The most common conventions found in film openings

1. Film Opening
conventions
By Sara-Lea Hirstwood

2. Conventions
Most Films openings start with certain conventions
regardless of their genre.These are:
• Studio/Production Company Logo
• Establishing shot/s
• Titles (of key cast and crew)
• Topic/Theme
• Introduction the characters
• Narration/Text
• Action/Event
• Non-Diegetic Music
• Enigma

3. Studio/Productions
Most films start with studio/production logosas they are advertising the
company that has helped them with the fundingand media distribution for
the film. There is always a film studio logo at the start of the film to advertise
the company. i.e. DreamWorks and 20th Century Fox. Some of the logos
change to help match the movie for example the simpsons movie with
Ralph singing the tune of the 20th century fox movie, he is also stood in the
logo, this signifies the comedic value to the movie.
Antz (1998) Simpsons Movie (2007)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=7NDgUC3NPX4
Simpsons movie video for the audio effect.

4. Establishing Shot
Establishing shotsare common inthe introduction to a film.It is a shot that sets
out the location at the start of the film this is used so that the audience can
distinguish where they are to settle them into the film. Both of the films
below show the setting of the of the opening scene. It is more common to
have an establishing shot in the later era as most modern films skips the the
establishing shot to create more enigma.
Apocalypse Now (1979) Jaws (1975)

5. Titles/Opening credits
The titles on films are the opening credits, this is a list of the most important
members of the production. These generally include featured actors, the
directors and producers. The titles is also the name of the movie.Today
many opening credits take more of a creative approach using computer
graphics and visual effects. Generally most of the cast and crew titles are in
a particularorder, this may make it easier for the audience to know about the
important members of the film. The order of credits has pretty much stayed
the same for most of film history.
Blue Velvet (1986) The Shining (1980)

6. Topic/Theme
The topic/theme of a film is the story within the genre, it is what happens in the
film opening, whether it is a comedy or horror most of the time there will be
a theme in the opening scene this could be to comfort the audience into the
film, but other films may not have a theme as it may challenge the
convention to make the audience feel disorientated,to think about what is
going on. The theme is also helps with the the audience as it will contain
generic conventions to help the audience to distinguish what the genre is.
The topic is everything that happens in the opening scene to help lead the
audience on. Love Actually is a great opening for theme as there is a theme
of love as everyone is hugging at the airport to love them. The Dark Knight
is also a good opening for theme as all of the people who are wearing clown
masks are the bad guy like The Joker.
Love Actually (2003) Batman: The Dark Knight (2008)

7. Introduction to the characters
The introduction to the characters i, in the opening scene this is where they
generally show the main characters as it signifies their importance in the
film, it also help the audience to know who is important in the film. In some
films the main characters are not shown in the opening scene this may be to
challenge the conventions of usual films this connotes mystery and
confusion as the audience will not know what is going on. The introduction
to characters is the first impression, A saying "you'll never get a second
chance to make a first impression this means that when the characters are
being presented the won't get another chance to make the audience appeal
to the characters. Friends with benefits has the two main characters in the
opening scene this too is emphasise the importance in the film. Anger
management also shows the two people at the start of the film.
Main Characters
Friends withBenefits (2011) Anger Management (2003)

8. Narration/Text
The narration/text is information for the audience to know what is going on in
the movie. In some films the narration/text is not shown this is to challenge
the conventions and make it confusing for the audience as it adds a little
mystery to the opening scene. Other films have a non-diegetic voice the
background this helps the audience with what is going on but makes it more
interesting as they can see a visual effect but hear the audio effect as
well.Films like Star Wars arefamous for the text in the opening scene as it
shows clearly what is going on and it has a visual effect to help with the
genre of that film. Football Factory is a great example of narration but
someone saying it rather than reading what is going on.
Star Wars (1977) Football Factory (2004)

9. Action/Event
The action/event is the story that is going on during the opening scene, this is
generally a little plot at the start of the film, this helps the audience figure out
what is going on and what is about to happen in the main part of the film.
Sometime there is not an event at the start of the opening this could be
because is trying to concentrate on something else within the opening like
the shot of the location or non-diegetic music lying in the background. The
action also help the audience figure out what the genre of the film is going
to be because if it was rom-com it is unlikely to have a fighting scene in the
opening scene. In the opening scene of Black Hawk Down there is a little
anecdote this gets us wondering about the movie with its own event at the
start.
Black Hawk Down (2001)

10. Non-Diegetic/Diegetic Music
Non-Diegetic Music is when at the start of the movie the actors/actresses may
be getting on with something else but they are not likely to be talking as
there will be music in the background that will not be in the world with the
actors, depending on the genre depends on the type of music that will be
played in the background. We know of that certain sounds are represented
with certain genres as different noises can represent different things. Non-
diegetic conventions can be used to create ambiguity to surprise the
audience. Sometimes there will not be any non-diegetic music as there may
be more important things in the film to concentrate on. Diegetic music is
when the music is being played in the world of the actors like on a radio or
tape player. Billy Elliot has diegetic music as it is played on a record player.
10 Things I Hate About You is a good example of a film that has non-
diegetic music in the film opening.
Billy Elliot (2000) 10 Things I Hate About You (1999)

11. Enigma
Enigma in the film opening is the unanswered questions at the start. Depending
on the situation depend on the type unanswered questions. Some of the
main questions that are generally asked are 'Where are they', 'What are
they doing' and 'Who are they'. Questions like this are generally asked at
the start as it drags the attention of the audience to get them thinking and
carries on watching the film. Enigma is a good way to interact with the
audience as it helps them think about what is going to happen. Rain Man
asks the question why are the cars so important and who are the people
talking over the phones. top gun also asked the question who are the
people in the silhouette and why are they flying planes.
Rain Man (1988) Top Gun (1986)