COLLATERAL OPENING TITLE
SEQUENCE
MISE-EN-SCENE OF OPENING
PROPS
SEQUENCE
SETTINGS
There is a use of parallel
editing to show the two
locations in the opening
title sequence which are
the airport where we first
are introduced to the
character Vincent and
then the taxi station
where we are introduced
to the character Max. The
contrast in locations
represents the contrast in
characters and highlights
how different their lives
are, however because we
are shown both
characters so closely
together we can assume
that there different life
styles are going to collide.
COSTUME
The use of costume shows the
different status these
characters have. Whilst
Vincent shows authority and
business in his smart grey suit,
Max shows a lot less authority
or the need to look a certain
way, he instead wears a
hoodie and t-shirt we can
assume he feels comfortable
in, merging into society without
the need or longing to stand
out.
Both of Vincent’s
props show
authority and
business that he
is going to be
involved in, we
can see that he is
hiding his identity
with glasses and
this tells us that
he is going to be
involved with
activities where
your identity must
remain
anonymous.
Max’s props such
as his postcard
show that he isn't
content in where
he is in life, he is
ambitious to do
better but whether
he will we do not
know at this point,
his glasses may be
used as a prop to
show vulnerability,
he unlike Vincent
has no need to
hide his identity
and he is already
invisible.
SOUND IN THE OPENING TITLE
SEQUENCE
DIEGETIC- There
are some diegetic
sounds used in the
opening title
sequence such as
the noise of people
at an airport and then
again when the shot
cuts to the taxi rank
where we here
industrial noses,
tools, alarms and a
radio. This is used to
present a realistic
mood that is relevant
to both locations.
NON-DIEGETIC- There is
also a soundtrack playing with
builds up tension which is
common within the thriller
genre of film. This soundtrack
of music enters after the
briefcases are dropped and
exchanged, this highlights the
significance of this event and
hints that from this moment
onwards action is about to
begin. The sounds in the track
are quite metallic and this
represents the busy industrial
setting of the film, the sound
fades out when Max shuts the
door of his taxi which presents
his sense of isolation but
comfort in his place of work.
VOLUME:
*Low
*High
*Low
PITCH:
Low/cynical
SFX:
Used when
briefcases are
dropped to
add
significance
CAMERA SHOTS IN THE OPENING
TITLE SEQUENCE
Wide shot with particular focus on the
character Vincent: This shows the audience
the significance of the character Vincent and
also gives the impression he is in a busy
environment but for some reason or another
stands out from everyone else.
Next we have a similar shot where the
focus is on another character who we can
guess is going to collide with Vincent. The
pace of this character is faster to suggest
he does not possess the same level of
‘cool’ and ‘relaxation’ that Vincent has.
This is a medium close up on the main
character in this scene Vincent, this is used to
show the audience that his emotion and pace
has stayed the same, he does not show any
signs of uncertainty or worry for what he is
about to do.
CAMERA SHOTS IN THE
OPENING TITLE SEQUENCE
This is ‘two shot’ when both characters collide, we can
see that they are pretending this is an accident but the
look that the other character gives Vincent suggests this
was planned when he states “enjoy LA”.
This is the briefcase that becomes a significant
prop as we realise both characters swap
briefcases, this suggests that Vincent needs to
obtain something he couldn’t bring through
customs, such as a weapon. This is a medium
close-up of the briefcase to show significance
and show the swap clearly.
This is an ‘over the shoulder point of view’
shot, It is almost from Vincent's
perspective but we can still see him in the
side of the frame to acknowledge the
conversation and eye contact.
CAMERA SHOTS IN THE
OPENING TITLE SEQUENCE
This is a ‘medium shot’ of Vincent who is calmly
walking away from the situation, again the focus is on
him whilst the background of busy irrelevant people
are blurred out.
This is an ‘associated point of view’ of Vincent
who is now leaving the location of the airport,
this view point makes the audience feel like
they too are going to follow on his journey to
carry out whatever business awaits him in LA.
We are now introduced to the character Max,
this ‘medium close up’ does not give away a lot
about him but from his costume and the use of
glasses we can he is straight away an opposite
character from Vincent. His clothes suggest he
does not have a job with a high status and he
portrays a more innocent personality.
CAMERA SHOTS IN THE
OPENING TITLE SEQUENCE
This is a wide shot that clearly shows the
new location of the scene. It is not as busy
as the airport and is obviously and
industrial environment which we soon can
recognise as a taxi rank.
This is ‘medium close-up’ again of Max
who we can see is comfortable and
secure in his working place of his taxi,
however he seems defeated and
unhappy with his current life.
This is a ‘close-up’ of Max where we
can purely focus on his emotion to
realise he is not content in his
current situation, we sense he wants
more from life.
EDITING IN THE OPENING
TITLE SEQUENCE
•The editing in the opening title sequence is continuity editing, all
the shots flow well into one another
•The 180 degree rule is put into action when we see a dialogue
from the character Vincent and the other character who is delivering
his briefcase
• The editing is at a fast pace that changes when the scene cuts to
the contrasting life of the character Max, as the pace of the editing
slows down we can see that Max’s life is not so fast moving and full
of actions as Vincent’s is
• The fast editing helps us to identify that ‘Collateral’ is a ‘Action
Thriller’
•The contrast in editing = the contrast in characters and location