PRESENTATION ON KEY ELEMENTS OF OPENING FILM SEQUENCE BEN BISHOP

ACCEPTED CONVENTIONS FOR MAINSTREAM OPENING CREDIT SEQUENCES.• Mainstream films usually have long introductions which

usually last around 2/3 minutes. During this time the film title is shown, along with some actors names who took part in the production. Production logos appear most times but can also be reserved and displayed at the end of the film; and finally sound. In most mainstream films a piece of music from the film soundtrack is played. However these conventions are either altered or removed throughout social realism films.

CONVENTIONS FOR SOCIAL REALISM OPENING CREDIT SEQUENCES.

• During title sequences, most social realism films contain their productions logos along with a reference to its funding. Social realist films also usually play sound during their introductions, this is usually either background sound, such as cars rushing past, or a piece of the film soundtrack. The volume of the sound is kept low unless the sound is of significance. Most social realist films also have simple titles to them; meaning their title is displayed over the top of either a moving or static image. Then image displayed is the simple title shown at the start of Fish Tank, a social realism film.

COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF THE ABOVE TWO SETS OF CONVENTIONS.Social realism films Mainstream filmsSoundtrack or sound played in introduction

Soundtrack or sound played in introduction

Production titles Production titlesReference to funding Actors namesSimple title Title of film is displayed with effectsLong shots Cuts between shots are swift and short

THE CATEGORY OF OPENING CREDIT/TITLES

THE ORDER OF OPENING TITLES.

THE STRUCTURE OF THE OPENING

• Production logos are shown first• Next is a reference to the film funding (if it has been given funding from a big

company such as the national lottery)• After (or during these titles) music/ sound may be played in the background.

This could either be part of the film soundtrack or just diegetic music, being heard by both audience and film characters.• Following swiftly after this we receive our first shot of the movie; this can be

any type of shot but it is the first moment where we are introduced into the action.

THE SHAPE OF THE OPENING

KEY INFORMATION COMMUNICATED TO THE VIEWER.

• The genre of film can occasionally be portrayed to the viewer. This can be done through unique techniques and by excelling in all other aspects of the film introduction sequence. The director may choose to overlay music or sound during the sequence; the music used can make a big difference. You wouldn’t use a fast paced positive song during a horror film introduction. Music makes a big impact on how the film is analysed and viewed by its audience. The production titles can also have small effects added to them, for example the 20th centaury fox. The bar at the side shows the progression of their logo throughout time.