1. LO: TO IDENTIFY AND EXPLORE
FORMS AND CONVENTIONS OF
FILM OPENINGS
Film Opening Conventions

2. Production Logo’s
 A production logo is used to promote the business
behind the making of the movie. The production
logos are usually shown at the start of a movie which
may help to entice the audience if it is a popular
movie making business such as a companies like:

3. Titles
 At the beginning of almost every single film there are a
few titles. Titles can also be used to get the audience
interested. They do this by using key names of
individuals that may have helped produce this film such
as, Steven Spielberg. Many films also include key actors
names in there films to entice the audience and make
them want to watch it for example a key popular actor
such as John Travolta. Titles also help present the genre
of the film such as if it was a horror film the titles are
stereotypically going to be red and dark colours as these
conventions help the audience establish the genre as red
and dark lighting is usually associated with the horror
genre.

4. Examples Of Opening Film Titles

5. Establishing Genre
 Within the opening scenes of a film the audience should be
able to establish what kind of type and genre the film is.
The producers help the audience to do this by giving key
conventions of the type of genre for example in an action
movie there could be tense music to set the scene and
maybe a big explosion or a blocked font for the title. Mis-
en-scene is used in the opening scene to help the audience
establish the type of film genre the film is going to be.
For example the blocked capitals and the
costumes (mis-en-scene) help to
establish that the film Band Of Brothers
is a war based film.

6. Establishing Key Characters.
 In the opening scene of The Transporter Jason Statham’s
name comes up in the titles to show the name of the key
actors. He also helps the audience to establish the genre by
firstly, holding a gun and having a smart uniform. The
audience will all suspect or already know that this film is
going to be an action based film mainly because of the
props, costumes, titles and the actors involved in the film.
This all helps to establish the key character as the main
character is involved from the very opening scenes of the
film.

7. Establishing Locations
 The location of the film in the opening scenes also gives the
audience an understanding of what the film is about. For
example the setting of Alien Vs Predator: Requim in the
opening scene is on a far away planet with nothing humane
in the scene. It is all aliens and futuristic technology. These
are all conventions used to help give the audience an
understanding of what to expect in the film for example in
this film they will expect science fiction, action and partly
horror.

8. Themes
 The themes are a big part in the opening scenes. It is crucial that the
producers help get across what the film is going to be about and
what to expect and at least hint at what the main storyline is going
to be. If the theme is not made clear in the opening scene then the
audience may lose interest quickly and may not be able to follow the
storyline later on in the film. For example in the film Black Hawk
Down the producers make it clear in the opening scene what to
expect and what the film is going to be about through the use of text
and titles.

9. Sound
 In opening scenes of films there is usually sound. Non-diegetic and diegetic
sound. Non-diegetic is the most common as it helps set the scene for the
audience and conveys the type of genre and what to expect in the film. For
example slow and tense music will be used in a horror. However, some opening
films use diegetic music to help set the scene were the actors can hear the
sound. This is usually used in film genres such as comedy where the actor may
be dancing too a funny type of music to help the audience establish the genre.
For example in Cheaper By The Dozen’s opening scene where all the actors can
hear the radio playing and are all cheery in the kitchen.

10. Enigma
A person or thing that is mysterious, puzzling, or difficult to understand. A riddle
or paradox.
 Producers use enigma during the opening scene of a film to help create
questions and tension right from the very start to entice the audience.
Enigma keeps the audience interested in the film and wanting to find
out the questions that are going through there heads. Therefore it keeps
the audience intrigued and wanting to watch the rest of the film. It is a
key factor in keeping the audience hooked from the start. A good
example of enigma being created would be at the start of the film
Woman In Black where the 3 little innocent girls jump from the
window ledge. This leaves the audience in shock and creates enigma
and many questions the audience may ask such as; ‘why did they jump
from the window?’
 Link to movie opening scene of Woman In Black:
http://www.moviefanatic.com/videos/the-woman-in-black-opening-
scene/

11.  They main conventions of an opening sequence are:
 Credits (of main people i.e protagonist, director, writer etc.)
 Title of film
 Company that the film is made by. (possible logo)
 Hint to genre of film/theme
 Sound
 Encoded signifiers (i.e a axe will mean it possibly has killing)
 Possible introduction of character/s
 Narrative enigma
 linear/non-linear narrative
 possible mise-en-scene and location

12. Film Openings
 http://www.totalfilm.com/features/20-awesome-
movie-openings
 http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2008/12/19/3
0-unforgettable-movie-title-sequences/
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BBRQ8XUJOeI

13. L O : T O B E A B L E T O A N A L Y S E A S T I L L I M A G E
T O A P P L Y C O R R E C T M E D I A T E R M I N O L O G Y
Analysing a still image

14. What to analyse?
 Camera
 Mise-en-scene (costume, colour, lighting)
 Characters
 Genre
 Setting

17. Analyse the next two examples…
 Camera
 Mise-en-scene (costume, colour, lighting)
 Characters
 Genre
 Setting
1) How do these aspects clearly indicate the
genre/narrative?
2) How do we know what the character(s) are
thinking/feeling? Is it just through their facial
expressions? Why/why not?

20. Genres
 Action-adventure
 Sci-fi
 Horror
 Thriller
 Rom-com
 Crime
 Western
Find out the genre conventions for the genre you are given.
You will then go out and create your own still image for
that genre. Try to take multiple shots and we will analyse
your best shots as a class when you return.

21.  http://www.slideshare.net/zlorhenley/uses-and-
gratifications-theory-6933502
 http://www.slideshare.net/KleanthisSotiriou/hypod
ermic-needle-theory-11056271#

22. Uses and gratification theory
 Personal identification
 Information
 Entertainment
 Social interaction