Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Title Sequence
In this post I'm going to look at three points in the title sequence for, Tim Burton's Charlie and the Chocolate factory, and look at what the image is doing, what the music is doing and then explaining how they work together to create a certain effect.
1/ Time Code ref: 01.00.30 09.21
At this point the images are moving from exterior to interior, the camera is on a spiraling close up of one of the chimneys of the factory. It then changes to an areal view, tilts and falls down the chimney turning into spiraling chocolate with the title of the film superimposed on to the film.
What we can hear is a low melody played in the strings section, accompanied by higher strings, playing the same phrase on top, with 'music box' sounds playing fragmented notes, subtly hidden in the layers and high, female, vocals ascending and descending in the background, giving the piece a thick texture. The texture then becomes thinner and all of the instruments remain silent except for the violin section which, play a slightly higher ranged melody, gradually the texture is thickened by adding in the lower range instruments to play smooth legato notes of the rapid and jagged, staccato notes played by the violins. The volume of the string section increases as they play a short melody that ascends and then descends, followed by a short pause, signaling the change in dynamics of the piece. It then changes to have a very distinct 2/2 drum beat with one note slightly more punctuated than the other. There are now male voices to accompany the female voices that sing contrasting ostinauto melodies, modulated by Sci-Fi SFx, which is a signature of the composer.
The music supports the pictures here because, as you hear the repeated melody on the strings, the camera is climbing the chimney and the strings use staccato notes to give the effect of a fast paced climb. When the vocals are introduced, they sing a melody which is ascending then descending, which emphasises the climb, but also, suggests that there is a fall. At this point the texture of the is very thick which supports the images by creating a thick and heavy atmosphere, for the audience, tying in with the heavy snowfall and thick smog seen in the images. At the point where the music becomes thinner, it is preparing to change from exterior to interior, the lightness of the music at this point is simply a build to make the dramatic drop to the very low melody more dramatic.
2/ Timecode ref: 01.02.29 11.64
At this point the conveyor belt has stopped and the camera is on the hand of Willy Wonks. The camera begins to rotate around the chocolate bar as he places the first golden ticket on to the chocolate bars, during which the camera continues to move around them, zooming in at the same time until it pauses on the fifth ticket, showing it clearly.
What we can hear is the music has a slightly thinner texture as the instruments are whittled down to; mid-section strings, which play a simple bass line melody in 4/4, a music box, playing a higher melody over the strings, accompanied by high female voices, which are harmonising with the music box. if you go from the beginning of this section the third and fifth bars have a guitar whammy over the music. All of this happens at a slower pace and is played using quaver beats, and is done with no use of percussion.
The music supports the pictures here by firstly; the music slows and becoming lighter when you first see the hand and all percussion is taken away from this scene. This supports the pictures by making the hand the main focus as the music is in the background, but, still creates a lighter and happy atmosphere for the audience, portraying the delight the ticket may bring as well as, signifying that the chaotic work pace of the machines has stopped. The repeated melody of the music box works in time with the scene changes between each ticket, giving a build up to each one and creating suspense for both, what it may say and where it may go. Finally as you get to the last ticket, of which you get a full view of, the high female vocals hold a long note as the camera hovers of the ticket. This works with the image because it highlights the previous build up and tells the audience that, this is the final ticket, giving it a glorified feel to the moment an the ticket it self.
3/ Timecode ref: 01.03.37 20.12
At this point the film has gone back to exterior surroundings outside the factory. You see the delivery vans lined up and loaded, the driven off one by one in a very uniformed manner. The camera then changes to a wide shot from behind, then very quickly, to a front view where you continue to watch the vans leave. After this the camera changes to an offside aerial view, where you can see a part of the factory and the final vans leave.
What we can hear at first is a low wind instrument ( possibly Tuba) play a short four note phrase, over the top of the music. As the low instrument fades the rest picks up the volume slightly at which point you can hear, violins playing a staccato melody accompanied by either, wind or brass instruments, playing a slightly lower tone and military style drumming. This is followed by a loud single hit of a drum, a soft droning vocal melody, ascending and a light twinkling of chimes in the background.
As the low trombone comes in, you see the first van start up and go. The trombone creates an effect of slowly trudging on, which supports the image well here, as it portrays a heavy start and a long route ahead to the audience. The violins and either woodwind or brass, instruments play a theme similar to the start of the title sequence, this triggers in the audience's mind and reminds them that they are still in the area of the factory. The military style drumming supports the image by creating a very uniformed and militarised feel to the way the vans are leaving making the importance of their deliveries a higher value than of what it usually is. It also creates a more serious side to the film by the way that it shows the organisation and timing to the vans moving out of the courtyard. As the camera changes to the aerial view you hear the single beat of a drum, the timing of it makes the audiences stop and pay attention to what is changing. After the drum you hear the soft, vocal, melody and twinkling chimes, which creates a very contrasting atmosphere to a few seconds ago bey taking it out of the serious mood and lightening it. At the point where the camera is pulling away you hear the twinkling chimes. They support the image here by adding to the lighter tone but also creates a new effect of something of a much happier tone and more magical is about to happen.
The music supports the pictures here by firstly; the music slows and becoming lighter when you first see the hand and all percussion is taken away from this scene. This supports the pictures by making the hand the main focus as the music is in the background, but, still creates a lighter and happy atmosphere for the audience, portraying the delight the ticket may bring as well as, signifying that the chaotic work pace of the machines has stopped. The repeated melody of the music box works in time with the scene changes between each ticket, giving a build up to each one and creating suspense for both, what it may say and where it may go. Finally as you get to the last ticket, of which you get a full view of, the high female vocals hold a long note as the camera hovers of the ticket. This works with the image because it highlights the previous build up and tells the audience that, this is the final ticket, giving it a glorified feel to the moment an the ticket it self.
3/ Timecode ref: 01.03.37 20.12
At this point the film has gone back to exterior surroundings outside the factory. You see the delivery vans lined up and loaded, the driven off one by one in a very uniformed manner. The camera then changes to a wide shot from behind, then very quickly, to a front view where you continue to watch the vans leave. After this the camera changes to an offside aerial view, where you can see a part of the factory and the final vans leave.
What we can hear at first is a low wind instrument ( possibly Tuba) play a short four note phrase, over the top of the music. As the low instrument fades the rest picks up the volume slightly at which point you can hear, violins playing a staccato melody accompanied by either, wind or brass instruments, playing a slightly lower tone and military style drumming. This is followed by a loud single hit of a drum, a soft droning vocal melody, ascending and a light twinkling of chimes in the background.
As the low trombone comes in, you see the first van start up and go. The trombone creates an effect of slowly trudging on, which supports the image well here, as it portrays a heavy start and a long route ahead to the audience. The violins and either woodwind or brass, instruments play a theme similar to the start of the title sequence, this triggers in the audience's mind and reminds them that they are still in the area of the factory. The military style drumming supports the image by creating a very uniformed and militarised feel to the way the vans are leaving making the importance of their deliveries a higher value than of what it usually is. It also creates a more serious side to the film by the way that it shows the organisation and timing to the vans moving out of the courtyard. As the camera changes to the aerial view you hear the single beat of a drum, the timing of it makes the audiences stop and pay attention to what is changing. After the drum you hear the soft, vocal, melody and twinkling chimes, which creates a very contrasting atmosphere to a few seconds ago bey taking it out of the serious mood and lightening it. At the point where the camera is pulling away you hear the twinkling chimes. They support the image here by adding to the lighter tone but also creates a new effect of something of a much happier tone and more magical is about to happen.
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