the snow and handbrake are played in this clip and made to sound loud so that it appears more believable. As you really listen you can make out the ambient noise of the wind is still being played throughout the clip. This shows the coldness and the windy atmosphere of the mountainous area, which relates to the semantic code as the wind is being played to represent the coldness but it could also be represented to show the isolation.

Once the family have parked there car the main character in this clip goes off to a phone box to ring for some help, a pan shot follows his movement. But he is now out the frame, which suggests he is going to play an important role.

Another establishing shot shows a car on a road but with the shot previously showing a man in a phone box who acts as the leader in the family and the mother and the child playing by the road you get the impression that this car is going to bring danger. The Proairetic theory is used to make the audience believe that because the man in no longer in the frame he is still part of the danger that’s going to happen. As another car approaches the scene a low angle shot on the man shows he has noticed the passing cars and detects that something is going happen. As he looks a slow motion of the woman playing is used to show her importance.

The sound perspective of the cars lets the audience realise the cars are getting closer and closer to the family and make them realise that some sort of accident is going to take place. The Semantic code may suggest that this accident the audience think is going to happen may not happen. The woman’s close up shows that she can see the danger and realise that her and her son are in the middle with no where to run. The quick cut to the man shows he can’t escape the phone box but can see what is going to happen. In this moment neither of the cars are shown but you can hear them approaching. This lets the audience concentrate on the people in the clip. In a title sequence its important to let the audience connect with the characters as it allows them to feel more sympathetic and vulnerable when something happens.

Lots of jump cuts are used in the next 10 seconds to shows all the details of the accident. A final crane shot is used to show the accident from high up and what has happened to the family.

The freezed shot of the man suggests the scene is over and when the film title appears it can suggest that this action is now a devastating memory of the past.

As you believe when the title of the film appears and the screen stays black you think the titles are over and the film is about to begin but in this case it’s wrong. Non-diegetic music begins and plays a soft tune over a new establishing shot of a town and rather dryer area compared to the last one. The man from the beginning is shown in the screen walking through the town with small credits shown over the top. The audience may want to know why the film is following this mans journey. The Hermeneutic code allows the audience to keep guessing what type of man he is and how he plays a part in the rest of the film.

The final action of the man talking to the doorman and entering this building needs to happen as it allows the film to start in a flowing matter and not miss anything important out.

This title sequence is not like many others. It has a massive introduction, which in some cases might not be classed as a title sequence. But once this is over the titles begin once again. The accident at the start allows the audience to begin to question the rest of the title sequence and make up there own mind about the main character. With out the accident clip the titles won’t be as effective and wouldn’t connect with the audience as much.