There were several strategies
Francis Ford Coppola used in the opening scene of Apocalypse Now that was effective in setting a certain mood for the
viewers. One of the main aspects I noticed was the music choice. Music has a
certain effect on all of us. It can change our mood in an instant, and
sometimes change our habits. A great example of the use of music is in the
ASPCA commercials, the ones with all the sad-looking animals. The pictures are
usually accompanied by a soft, slow song sung by Sarah McLachlin. For Apocalypse Now the song used was “The
End” by The Doors. This was a great choice because it had an intense feel to
it. Like the music found in horror movies, this song made the audience feel
uneasy, so they knew something wasn’t right.
Another example would be the use of
multiple pictures in the frame. Using multiple pictures in one shot was
effective because it set the scene. For example, in one shot there was a man
smoking, the helicopter, and the fire in the background. This composition
helped the audience know that all of these factors were important, and they all
worked into the film. Coppola most likely used this strategy to get his point
across without taking up too much time. A boring introduction to a movie can affect
how the audience views the rest of the movie.
