Typical Title Order in Opening Sequences to Films

In many opening sequences the order that the titles goes in is the same. This order usually is:
-Distribution Company Logo
-Production Company Logo
-'Distribution Company' Presents
-A 'Production Company' Production/Film
-Most Important Actors Name
-All Major Characters in that Film going down in importance (sometimes 2 or 3 show up together)
-Casting by 'Insert Name' (starts with the leader(s) of the 'behind the scenes' staff, starting with least important going to most important)
-Costume Design 'Insert Name(s)'
-Music by 'Insert Name(s)'
-Edited by 'Insert Name(s)'
-Production Designer 'Insert Name(s)'
-Director of Photography 'Insert Name(s)' (usually has ASC, which is a credit they receive, after their name'
-Executive Producer 'Insert Name(s)'
-Produced by 'Insert Name(s)'
-Written and Directed by 'Insert Name(s)' (these can appear separately on the screen)

The title of the film is very different because it has no set position although it usually goes at the beginning, just before the first actors name or right at the end of the opening titles



This clip is from Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery (Roach, 1997, USA/ Germany)



This clip is from The Sixth Sense (Shayamalan, 1999, USA)



This clip is from The Dark Knight Rises (Nolan, 2012, USA/ UK)

The Brief...

Conventions to Opening Sequences of Films

The first convention that all opening sequences to a film is that they must have titles. This is because it is going to be telling you the title of the film you are going to watch, also it tells you the main actors in the film going from most important to least important (but generally not telling you which character they play) and also it tells you who the 'behind the scenes' people are, going from least important to most important.



This clip is taken from Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery (Roach, 1997, USA / Germany)



This clip is from 007 James Bond : Skyfall (Mendes, 2012, UK/USA)



This clip is from Spiderman 2 (Raimi, 2004, USA)



The second convention to many opening sequences to films is that they settle the audience down. This is because it is the beginning so people are still getting comfortable in their seats so they need to entice them to watch the rest of the film from the off.



This clip is from The Sixth Sense (Shyamalan, 1999, USA)



This clip is from Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (Spielberg, 2008, USA)



The third convention that many opening sequences to films is that they start at equilibrium, which is where everything is normal and nothing bad has happened yet. This is because when something bad happens later on in the film, the audience will know that something bad has happened because they have seen what normal for that film is.



This clip is from National Treasure (Turteltaub, 2004, USA)



This clip is from The Sorcerer's Apprentice (Turteltaub, 2010, USA)

Analasys of 'Wallander' (Firewall, 7th December 2008, BBC1)

In Wallander Cinematography is used to create many different meanings. For example and establishing shot is used, which shows the ocean and looking over the land which is hills and green space, this creates meanings of isolation and mystery. This establishing shot creates the meaning of isolation because it is showing just countryside and in the countryside there are very few houses and very few people. This means that any person that is there is away from civilization which means they are isolated and the audience would think of this so they would also feel isolated. This establishing shot also creates a meaning of mystery because it will make the audience think 'why are we at the ocean?' and 'why are we over the sea?' Also it creates a meaning of mystery because it is only showing the setting and not any detail to what is happening there so it will make the audience wonder what is happening here. Another part of cinematography that creates a meaning of mystery is a shallow focus of when you see the dead mans taxi card in focus but everything else is out of focus.This creates a meaning of mystery because in the background we are seeing the 2 girls walk quickly away but we can't see them properly so it will make the audience ask 'did they kill this man?' and 'who are they?' Also it makes a sense of mystery because we are seeing a dead person and we are asking 'why is this man dead?'

In Wallander Mise-en-Scene is used to create many different meanings. For example the hair and costume of the woman on the right which is red hair and leather jacket creates a meaning of this girl being rebellious. This meaning is created because red has connotations of danger and people that are rebellious are usually dangerous and unpredictable towards others also the connotations of a leather jacket makes you think of bickers which also never did what they were told and played by there own rules which suggests the woman is like this also. Another part of Mise-en-Scene that creates meaning is the dark blue/grey filter creating the meaning of sadness and scariness towards the audience. This dark blue/black filter creates the meaning of scariness because it makes the whole scene look very eerie and dark, and the connotations of darkness is that it is scary because we can't see what is in it properly so we have a fear of the unknown so this tells the audience to be scared.

