Film Opening Conventions

By Will De Ath

Studio titles and logos

• Studio titles and logos are usually one of the first things to be shown on screen in a film.

• These Studios can be a large or a smaller company showing different types of logos and titles depending on their popularity.

Studio titles and logos

• For example, Twickenham Film Studios, who are a smaller company, do not have a set logo for their company so they just use a title to show their name:

• On the other hand larger film studios like Warner Bros. stick to a set logo to display their company name:

Studio titles and logos

• Studio’s logos can give us a suggestion of what the genre could be before the film starts.

• An example of this is shown in a Warner Bros. film. This film shows the Warner Bros. logo in a dark, black and white version:

• This shows us a instant look of what the film’s genre might be like as this one connotes that it could be a thriller.

Genres

• Most film opening try to show the genre clearly before the film starts which makes the audience feel the mood and atmosphere of the film and therefore keeps them interested.

• They do this by their titles, logos, sound, camera shots, actors, editing and lighting.

Genres

• For example the film ‘Visioneers’ shows Zach Galifianakis, a comedy actor, who suggests to the viewer the film’s genre of comedy.

• All these aspects try to show the viewer what the establishing genre is.

Characters

• Film openings usually show the main characters in the first 2-3 minutes to establish what is on with them and who they are in the film.

• This is important to the film as it introduces the audience to what is expected out of the film from the type and genre of the actors playing the parts.

Characters

• The film openings normally show them in a mid shot/close up shot to show the audience what they are like as a character.

• This is done to suggest to the audience more of the establishing genre and the themes that fit around the characters.

Text

• The text in film opening scenes are key for establishing genres and themes in films

• For example, the different types of font, sizes and colours of the text can instantly influence you on what the film may be about.

• The film 40 year old virgin shows a simple title in plan white connoting to the viewers that it could be a comedy about a simple man.

Sound

• The sound in film openings is one of the most key things that make the viewer interested and makes them understand the genre and themes easier.

• For example, the film Gran Torino starts with a instrumental version of the theme song sung by Jamie Cullum – Gran Torino. This suggests to us that as the song artist is of a Jazz style this shows the audience that it is in for a sad film that the Jazz music has set.