film opening independant research

Whilst researching into film opening I have discovered that there are four types of film openings; this includes, ‘the blank screen’, ‘still images’, ‘moving images’, ’animation/motion picture’.

The blank screen

The blank screen involves titles on a black background. It is quite a common type of title sequence. When the blank screen is used, usually the titles are white. This is so that they are clear and easy to read. When studios use the blank screen opening its mainly because they don’t have a big enough budget to produce any of the other 3 types. The blank screen opening is an uncomplicated way of portraying the usual conventions of a title sequence.

Still images

The still image opening is a more detailed than the blank screen. The still images give a hint towards the genre of the film and can wok as a representation of features within the film. The use of music alongside the still images help to introduce the tone of the film.

Moving images

The moving image opening includes the credit titles over the top of the moving images. The moving images are usually a form of metaphor linking to the narrative of the film or it introduces the start of the film.

Animation/motion

The use of animated text in the title sequence became more popular in the late 90’s. The use of animation for a film for a film opening requires a lot of digital technology and stylized editing. To produce an animated film opening it requires a reasonably large budget. An example of an animated film opening is James Bond, Skyfall.

This research has helped me because it has made me think about what type of film opening would be the most suitable for me to make.

opening titles timelines

Footloose 2011

0.10-Paramount pictures and Spyglass entertainment
0.17-A Dylan Sellers Zadam/ Meron Weston pictures production
0.27-A Craig Brewer film
0.33-'Footloose'
0.37-Kenny Warmeld
0,40-Julianne Hough
0.43-Andy McDowell
0.46- Miles teller
0.49-Ray Mckinnon
0.52- Patrick John Fueler
0.55- Kim Dickens
0.58-And Dennis Quaid
1.01- Casting by Loray Mayfield C.S.A.
1.03-Choreography by Jamal Sims
1.05- Original score by Deborah Laurie
1.08- Costume designer Laura Jean Shannon
1.10- Edited by Billy fox (N.C.E.)
1.13- Production Designer Jon Gary Steele
1.19- Director of photography Amelia Vincent A.S.C.
1.21- Executive producer Timothy M.Bourne
1.25- Executive producers Gary barber
1.29-Produced by Craig Zadan Neil merino
1.32- Produced by Dylan Sellers
1.35-Produced by Brad Weston
1.38- Story by Dean Pitchford
1.42-Screenplsy by Dean Pitchfork and Craig Brewer
1.47- Directer by Craig Brewer

Toy Story

0.08- Walt Disney Pictures
1.27- Walt disney pictures presents
1.35- Toy Story
1.47- A Pixar Production
1.55-Executive producers Edwin Cavmill Steve Jobs
2.02-Supervising technical producer William Reeves.
2.13-Music by Randy Newman
2.20-Songs written and performed by Randy Newman.

Forrest Gump

0.01- Paramount (A Paramount communications company)
0.12- Paramount pictures presents
0.17- A Steve Tische/ Wendy Fireman production
0.22- A Robert Zemeckis Film
0.27- Tom Hanks in
0.32- Forrest Gump
0.37- Robin Wright
0.42- Gary Sinise
0.47- Mykelti Williamson
0.52- and Sally Field
0.57- Casting by Ellen Lewis
1.02- Co-Producer Charles Newirth
1.07- Executive music producer Joel Sill
1.12- Visual effects supervisor ken Ralston
1.17- Costumes designed by Joanna Johnston
1.22- Music by Alan Silvestri
1.27- Edited by Arthur Schmidt
1.32- Production designer rick Carter
1.37- Director of photography don Burgess
1.42- Screenplay by Eric Roth
1.50- Produced by Wendy Finerman Steve Tische Steve Starkey
2.02- Directed by Robert Zememicks

Se7en

0.03- Newline cinema presents

0.06- an Arnold Kopelson Production

0.10- a film by David Fisher

0.13- Brad Pitt

0.18- Morgan Freeman

0.24-'SE7EN'

0.30- Gwenith Paltrow

0.33- Richard Roundtree

0.38- R. Lee Ermey

0.42- John. C. McKinley

0.46- Julie Araskog Mark Boone Junior.

0.53- John Cassini Reginald E. Cathy Peter Crombie

0.57- Hawthorne James Michael Massee Leland Orser

1.04- Richard Partnow Richard Schiff Pamela Tyson

1.10- Casting by Billy Hopkins, Suzanne Smith Kerry Borden

1.16- Music by Howard Shore

1.21- Costumes designed by Michael Kaplan

1.24- Edited by Richard Francis- Bruce

1.26- Production designed by Arthur Max

1.35- Director of photography Darius Khondj

1.40- Co-producers Stephen Brown Nana Greenwald Sanford Panitch

1.43- Co executive producers Lynn Harris Dan Kolsrud Anne Kopelson

1.52- Written by Andrew Kevin Walker

1.58-Produced by Arnold Kopelson Phyllis Carlyle 

2.03- Directed by David Fincher.

Making these timeliness has helped me because when it comes to making my own film opening I am now more aware of the order that the titles should be in.

