BLOGPOST 9 RESEARCH - WHAT ARE THE 4 DIFFERENT TYPES OF FILM OPENINGS?

What are the 4 different types of film openings

Titles on a blank screen:

Titles imposed on a black background usually a white typeface (high contrast) it has a clear font and its clear to read. Films also use it because its very low budget! It is a simple uncomplicated way to include institutional information at the beginning of the film.

Psycho - the music was really tense and worked well with the opening as it created the mood and reveals the genre which is Horror.

 Titles on still images:

This type is more elaborate title cards are developed to include hand draw borders and other images. Incorporates a visual image to hint the tone and the genre of the film. it coincides with the credits getting longer. To incorporate makes names requires combing different media.  

Titles over moving images:

This incorporates the credit titles with moving images behind the titles, usually there is no dialogue in the opening and often the title sequences a metaphor, narrative thread to introduce the storyline of the film to the audience. Another example of this was city of god.



Title using animation or motion:

In the 1990s the use of animation text in title sequences was introduced. It became a part of the moving image was interrogated, stylised editing lots of digital technology becomes part of the film. Another example is casino royal.

My favourite type of films:

My favourite type of films are animated or motion titles they are really creative and they tell some sort of story.Also the font and the images differ from each movie making the opening amusing and enticing the audience and will attract them to watch the whole film.



RESEARCH - Favourite Film

The Lizzie McGuire Movie 

I decided to analyse The Lizzie McGuire Movie as it's one of my favourite movies. The Lizzie McGuire Movie uses titles over moving images but also uses animation. The producers have made the title sequence an extra scene which two of the main characters are revealed. The narrative of the film isn't revealed, however the audience gets the idea that the little brother likes to prank and black mail the main character. We also learn that she's quite clumsy, which is key in the film. The soundtrack used was a well known song when the movie was released, and is also seen as a girly song which reveals more about the movie and it's genre. The credits are shown in cartoon like fonts, which match the animation which is switched in and out of the title sequence. The animation is the main character's conscience, but is shown doing things and holding items to do with the plot of the film itself.

Order of the Credit titles

• Disney ident
•  Walt Disney presents
• Main Actor
• Film Title
• Production
• Actors
• Casting
• Co-producer
• Music supervisor
• Music composer
• Costume
• Editor
• Production Designer
• Director of photography
• Executive producers
• Based on..
• Producer
• Writer
• Director
• 
  

RESERACH - Film Title Order

Forest Gump Film Title Order

Normally, in film title sequences the Ident is the first thing you see, and usually lasts the longest on screen too. Followed by this are the names of the producers. If in the film are any popular/ well known actors, they're name will appear before the Title of the movie because this will grab the attention of the audience, like in Forest Gump. However, the Title of the movie will appear in a different and larger sized font that the rest of the credits. The film credits of this movie averaged at 5 seconds each name, however the ident lasted 11 seconds. Sometimes, the directors name is shown towards the beginning of the movie, but here, the director is the last credit to be given.

This is the order of the credits in the title sequence of Forest Gump:

• Ident
• Presents
• Production
• A Robert Zemeck's film
• Main Actor
• Movie Title
• Actor
• Casting
• Co-Producer
• Music Producer
• Visual Effects
• Costumes
• Music
• Editor
• Production designer
• Director of Photography
• Based on Novel
• Screenplay
• Produced by
• Directed by

BLOGPOST 8 RESEARCH - PICK YOUR FAVOURITE FILM AND ANALYSE

My favorite film analysis

I choose to pick 'The Last Song' to analyze which was directed by Julie Anne Robinson. From the film opening we see some of the actual film clip (the fire scene) before the actual title sequences with a soundtrack, the scene is very explosive and shocking and people don't have time to prepare for the scene, which sets the tone that the movie will have you confused and unexpectant. The fire in the church lets us know that the film may be about action. We then see a long road which a car is following. The type of sequence used was a discrete title sequence as the film doesn't really reveal much in the opening which creates more questions which the film then answers as it progresses. We see the main character 59 seconds into the movie.

