The title sequence starts with aerial shots of Salamanca. It contains pans and tilts showing the skyline of Salamanca. These early shots are establishing shots, they set the scene for the film and also help set the mood. This then leads on to slow pans of the shadows of police with sniper rifles on roof tops. This gives an eerie sense of danger or shows there's some one in need of protection. This is also evident with the high angle shots of a convoy of cars, jeeps and limousines. The high angle shot looks down on the convoy and gives a sense of vulnerability and shows that maybe this convoy is in danger and is the reason for all the protection. There is also slow pans of crowds protesting and shouting which shows the hostility of the crowds towards the convoy as the crowd seems angered by the shouting. There is also a close up of an anti-America banner which shows the crowds hostility is aimed towards the, now known, American convoy. This whole sequence of shots sets out the basic plot of the film in around 30 seconds. This is followed by a short clip of the moving convoy then a slow pan over an other sniper rifle which shows that the convoy make not currently be in danger but it's moving towards danger. The slow pan of the sniper also adds to the tension of the opening sequence as the viewer is unclear as to whether the snipers are protecting or targeting the presidential convoy.
Many of the shots are edited to show very little of the actual shot, only thin awkward shapes of the shot are seen while the rest of the screen is black. This not only helps the titles easily be seen on the black background but it also gives a sense of that the convoy is being watched from the shadows and there is never a clear shot of the convoy, just awkward glimpses of it, the snipers, the city and the crowd. This is also evident of one high angle shot of the convoy from behind a balcony railing. This not only shows that maybe someone is hiding on the balcony but the fact that the shot is from a high angle, it also gives a sense of the convoy being vulnerable to the tall buildings either side of the road it travels down.On many occasion there is more than one hot overlapping each other yet all the key details from both shots are easily recognisable for instance there is a shot of the convoy driving down a sectioned off street and an overlapping shot of a police officer with a sniper rifle. This immediately shows the link between the convoy and the sniper and instantly lets the viewer know this convoy may be soon in danger. The titles themselves have each individual letter very quickly punched onto the screen in a wave formation and they slowly fade away. This specific way the titles are shown could be a reference to an assassination or ambush as the quickly individually appear and then fade away and disappear. As the titles aren't all in the same place on screen it be confusing finding them amongst the acutely shaped angles of shots on screen so the titles are highlighted with a red ball of light behind each individual letter that sweeps from one end to another. Even this seems to further reference an assassination as the red dot looks like a sniper's scope sweeping the area. This further adds to the tension and danger being portrayed on screen.
A slow tension building non diegetic score is played throughout the title sequence and when ever a new title appears on screen or an important shot of a sniper for example, a harsh sound is heard that exaggerates the shots and the titles and further highlights them. This harsh noise breaks the tension built up by the rest of the music and as the viewer is waiting to see what happens to the convoy the harsh noise also acts as a false alarm as nothing really happens apart from a new title appearing. This only multiplies the tension after the false alarms whilst keeping the viewer on edge as a real surprise or danger could easily happen any time, as expressed by the camerawork, editing and the score. The final title of the film "Vantage point" is actually seen rather small when it first appears but this title is soon enlarge until completely shadowing the screen. This shows the importance of that title and it's obvious that it's the films title.
In terms of mise en scene everyone seems to be wearing a relevant costume whether it be a suit or armed police uniform they both show authority and give off a sense of importance with those seen wearing the uniforms. This is also seen with the crowds all wearing civilian clothing showing a direct contrast between presidents protection and the masses. This is further shown by the props that are seen, for instance the presidents protection are seen with weapons such as pistols and sniper rifles which not only shows they have all the power it also shows that it is them who in fact needs the weapons and it is them who in fact are in danger. Whereas the crowds just have signs and pickets to express their anger towards the American influence in their city.
Many of the shots are edited to show very little of the actual shot, only thin awkward shapes of the shot are seen while the rest of the screen is black. This not only helps the titles easily be seen on the black background but it also gives a sense of that the convoy is being watched from the shadows and there is never a clear shot of the convoy, just awkward glimpses of it, the snipers, the city and the crowd. This is also evident of one high angle shot of the convoy from behind a balcony railing. This not only shows that maybe someone is hiding on the balcony but the fact that the shot is from a high angle, it also gives a sense of the convoy being vulnerable to the tall buildings either side of the road it travels down.On many occasion there is more than one hot overlapping each other yet all the key details from both shots are easily recognisable for instance there is a shot of the convoy driving down a sectioned off street and an overlapping shot of a police officer with a sniper rifle. This immediately shows the link between the convoy and the sniper and instantly lets the viewer know this convoy may be soon in danger. The titles themselves have each individual letter very quickly punched onto the screen in a wave formation and they slowly fade away. This specific way the titles are shown could be a reference to an assassination or ambush as the quickly individually appear and then fade away and disappear. As the titles aren't all in the same place on screen it be confusing finding them amongst the acutely shaped angles of shots on screen so the titles are highlighted with a red ball of light behind each individual letter that sweeps from one end to another. Even this seems to further reference an assassination as the red dot looks like a sniper's scope sweeping the area. This further adds to the tension and danger being portrayed on screen.
A slow tension building non diegetic score is played throughout the title sequence and when ever a new title appears on screen or an important shot of a sniper for example, a harsh sound is heard that exaggerates the shots and the titles and further highlights them. This harsh noise breaks the tension built up by the rest of the music and as the viewer is waiting to see what happens to the convoy the harsh noise also acts as a false alarm as nothing really happens apart from a new title appearing. This only multiplies the tension after the false alarms whilst keeping the viewer on edge as a real surprise or danger could easily happen any time, as expressed by the camerawork, editing and the score. The final title of the film "Vantage point" is actually seen rather small when it first appears but this title is soon enlarge until completely shadowing the screen. This shows the importance of that title and it's obvious that it's the films title.
In terms of mise en scene everyone seems to be wearing a relevant costume whether it be a suit or armed police uniform they both show authority and give off a sense of importance with those seen wearing the uniforms. This is also seen with the crowds all wearing civilian clothing showing a direct contrast between presidents protection and the masses. This is further shown by the props that are seen, for instance the presidents protection are seen with weapons such as pistols and sniper rifles which not only shows they have all the power it also shows that it is them who in fact needs the weapons and it is them who in fact are in danger. Whereas the crowds just have signs and pickets to express their anger towards the American influence in their city.
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