 




 

In Wallander Sound is used to create many different meanings. For example diegetic sound of the wind blowing creates a meaning of fear and coldness. This diegetic sound creates a meaning of fear because the connotations of wind blowing heavily is that something isn't right or something bad is going to happen or has just happened so this creates fear in the audience by making them think something bad is going to happen. Also it creates a meaning of coldness because when the wind blowing it is usually cold but also it is saying that the mood is cold and foul because the wind doesn't sound warm or friendly.


In Wallander Editing is used to create many different meanings. For example the fast paced editing when we see the women's faces for the first time creates a meaning of unnerving the audience. This fast paced editing creates this meaning of unnerving the audience because it is trying to tell the audience that these girls aren't safe and that they should be seen at the bad people and also this would make the audience think 'why did these girls kill this man?'  
 

Analysis of Memonto (Nolan, 2000, US)

In Memento Editing is used to create many different meanings. For example it not being in chronological order creates a meaning of confusion and change of perception in the audience and making the audience think of the bigger picture about why he did it rather than who did it. This sequence breaking convention creates the meaning of confusion and change of perception because convention is starting with introducing the characters then near the end is them killing the person, this is breaking convention so it is starting with the killing this will confuse the audience because it is showing who has done it straight away so it will make the audience think 'why has he done this?' rather than 'who did this?'

In Memento Mise-en-Scene is used to create many different meanings. For example the low key lighting creating many shadows on the shooters face creates meaning of danger and anxiety. This low key lighting creates this meaning of danger because the shadows created, create blackness on and the screen and the connotations of black are that there is danger because we don't no what is in there so therefore we don't want to find out we want to go away rather than go towards it. Also another meaning that is created is that of high status of the shooter because he is in a suit. This costume creates the meaning of high status because the connotations of a suit is that they are well off and have a well paid job and has a good lifestyle and this is seen as being higher up than people with manual labour jobs.

 

 

 

 

In Memento cinematography was used to create many different meanings. For example the close up of the person being shot creates a meaning of fear for the audience. This close up creates this meaning because it shows the fear in the person who wass shots eyes which then tells the audience to be scared because since he is scared we should be. Also another meaning that is created is that of higher status of the man due to a high angle shot. This creates this meaning because it makes him look like he is looking over us which should make the audience feel scared which gives him a higher status than us and the other man.



In Memento sound is used to create many different meanings. For example the sound is slow which creates a meaning of very much sad and lonely. this makes this meaning  because violins are generally seen to be very sad instruments and make a very sad sound so it would make the audience feel the same way.

 



Analysis of Opening to 'Brick' (Johnson, 2005, US)

In Brick cinematography is used to create many different meanings. For example an extreme long shot of when the boy is in his school and is at his locker showing the corridor and all of the lockers is used to create a meaning of isolation but also to show us who he is but none of his details so what his face looks like. this creates this meaning of isolation because in a school you would expect to see many students going around the place, looking in there lockers and getting ready for class, but all you see is this one boy surrounded by emptiness, this is loose framing. This creates the isolation meaning because the fact that you see no one means that he is not a very popular kid, he may be different and that people try and avoid him. This makes the audience ask questions like, 'why is he on his own?' 'Why is no one there with him?'

In Brick Mise-en-Scene is used to create many different meanings. For example the costume the boy is wearing is has black shoes on which creates a meaning that he is smart. this creates the meaning that he is smart because black shoes are generally worn by people in suits and that is normally seen as smart and this would make the audience ask, since he is smart he surely wouldn't have the ability or thought process to kill someone so why is he looking and staring at a dead person. Also the costume of him wearing circular glasses creates a meaning that he is a 'geek' and this would make the audience think since he is a 'geek' he would not be able to kill someone because they are week and always in fear.

