The document discusses the codes and conventions commonly found in film openings. It begins with introducing the main elements like credits, logos, and establishing shots that set the genre and time period. While there are standard conventions, title sequences also allow for creativity. The document then analyzes openings from three specific films to illustrate narrative codes, use of logos and titles, how genre is established, narrative launches, and sound conventions. Film openings aim to hook audiences using visual and auditory elements that provide crucial context and information.

1. Thecodesandconventions
offilmopenings:

2. Anopeningsequencegenerallyhasasequenceofcreditswhichintroducestheprincipal
characters,directorsandproducers.
Theysignalthegenera,andtheperiodoftimetotheaudienceandalsofeaturedproduction
companylogos,studios.
Althoughthereareasetofconventionsthatmostopeningsequencesfollow,atitlesequence
isachanceforcreativityandindividuality,therefortheyareallverydifferentindesignand
worksofartintheirownright.

3. • Artofthetitleistheleadingonlinepublication,onthecreativeprocessbehindthe
productionoftitlesequences,videogames,andfilms.
• IhaveusedthewebsiteArtoftheTitletoresearchthecodesandconventionsofmovie
openings.AmongstthelargercollectionofopeningsIhavefoundthree openingswhich
Ichoosetoanalyseinfurtherdetail:
•TheSilanceoftheLambs(dir.JonathanDemme1991)
•Zombieland(dir.RubenFleischer,2009) *sequencestartsat2:30*
•AmericanHorrorStory(dir.BradleyBuecker,2011)

4. Narrativecodes:
Narrativecodes:
themainaimofanopeningsequenceistohooktheaudiencesotheycarryonwatching.Whenthenarrativeis
launched,itmustbesufficientlyintriguingandcompellingtopersuadetheaudiencethattherestofthefilmmustbe
watched.narrativecanfollowoneoftwoforms:
• ActionCodes-Thestoryprogressesthroughactions,meaninganactioncanchangethenarrativeofthestory,this
islikeachainreactionwhereoneeventleadstoanother.
• EnigmaCodes-Anenigmacodepresentstheaudiencewithaquestion,theviewercontinueswatchingtofindthe
solution,forexampleamurderiscommittedandthefilmisbasedonfindingtheculprit.

5. Logos
Filmopeningsgenerallyfeaturelogosoftheproductioncompanyanddistributor.These
areoftennotacknowledgedbytheaudiencehowever,theygiveinsighttothequalityand
budgetofthefilm,forexampleifa20thCenturyfoxmotionlogoisfeaturedtheaudience
isinstantlygiventheimpressionthatthefilmishasabigbudget.

6. TitlesandTypography
Titlesequencesarekeyintheroleofcapturingtheaudiencesattention,andgenerateaninterestin
thefilm.Fonts,sizeandcolourareusedtovarythetextandarechosentosuitthegeneraoffilm,
andhinttotheaudiencethegeneralthemespresentedinthefilm.ThisiswhatBarthescalled
semioticcodes.

7. Establishinggenre
• Themise-en-scèneisimportantforestablishinggeneraand
createsanimmersiveexperiencefortheaudience.Lightingprops
andstagingallowsfortheviewertogetlostinthescenery,which
ensurestheyexperiencefirsthandemotionsasiftheywereinthe
film.
• Forexampleinahorrormovie,thekeyconventionpresented tothe
audiencewouldbetheuseoflowlightingandanunsettling
environment,tosuggesttotheaudiencesomethingbadisgoingto
happen,whichgeneratessuspenseandmakestheaudiencealert.

8. Launchofnarration
Narrationisusedtointroducethemaincharactersandplottotheaudience,generallythroughvoice
overs.
ForexampleinthetitlesequenceforthefilmSnatch(dirGuyRitchie)Narrator(JasonStratham)
introduceshimselfandpartner(Tommy). HisintenseEastLondoncockneyaccent,instantlygivesthe
audiencetheimpressionthattheyareinvolvedinLondonscriminalunderworld.Inhismonologuehe
alsointroducesthetopicofDiamonds,whichiswhatthefilmisbasedon.

9. SoundInfilmopeningssoundcodesarekeyincreatingatmosphere.Nondiegeticsoundiscommonlyusedasit
instantlyhintsgenera,timeperiodandsetting.Thisinformationgivestheaudienceagreater
understandingtothefilmandthethemesit’stryingtoconvey.Musiccanalsoreflectmoodandallowfor
theaudiencetoexperiencefirsthandemotions.Forexampleinahorrormovieslow,creepy,ambient
musicwouldbeplayedtodrawintheviewerandwouldbefollowedbyintenseviolentmusictosignifyan
attack.
Diegeticsoundcanalsobeusedinamovieopeningtogivetheaudienceanunderstandingofthe
characters,forexampleacharactermightbegivenapieceofdialogue,sotheaudiencecanpickupon
accent,grammarandqualityofspeechtogetaninsightofthatspecificcharacter.