How has the genre been represented in this sequence?
In the opening sequence of "Panic Room", iconography is evident due to the use of sound. The use of a slow, string-based soundtrack which the producers encode into the sequence before the title of the film "Panic Room" is displayed connotes the suspense that is synonymous with the thriller genre, clearly displaying iconography as this sound immediately triggers for the audience that this is a thriller film. The more ominous non-diegetic sound used when the title "Panic Room" is displayed is another use of encoding from the producers which represents the genre. The audience decode this to signify the dark side to the film which hints that the film is a thriller or of a genre close to that.
The use of cinematography in this opening sequence also represents the genre. Establishing shots are used throughout the opening sequence which clearly highlights the setting of the film, with the shots displaying the New York skyline. This convention signifies that the film is a thriller film as thrillers are often set in ordinary suburban areas or cities. However, this is also an enigma code as this raises questions for the audience, such as why is the film set here? What significance does this setting have on the story?
The genre has also been represented through the use of tilting which I denote at the end of the opening sequence. This tilting highlights the two characters which are in diegetic dialogue as well as lots of other people in the surrounding areas connoting the hustle and bustle of the city. This encoding(the tilting) enables the audience to decode the thriller genre due to the hectic connotations (thrillers are often hectic and unravelling) and the city/suburban setting which this camera movement shows us. The use of first seeing two of the characters is action code as this drives the narrative forward for the audience, we now know something we didn't a few seconds ago.
During the opening sequence a montage of shots of the New York skyline is encoded by the producers which signifies something hectic and something that is out of the ordinary. The audience decode this to realise the 'on edge' nature which plays into this being a thriller.
The typography used is bold and 3D during the establishing shots of the New York skyline setting which contain natural lighting, this is used to represent the genre clearly from the start. This signifies that the film will be engaging and hard hitting like the text is. These are synonymous with the thriller genre once again so therefore the audience decode from the typography used that the film will be a thriller.
In the opening sequence of "Apocalypse Now" the use of a long shot represents the genre. During this long shot of a forest encoding is used with the placement of a helicopter, which flies through the shot signifying a battle or fight. Audiences would decode this to automatically see this is a war film, therefore this is also a key example of iconography.
Another use of cinematography in this opening sequence which represents the genre is panning. I denote panning of the forest on fire during the beginning of the non-diegetic soundtrack which accompanies it. This panning highlights the damage and danger that is on-going, signifying a scale of damage that only war could achieve. This panning of the forest on fire is also a good use of action code as forests on fire relating to war suggests that this is set during the Vietnam war, those that are historically aware would at least spot this.
Fade in is also used to represent genre in this opening sequence. The fade in of the man on top of the forest on fire connotes that he is related to this. Also, along with his facial expressions, this signifies human damage and the effect of war on people. This fade in is an example of enigma code as the audience wonder who he is, his relation to the fire and much more.
The soundtrack used during this opening sequence is interesting. The song during the sequence has a almost military feeling to it. Even more obvious are the lyrics such as "this is the end" which signifies the damage of war. There is also ambient sound of a helicopter during the close up of the gun which is a convention of a war film and is another example of iconography. The audience would immediately decode this signifier to understand that the film is relating to war.
The dark interior lighting of the man's room in this opening sequence connotes uneasiness. This low key lighting is encoded to convey that the man is suffering and feeling out of the ordinary. Couple this with the fading in and out of his face and the helicopter and I therefore decode this message as being that the man is suffering due to war which is a dominant response according to Stuart Hall as I have understood the message as it was intended to be.
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