Conventions Of An Opening Sequence

TITLES Titles are a main aspect of an opening sequence as they introduce us to the actors who are involved within the film as well as people off set such as editors, producers and of course the director. However, if we look more in depth, the titles also portray the tone of the play through the font as well as the colour of the font. For instance the clip below shows a serif font to show that there is not going to be romantic for instance or even a comedy and that it has a serious tone to it due to the titles being grey. PRODUCTION/DISTRIBUTION COMPANY LOGOS These usually link into the movie in some shape or form, usually through the mise en scene and use of colour as well as the soundtrack already starting throughout the logos are depicted to the audience. Generally, the music will be upbeat during the logos or the logos will be bright colours if there is a happy, relaxed tone to the film, or they'd be dark and cloudy if there is a more serious tone to the film, such as the link below which part of the opening to 'The Dark Knight'. SOUND Sound is essential as this is a way of communicating with the audience as well as making them want to watch in. It is also an indirect communicative technique to help imply what the movie will be about. For instance, if the score contained violins and was slow and elegiac, the movie genre would probably be a tragedy. However, in the link below you can see that the film is all about action and conflict as well as being quite scary with thriller aspects to it. You can tell all of this simply from the soundtrack, making it an essential convention to an opening sequence. ESTABLISHING SHOT An establishing shot is extremely common throughout opening sequences as it is a non-verbal narrative of setting the scene in the reader's mind. By showing an establishing shot you are able to show close ups and shots of pretty much anything without confusing the reader as they already know where it is all based. Below is a hyperbolic use of establishing shots, but by doing so, they will not have to show any within the film. EQUILIBRIUM An equilibrium is the 'norm' and average day within the film. This is then followed by the disequilibrium which would be the conflict of the film which would then need to be sorted to get back to the new equilibrium (resolution). We are usually shown the disequilibrium to leave us as an audience on edge and see how the situation is going to get resolved. If we carry on looking at the first clip which was 'Resident Evil: Afterlife', it is clear to us what the disequilibrium in this film is.