FILM CONVENTIONS IN THE OPENING SEQUENCE OF "ZODIAC"

FILM CONVENTIONS

In the opening title sequence of the 2007 mystery-thriller Zodiac, we get an endearing glimpse into the morning routine of a father and son in late ’60s San Francisco. Through cinematography by Harris Savides, we are presented with the bones of the story: large city, single dad, young child, bustling newsroom. A golden hue permeates throughout, oscillating between sickly jaundice and warm glow, but always there. After all, this is a turn on the true crime story of the Zodiac Killer, and so a subtle sense of sepia is practically mandatory. You can almost smell the coffee, feel the texture of the pages, faded and dusty.

Added to this is the nuanced and delicate title design by Bruce Schluter and Eric Ladd which converts the letters of the credits into a cipher. Already, the viewer is being invited into a codified world, concealed beneath the presentation of fact.
LETS BEGIN !!!!!!!!!

Zodiac's Film Conventions

Establishing Shot at 00:05 till 00:16

Two Shot at 00:19 till 00:29

Medium Shot at 00:30 till 00:31

Over The Shoulder Shot at 00:49 till 00:53

Tracking Shot at 00:56 till 1:02

Long Shot at 1:30 till 1:33

Establishing Shot at 2:09 till 2:19

Over the Shoulder at 2:42 till 2:44

Close Up at 3:10 till 3:13