Research Into A Sci-fi Opening Sequence

 Looking into the opening Sci-fi sequence of E.T

E.T is the American, Sci-fi 1982 film which was directed by Steven Speilburg and produced by universal pictures. The film stars Dee Wallace, Henry Thomas, drew barrymore, Robert MacNaughton and Peter Coyote.

Although there is no dialogue throughout the entirety of the first scene, we are made clear of the narration so far. What we witness and know is that a spaceship with some living things that are not human has landed in what looks like a forest. Humans arrive and start investigating in which the spaceship takes off leaving some of their fellow companions behind. From this it is implied that the rest of the film will be to do with these creatures that landed in our earth and maybe to do with the humans discovering the ones left behind. 

The genre is extremely clear to be science-fiction this is highlighted through the use of conventions. There a several Key conventions used, these including- Space travel and exploration. This is seen from the very beginning when there is a pan shot of the spaceship Lost in the woods, there is then the use of the convention of aliens, extratraterrestrial lifeforms and muwtans. Although I'm not sure of what these creatures are we see figures of  unhumanlike living things emerging from the spaceship. It is also confirmed that there is something unnatural living with the close-ups of the unusual disturbing looking hands with the long treacherous fingers. By starting the scene with a pan shot of the woods, it already gives an unsettling eerie feel and tone. This tone is supported through the use of CGI. CGI truly highlights the science fiction genre due to creating things that are simply just not our world, and too difficult to do in real life.

 There is no characters introduced directly due to being no diegetic dialogue, the only sound we heard from the creatures is a screechy unsettling high-pitched sound which connotes them to be alien like creatures. Were shown the figure of these creatures, they were seen to be small and unhuman like something never seen before. Other than this is we were given no indication of who they were or why they were there. 

Additionally, there is a great use of mise- en-scene. By placing the setting of the scene At night helps to create this eerie un real atmosphere as well as creating a disturbing yet exciting mood. The director also used lighting as a way to highlight these figures without Giving too much of their appearance away. At certain points there was a red light which eloped from them this could convey they to be evil or underline  danger. The director chose to have each human holding a torch to indicate they are on lookout and this is
out of the ordinary. 

In conclusion I believe this is successful opening due to a leaving the viewer with so many questions unanswered, leading them to want to watch on discover the unknown.