Opening Sequence codes and conventions

7/17/2019 Opening Sequence codes and conventions

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Codes and conventions

Film opening sequences



Studio/Production team

Most flms begin with showing the production team/studio logoand logo o the company who have helped with thedistribution o the flm. For eample the !ream"or#s or Piarlogo will be displayed beore the opening credits begin. Manyo these logos are changed depending on the flm as on theSimpsons movie$ one o the characters %ralph& was singing thecompany theme tune while standing logo. 'his connotes thatthe the companies logo can connote the genre o the flm.



(stablishing shot.

Many flms use an establishing shot directly beore the openingcredits begin. 'he establishing shot shows the audience thesetting in which the flm could possibly be setting $ )llowing themto create there own idea on what the rest o the flm is about.Many flms do chose to s#ip the establishing shot as it creates

more enigma



'itle and opening sequence

'he titles o the flm is the opening credits. 'his when all theactors names are raveled on screen. Some titles display acharacters title synergistically to an image o them on thescreen. 'he director and producers names are also shown inthe opening credits. 'he credits are usually displayed in aparticular order . 'his is so the audience fnd it easier to wor#out who has a higher importance and a more signifcant role inthe flm.

'oday many flm openings use very advanced computergraphics in order to produce there opening titles in order toattract an audience to their flm.



'hemes and topics

) theme/topic is the story within a genre. "hatever o thegenre there will always be some sort o theme within theopening sequence. 'he is used to help the audience intounderstanding the flm$ allowing them to distinguish betweenthe di*erent conventions helping them to understand whatthe genre o the flm is.

Some flms do not show themes in their opening sequence. 'his is so the audience is let completely in the dar# $ ma#ingthem thin# and analysis what is happening.



+ntroducing the characters

+n the opening sequence the main characters are usuallyintroduced to the audience. Showing them so early +n the flmsignifes their importance in the flm as rom minute one theyhave been introduced to the audience.

+n some flms the main characters are not introduced to theaudience in the opening sequence$ only small and very aintclues are revealed. 'his connotes mystery and causesconusion between audience members as they are unable todistinguish what is going on.

'he introduction is li#e a frst impression or the characters. 'he way the characters are presented in the early stages othe flm is the way the audience is going going toac#nowledge them them or the rest o the flm /



,arration and tet.

,arrations in flms are very important as they eplain what isgoing on in the flm $ )s amously seen in star wars thenarration at the start o the flm always give the audiencebac#ground inormation. "hen no narration is included in theflm it becomes more pu--ling or the audience as they needto wor# out bac#ground inormation or themselves.

ther flms use non diegetic voice overs to narrate what isgoing on in the scene. 'his ma#es it much more interesting$ asthe audience can ust listen instead o reading paragraphs onthe screen.



)ction/events

'he action/event is the story in which is going on during theopening scene. 0sually this is a little story$ in which helps theaudience wor# out hidden plots and bac#ground story1s inwhich relate to the main flm.

Sometimes there is no events at the start o the movie. 'his isbecause the shots $ location and non diegetic sound have avery signifcant importance to the flm and the directors do notwant them getting distracted rom what the flm is about andall the hidden messages inside.



Sound$ non diagetic

,on diagetic music is generally played at the start o the flmwhen the characters. !i*erent types o non diagetic signiydi*erent things and can connote what is to come later inthe flm. Sometimes the music is )synchronous and doesnot relate to the images on screen$ this technique is use todisorientate the audiences perception o the imagesdisplayed on the green. 'he sould gives them a di*erentinterpretation.

Some flms use diagetic sound rom radios to set the sceneand introduce the audience to the flm.



(nigma

(nigma in a flm is all the unanswered questions. 'here aremany questions in which the audience need to answers$when watching the frst part o the flm. 'hese questionsgenerally include "23 "2)'3 "2(4(3 )nd "253.(nigmas are usually used as the increase audienceengagement. +nstead o ust watching the flms theaudience needs to be 6778 engaged at all times in order toawnser all the vital questions in which will help themunderstand the flm better

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Opening Sequence codes and conventions