The difference between a title sequence a trailer.

The difference between a title sequence and a trailer

A title sequence is a scene or few scenes at the start of the film that give recognition to the main cast and production members. The titles are superimposed on top of the scene/s. its important that the scenes are still clear to see as it is the start of the film. The title sequence often gets mixed up with the credits, however they are completely different things. The credits name everyone involved in the film and are at the end and the title sequence is at the start and only names the main few.

A trailer includes a montage of clips from the film that is advertising. It doesn’t give away too much, however it gives enough information so that viewers get an idea of the genre and the narrative. Sometimes the trailer lists a few of the main cast but not always. A trailer has a limited amount of time as it has to be able to fit in between TV shows etc. It is made for advertisement purposes. At the end of the trailer there will be information about when the film is coming out.

Researching into the differences between a film opening and a trailer has helped me because now I won't mixed up between the two when I am creating my own film opening.

catch me if you can analysis

Catch me if you can analysis

Genre-
The genre of this film is action/comedy this is demonstrated through the sound, the non diegetic soundtrack is what I would usually expect to hear over a cartoon such as Tom and Jerry, this gives the film a comedic tone. The mise in the opening suggests that the film is an action, it moves reasonably fast and the fact that they're is a chase going on leads me to believe that there must be some form of action.

This screenshot shows the is a demonstration of the main protagonist hiding/ running away from the other character. This suggests to me that there is  chase.

Narrative-
The narrative of the film involves a chase, the opening tells me that the main protagonist must go on an adventure to escape who ever is following him.

Characters-
The characters in the film include the main protagonist (who is male), I can tell he is a male by what he is wearing. there is also a woman in the film, it is likely by the film genre that she will have some form of love affair with the main protagonist, however, she could also be the enemy or person initiating the chase.




I believe that the main protagonist is male because of the shape of 'his' body, it is a lot broader than than what is seen to be the women in the opening. The image to the left shows both the 'male' and 'female' characters standing next to each other, i felt that this was a clear representation of the differences between them. The image to the right includes a still of the 'main protagonist', I have also come to the conclusion that he is male because of what he is wearing; he is wearing a suit and doesn't appear to have any hair.

Atmosphere-
This film has quite an adventurous atmosphere, you know straight away that there is going to be some form of journey and therefore this may make the viewer feel tense as the film starts to meet its climax. The background colour changes quite a lot in the film opening, each colour could signify a different tonal mood throughout the film.



The first image is black and pink, pink has connotations of love, this also links to the fact that there is a woman with the main protagonist in this still. The image in the middle is black and red, red can have connotations of danger, this also signifies that this film is potentially an action film because action films usually include some form of danger. The last image is black and green, green has connotations of safety, this could signify that there are lots of twists and turns throughout the film, or perhaps that everything turns out alright in the end.

Themes-
The main themes demonstrated in the film opening are, adventure and chase. The film opening suggests that the film is about somebody running away from someone or something. Because there is a chase going on this leads me to believing that there is some form of adventure that we have to follow when watching the film.

Setting-
The film opening has multiple settings such as; the airport, around a swimming pool, in a hospital and a few others. We follow the main protagonist whilst they travel to all of the different locations.


The fact that there are multiple different locations signifies that the main protagonist is going on an adventure.


Sound- The music used changes its pace a few times, this could be a representation of the film and how on edge the main protagonist may be at times. The soundtrack is quite comedic.

Titles-
All of the titles fit in with the setting. This is so that you can see the necessary information, however, you can also follow the journey of the main protagonist and keep your focus.

Analysing this film opening has helped me to consider what I should/ could include in my film opening to convey certain meanings.

My best friends wedding analysis

My best friends wedding analysis

Genre-

The genre for this film is romance, the whole opening links to love and weddings. This is shown through the mise en scene in the opening. The main protagonist is wearing a wedding dress and the other three characters a wearing what looks like bridesmaid’s dresses, they are all matching and therefore they could be representing a bride and her bridesmaids. In terms of props bouquets of flowers and an engagement ring have been used.

Narrative-

The narrative for the film is quite clearly linked to a wedding, the characters within the opening seem to be involved with the wedding (bride and bridesmaids).

Character-

Within the film it is likely that there will be a bride and some bridesmaids, the characters in the opening could be the characters in the whole film or they could be a representation of the characters.

Atmosphere-

The mood of the film will more than likely be upbeat and quite happy, I can tell because the characters are very happy in the way that they are dancing and through their facial expressions.

Themes-

The film has themes of love and marriage. The whole opening is about love and ‘how to get a man’. The wedding theme is shown through the mise en scene within the opening.

Setting-

The opening Is set in a pink room; the room is quite bland which makes you notice the other hints such as the wedding dress etc. The fact that the room is pink has connotations of love and romance.

Sound-

The sound within the film opening is a non diegetic soundtrack, the song is very upbeat. It is all about ‘how to get a man’ and gives the whole opening a happy, romantic tone.

Titles-

The font of the titles in the opening look like the font that would be used on wedding invitations. This links back to the wedding theme.