Independent Research on Film Openings

Nathan

History of film openings:

In a motion picture, television programme or video game, the opening credits are shown at the very beginning and list the most important members of the production. They are now usually shown as text superimposed on a blank screen or static pictures, or sometimes on top of an action shot in the background. There may or may not be accompanying music. When opening credits are built into a separate sequence of their own this is a title sequence which most films use. Opening credits since the early 1980s, if present at all, show the main actors and crew, while the closing credits list an extensive cast and production crew. Historically however, opening credits have been the only source of crew credits. In movies and television, the title and opening credits may be preceded by a cold open or teaser that helps to set the stage for the film. In the 1970s opening credits were seen to keep in a lot of detail and only present important members of the crew. Some opening credits are presented over the opening sequences of a film, rather than in a separate title sequence. The opening credits 1993 film The Fugitive continued over 15 minutes into the film.

Mainstream and Independent:

The difference between an independent and mainstream film is that an independent film targets a niche audience, this is a small group of individuals, this means that these types of films usually have a more specific topic compared to a mainstream film, which is more generalised. Mainstream films tend to have a broader topic as they want to target a larger audience to generate more  money from the film. Film openings usually contain the institutional logo of the production company, there may be two or more logos depending on the amount of production companies involved. Independent films usually have more smaller production companies, however mainstream films usually have two big production companies. Film openings contain Non-diegetic and diegetic sound. The diegetic is usually dialogue and the non-diegetic could be a narration or music. The titles in the film opening usually correspond with the genre of the film as the font and style they are displayed needs to portray the genre. Overall film openings usually give the audience a slight insight to what may occur throughout the film or it will give key hints which may be foreshadowed for later on in the film.