Oblivion
Joseph Kosinski (2013)
Film Opening Length: 04:19
UK/US/World Box Office: £13m, $89m, $286m
Theatrical Distribution in
Production Companies: Universal, Relativity Media
Distributors: Universal Pictures
LINKS:
IMDB, RottenTomatoes (Tomatometer 52%, Audience 61%), BoxOfficeMojo, Wiki
Trailer for 'Oblivion':
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COMPANIES/IDENTS
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There is only one film company ident for this film and it is Universal Studios, one of the 'big six' conglomerates. You can denote that an additional object has been added to the ident which is from within the film, Oblivion, (The 'Tet'). This denotes the sci-fi genre immediately. Non-diegetic music starts playing here. You can denote the music as being slow, quiet strings. This connotes sadness and nostalgia. 
The 'Universal' font is not the normal gold colour, you can denote cracks, worn out rusty silver metal further connoting the sci-fi genre and denoting the setting (post apocalyptic earth - the world has been ruined).
OPENING SHOT
The opening shot is a long shot/extreme long shot with a sepia colour effect to connote that this is set back in time. The camera zooms in on the binoculars object connoting that this is an object of significance, that something happened here with the binoculars. Many narrative theories can be applied here in this film opening such as Roland Barthes' 5 codes. This includes the enigma code, the action code, the semantic code, the cultural code and the symbolic code. The enigma code is relevant here. This is seen within the very start of this film opening. The opening shot of the binoculars at the top of the empire state building reveals that something has happened there because of the sepia colour effect used and the camera movement of zooming in on the binoculars. This all creates and builds suspense/mystery. The audience wants to know what happened in this place and why the binoculars and the setting are of significance.
IDENTIFYING ANY PROTAGONISTS
The third shot of the film is a medium shot of another character. The fact that she is shown second connotes that she is the second main protagonist. This shot follows the shot of the main protagonist, Tom Cruise's character. You can denote that these two characters are gazing at each other intimately from far away in a crowd. This connotes that they have a close relationship. The sepia colour effect is still being used so this connotes that this scene is from the past.A little bit later on in the film opening, a third character is shown, this connotes that she also has some importance in the film (perhaps third main protagonist). It is also connoted that there is clearly some close relationship between the main protagonist and this character from the fact that they are waking up in bed together, later on in the film opening. The two women in the film connote that there is a love triangle with the main protagonist (Tom Cruise).
SOUND/GENRE SIGNIFICATION
Tom Cruise's character speaks in a voiceover throughout the film opening, this is diegetic sound. It provides exposition for the audience - describing the situation (what has happened to earth, who he is, what he does, his thoughts). There is also non-diegetic music playing throughout the film opening which can be denoted as piano, high strings and electronic synths. The notes are held for a long time which connotes some suspense and romance.
MISE-EN-SCENE FOR EXPOSITION
The main character wakes up from this ‘dream’ of the past. There is normal high key lighting now connoting he is back in the present.TITLES
SHOT VARIETY
There is a variety of shots shown throughout this film opening, including especially, extreme long shots and long shots which clearly establish the setting to the audience (this is important especially for the sci-fi genre) which is post-apocalyptic Earth. Since Tom Cruise speaks in a voiceover throughout the film opening while extreme long shots appear on screen, this provides a lot of exposition for the audience. The opening shot is a long shot which establishes a setting to the audience (top of Empire State Building). We also see use of close ups and medium close ups on the characters throughout the film opening, these are used to show the character's emotions and their upper body actions. There is also use of close ups on digital, sci-fi, futuristic objects such as touch computer screens, futuristic shooting weapons and robotic drones; all stereotypical of the sci-fi genre. These shots are used to clearly signify the sci-fi genre to the audience.
Finally, a long shot of the setting of where the main character lives with the third main character. This shot also mainly shows the main character going off to do his job to go and fix the drones down on earth.
The music (non diegetic sound) turns very dramatic and all of a sudden loud (crescendo) for the title appearance. There is a sci-fi, high-tech, light blue, metallic font which connotes the sci-fi genre very well.
The conventions of sci-fi are binary opposition between who ruined the world and the left survivors. Tom Cruise is the hero who saves the world and the human population from drying out/being killed by the robots (drones)/aliens; We don’t see this is in the film opening because that is yet to be revealed that the jobs they have are coming from the aliens not the human space station in space. They had their memories wiped so they don’t remember about life before this where they are now. That is why the title is called ‘Oblivion’ because the aliens take advantage of this oblivion but yet still Tom Cruise has some slight memories of life before the ruin/war to be able to save the world. The 'Tet', in space, where the aliens are controlling these two humans is black to connote evil and Tom Cruise down on earth, wears white. Also the film is set in the future 2077 on a post apocalyptic earth which goes with the sci- fi conventions. Also many futuristic props, houses, robots and clothes are used in the genre of sci-fi which are majorly in this film. Also, the main character is male and one of the main stars including a survivor human leader of the remaining humans hiding from the aliens (Morgan Freeman)- both males connoting the sci-fi genre also.
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