0.15: Touchstone Productions - indents from the distribution and the production company credits in the film at the start. this enables the audience to familiarise themselves with the production company and allows the audience to maybe pick the films according to the indent.

0:59: We see the main character's name (Miley Cyrus) - we saw this before the title so that the audience will see the star and continue the film to end the end. Also the name adds importance to the film as the film wouldn't be able to be successful without a stars in the film. Some ways the stars are more important than the title.

1.02: 'The Last Song' the title - the title was in white font which is really simple and is low budget. the font was also integrated into the film opening. the title was part of an establishing shot which was a wide shot of the car and the road and overlooking the water.

1.07: OFFSPRING ENTERTAINMENT

1.12: LIAM HEMSWORTH

1.16: STAR/BOBBY COLEMAN

1.21: STAR/NICK SEARCY

1.28: STAR/KELLY PRESTON

1.33: STAR/GREG KINNER

1.50: STAR/CARLY CHAIKIN/NICK LASHAWAY  

DIALOUGE FROM THE MAIN CHARACTERS

2:00 STAR/KATE VERNON/HALLOCK BEAU/MELISSA ORDWAY

RESEARCH - Film Title Sequence Analysis

Forest Gump 

The first thing you see in the Title sequence of Forest Gump is the Paramount ident. This then fades out to a video while the soundtrack begins. The video begins by following a white feather through the sky, while the film credits appear. Whilst the camera follows the feather, it begins to establish the location of the film; the town. The feather ends up falling to the feet of Forest Gump, the main character of the movie. Even though the location and main character are established, the title sequence does not indicate or give hints on what the rest of the movie is going to be about. However, the tone is set as a gentle soundtrack is being played while a white feather wonders the sky. Even though the title sequence is soft, it gives off features of adventure as the small feather wonders a large space.

The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo

The title credits for The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo are quite different than the Forest Gump credits. The soundtrack is played before the ident. As well as this, no setting or character from the movie is shown, just little clips that are associated with the film and showed conventions of the Genre. From the title sequence we learn that the film is a Thriller. The film titles show people in a black, dark surrounding. The credits then appear on the screen. The soundtrack is a massive factor of the title sequence as it adds to the creepy effect that the it gives the audience and leaves the audience intrigued as to what the movie is about.

  

RESEARCH - Kyle Cooper

Kyle Cooper has revitalised the main title sequence as an art form and the title sequence form se7en is one of his best and one of the best known.

He reckons that making a title sequence lead seamlessly into the rest of the film is one factor that makes it a good title sequence, along with setting an expectation to the audience. As well as this, Cooper believes that making the audience forget about everything else and focusing on the film is another vital factor which makes a good film title sequence. Additionally, he mentions how features such as fonts are important as it helps set the tone of the movie and also helps the audience determine the genre. 

Cooper reveals that the film title sequence can help the production team show more of the movie as the title sequence can be seen as an extra film. This can put the audience ahead of the film as extra information can be added in.

RESEARCH - Film Opening

In order to create a film opening that will attract an audience, risks have to be taken - questions may not be answered in the rest of the film. A key feature to film openings is that it grabs the audiences attention, or that it causes 'instant arousal'. A good way to do this is to create suspense or shock. This will make the audience intrigued and want to know more about the storyline resulting them to stay intact throughout the duration of the film. As well as this, the opening should not be predictable and should make the audience feel as if they need to know more.

Another factor of a good film opening is to establish the main character(s), the setting and the tone. The challenge of doing so is establishing them all at once. This can be done with the types of camera movement and shots, mise-en-scene, and also soundtrack. This creates the mood of the film opening and instructs the audience how to take on and watch the rest of them film. It should determine whether they should take the film seriously or ease up and get ready for the upcoming humour.