2. Opening Sequences
■ An opening sequence is used by films or television programs to present their title,
key production and cast members, or both, utilizing visuals and sound
■ It helps establish the setting and tone of the program
■ They can consist of live action, animation, music, still images, and/or graphics
3. Conventions
■ Studio/Production Company Logo
■ Titles (cast and crew)
■ Genre
■ Themes
■ Establishing the genre
■ Introduction of characters
■ Action/Events
■ Sound
■ Narrations andText
■ Engima
4. Studio/Productions
■ Always shown
■ Often show the distribution companies involved in the production of the media text
■ They are expected by the audience
■ Help the audience to set up expectations for the film (Warner Brothers – likely to
expect a big budget block buster
5. Titles
■ Acknowledgment of those involved with the production of the media text and their
role
■ Regardless of the genre these titles are presented in a standard format:
1) Production company
2) Producers’ names
3) Director’s name
4)Title of the film
5)The highest grossing actor
6) Supporting cast
7) Crew
■ Help attract audiences, particularly if the actors are famous
6. Establishing the genre
■ Key genre conventions are used to help audience identify the genre e.g. - within a
thriller the key convention would be low lighting to create tension and dissonant eerie
music
■ A character or event will also often occur that is typical for that particular genre e.g. - if
it is a comedy someone falling over
7. Theme
■ The topic/theme is the story within the genre
■ Used to ease and comfort the audience into the film and give them a hint on what the
narrative is going to be
■ E.g. –The Dark Knight opens with several fast pace cut shots of people in clown mask
costumes in the process of robbing a bank, this creates enigma for the audience and
leads them on to the view the entire film
8. Establishing characters
■ One of the key conventions in opening sequences as it shows the characters
importance and statues within the film
■ Some films do not do this, they want to challenge the usual conventions of film and
create an element of mystery and confusion for the audience
■ The characters quite often help the audience identify the genre because certain actors
are linked with specific genres e.g. – Jenifer Aniston is associated with romantic
comedy’s)
9. Narration/text
■ Helps the audience to understand what is going on within the film
■ Some films may have non diegetic sound to make it more interesting
■ Films like StarWars use text as it clearly shows what is going on
10. Sound
■ Usually sound (diegetic and non-diegetic)
■ Non-diegetic is most common
■ However, some use diegetic music where the actors can hear the sound e.g. Cheaper
ByThe Dozen where all the characters can hear the radio and are all cheery in the
kitchen
■ Some films use contrapuntal sound to challenge conventions and to add some
mystery
■ Films such as Harry Potter use theme music in which the same iconic theme music is
played at the beginning of each film