In Brick, Sound is used to create many different meanings. For example only the hyperbolic sound being heard of the note being dropped and being opened creates a meaning of uncertainty and also it creates tension. This hyperbolic sound creates this meaning of uncertainty because since it is the only sound being heard it makes the audience feel that this note is really important and makes them ask 'what does this note say?' also it creates tension because it makes the audience feel that this note must be influential to the rest of this film because it is the only thing being heard.

In Brick, editing is used to create many different meanings. For example the slow paced editing at the very beginning when the young boy is being shown to us and the situation is being shown to us creates meaning of uncertainty and make it seem they are trying to hide the boys identity. the slow paced editing creates this meaning of uncertainty because it makes the audience wonder what is going on and what has happened for this boy to be staring like that. Also it creates tension by hiding his face because not showing the persons face makes the audience feel uneasy because they don't know what this person looks like or who he is.

Analysis of 'The Sixth Sense' (Shyamalan, 1999, US)

Sound
In 'The Sixth Sense' sound is used to create many meanings. One technique that creates meaning is a sting when the words 'The Sixth Sense' appear. The meaning that this creates is frightening towards the audience and to create a relation to the fact that the title is meant to be scary. This shows this to the audience because the connotations of high pitched fast violin noises is danger and scary goings on and creates a mystery as to what is going to happen next. Other sounds that creates meaning is when the woman is standing holding her bottle of wine and you hear hyperbolic creeks and cracks from behind her creating a meaning of anxiety and mystery and fear due to us and the woman not knowing where the noises are coming from. this meaning is created because the typical connotations of creeks is that someone or something is sneaking around in the shadows of where they shouldn't be. This also creates the mystery because it makes the audience ask, why are they there and how did they get there?

Cinematography
In 'The Sixth Sense' cinematography is used to create many meanings. One camera shot which is used that creates meaning is at the beginning when it is an extreme close up of an old light bulb turning on. The meanings that this creates is that of confusion and fear because after it is on, it shows details on the bulb to suggest it is old and in an old part of the house. This meaning is created because it is showing a very minute part of the room and showing detail on that bulb to suggest what the rest of the room will look like. and the connotations of the oldness which is shown on the bulb suggests that it is in a neglected part of the house which people don't like going into, this also creates the meaning of scared and they should be scared on the audience because places that people don't want to go into are usually scary and this is shown by the close up on the bulb because it also looks dusty.



Mise en scene
In 'The Sixth Sense' mise en scene is used to create many meanings. One technique that creates meaning is the use of low key lighting when the woman is walking down into the wine cellar. This creates meaning of fear and anxiety in the audience because very dark shadows are created. This creates this meaning because the connotations of shadows are that there is something there in them but we can't see. and shadows create darkness and as humans when we see darkness we think our vision has been cut off so we get scared because we cant see what is there and if anything is there. This also gives the audience anxiety and makes the audience feel sorry for the woman because she is going into this dark and creepy place unaware of what could be in there. Also coupling with this is the woman's costume which is a long dress and high heels. This also makes the audience feel sorry for the woman because if something were to come out and chase her, high heels are very hard to run in so the woman would be caught much easier, same thing with a long dress as well.










Editing
In 'The Sixth Sense' Editing is used to create many meanings. One piece of editing that creates meaning is the fading in and out of the serif font titles. Doing this creates meanings of mystery and suspense. This creates this meaning because the serif font makes it look important and old, plus the fading in and out goes with the soundtrack which then together they create a meaning of mystery and suspense because it makes the audience ask what is going to happen next and what is going to scare me in this film? Which makes the audience look forward to see if they can find out what the creature is in this film, also it creates the mystery because it the darkness in the background means they can't see anything else which make the audience wonder what is in this darkness.