RESEARCH INTO OPENING SEQUENCES

An opening

sequence can be…

Funny Entertaining Scary

Beautiful

WeirdDramatic

Emotional

Artistic

Different Types of Opening Sequences• Montage of characters• Montage of related objects• Chase Scene• Crime Scene• Romantic Scene• Flashback• Setting of Scene• Dream • Nightmare• Animation• CGI• Surreal• Freeze Frame• Introducing characters• Moving images• Following something• First person

Examples of Opening SequencesThriller: Se7enHorror: Nightmare on Elm Street

Comedy Action: Deadpool

Crime Drama: The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo

Coming of Age: Juno Rom-Com: 10 Things I Hate About You

Musical: Grease Children’s Animation:

Differences In Opening Sequences’ GenreHorror:• Dark Colours• Eerie/Loud Music• Scary Sound

Effects• Connotations of

Fear/Danger/Gore• Bold, Thick Fonts• Credits Placed at

Side of Shots• Themes- Montage CGI Flashback Chase Scene Nightmare Crime

Action:• Bold Colour• Exciting/Loud Music• Weapon/Machinery

Sound Effect• Connotations of

Violence/Police/ Superheroes

• Bold/Skinny Fonts• Credits Placed at Side

of Shots• Themes- Continuity Sequence Flashback Chase Scene Freeze Frame

Coming of Age:• Bright Colours• Pop Music• Car/Laughter Sound

Effects• Connotations of

School/Love/Jobs• Skinny/Scribbly/

Pretty Fonts• Credits Usually in

Centre of Shot• Themes- Continuity Sequence Setting of Scene Dream Introduction of

Characters Cartoon

Rom-Com:• Warm Colours• Classical/Pop Music• Car/Rain Sound

Effects• Connotations of

Jobs/ Family/Relationships/Social Activities

• Skinny/Curly Fonts• Credits in the

Centre of the Shot• Themes- Continuity

Sequence Introduction of

Characters Flashback Setting of Scene Romantic Scenes

Target AudiencesHorror: Adults, young adults, men, middle class, working class, all races.Thriller: Adults, young adults, pensioners, teenagers, men, women, all races, working class, middle class, higher class. Action: Teenagers, young adults, adults, men, middle class, all races.Drama: Adults, pensioners, women, middle class, higher class, all races.Comedy: Adults, young adults, men, women, working class, middle class, all races.Romance: Young adults, adults, pensioners, women, working class, middle class, all races.Coming of Age: Teenagers, young adults, women, working class, middle class, all races.Musical: Children, adults, pensioners, women, working class, middle class, higher class, all races.Animation: Children, adults, women, men, working class, middle class, all races.

The Presentation of the Film’s Title

Bright, bold, hollow font over black plain background – connotes space.

Pretty, light blue font over sparkly light pink plain background – connotes hairspray and beauty.

Scribbly, bright green font that looks hand written over view of the city – connotes setting and genre.

Bold, sharp, white font over high angle of the ocean – connotes film is about the sea/beach.

The Presentation of the Film’s Credits

Plain background with simple credits placed over top - font usually connotes genre/theme of film.

CGI openings connote the themes of films well, on these sequences the credits are usually bold and easy to see.

Opening sequences sometimes illustrate the setting of the film with the credits fading in and out into the centre of the screen.

Continuity sequences or montages sequences which feature acting scenes often have the credits placed at the sides of the shot so that they don’t distract from the acting.