Analysing Opening Sequences - Conclusion

Having looked at a number of opening sequences of films from different genres, I’ve noticed the following conventions occur frequently:

• Production company logos which are usually at the start of the film

• Titles/credits which can include the film name, names of production companies, director's name, cast/crew names and narrative information/exposition

• Indication of genre which can either be through the iconography of the film or through music (or even the font)

• Introduced to characters and their traits which allows the audience to connect with them instantly

• Introduced to the setting which allows the audience to understand where the film is taking place (sometimes the setting becomes the focus of the scene, rather than the characters)

• Enigma is created, and this can be done by showing an extreme close up on an object, for example, which creates confusion for the audience and suggests that the object will have a significant role later on in the film, or through low-key lighting and slow editing which can create mystery, or even through undermining conventional shots, such as an absence of establishing shots