The document discusses several codes and conventions that are commonly found in film title sequences. It notes that typical title sequences include logos for studios and distributors to set expectations, the film title and credits for key cast/crew, and introduce principal characters or pose narrative questions to engage viewers. Visual elements like mise-en-scene, as well as audio cues, help establish genre and atmosphere for the film. The document provides several examples to illustrate different techniques for title sequences.

1. Film Opening Codes and
Conventions
Sarah Millard

2. The Art Of The Title
• The Art Of The Title is a website where a variety of different film,
television, game, conference and video title sequence designs are
published. It is run by Editor-in-Chief Lola Landekic.
• During the research process for my own title sequence I used The Art
Of The Title to look into the codes and conventions of a typical title
sequence. It has been extremely helpful in my research as I have
analysed 4 different title sequences including:
• The Widowmaker (Patrick Forbes), 2015
• Gone Girl (David Fincher), 2014
• Delicatessen (Marc Caro and Jean-Pierre
Jeunet), 1991
• Sherlock Holmes (Guy Ritchie), 2009

3. Examples of title sequences I
have looked at

4. The Main Conventions Of An
Opening Sequence
• A title sequence is the opening of a film. It introduces the audience to the
main cast as well as the crew who have all worked together to produce
that particular film. It helps the audience to understand the genre of the
film they are about to watch.
• After looking at a variety of title sequences, I have found that a typical title
sequence includes:
• Logos for distributors, studios, production companies
• The Title
• The Typography
• Principal actors
• Credits such as: Director

5. Logos for distributors, studios and
production companies
• A title sequence typically begins with the logo of
the film studio as well as the distributor.
• Dependant on the distributor, the audience will
have certain expectations of the film they are
about to watch.
• An example is the Warner Brothers Logo, for this
distributor the audience will expect a big budget
block buster.
• Warner Brothers is a broad-based entertainment company, and they
distribute 18-22 films each year.

6. Other examples of Logos
for distributors, studios,
production companies

7. The Title And Typography
• Each film will differ in the typography used for their credits as
well as their film title.
• The font, colour and the style of the typography makes a
significant impact on the atmosphere and mood that is created.
• A good example is the film IT (2017), the font, colour and style
chosen for this Title creates an eerie atmosphere.
• This is due to the title appearing as if someone had used their
finger to write it, danger is further suggested through the colour
of the title (red).
• The slogan ‘You’ll float too’ has the connotations of lifelessness,
as when something is lifeless it tends to float. This therefore
suggests death, which helps the audience to know the genre
(horror)

8. Other examples of Titles
and typography

9. Credits
• Credits are typical in an opening sequence. The credits usually name
the cast as well as the team involved with the filming and editing
process.
• At the beginning the principal actors are named, usually with the
more famous ones being named first.
• The main actors are named first because the audience may have a
liking to that actor so may be interested in the film due to them
playing a part in it.
• The other credits such as the film photographer, and the costume
designer are named later on in the opening sequence so that the
audience are aware of who else was involved with the filming and
editing process of the film they are about to watch.

10. Other examples of credits

11. Narrative
• The narrative is vital in a good opening sequence. It
introduces the main characters as well as the plot to the
audience viewing.
• Voice overs are used often, it helps the audience to
understand the visuals which are shown alongside this.
• In American Psycho, there is a first person voiceover used
from Patrick Bateman.
• This invites the audience into his life, helping the audience
to become aware of his compulsive behaviour.
• Love Actually contrasts with this as Hugh Grant has a very
warm, romantic voice.

12. Narrative Codes
• Roland Barthes suggests that the majority of film openings launch a
narrative that falls into either the action code or the enigma code.
• Action codes/ Proairetic Codes are significant as they move the film in a
particular direction. Action codes teach the audience new things, such as,
something new about a character or even the plot of the film. Some
narratives will have a plot which unfolds and one action leads to another.
• A film narrative with an enigma code pose questions which are then
answered later on in the film, they are questions which make the audience
want to continue watching to find out this information. It makes them
curious. A film narrative with an enigma code also drives a story forward.
The Hermeneutic Code refers to the story with any elements which have
not yet been fully explained. As a result of this it becomes a mystery to the
viewer, they therefore want to continue watching to find out what and why
that has happened.

13. Enigma
• Enigma codes pose questions which are then answered
and revealed later on in the film.
• Enigma is used to make the audience want to continue
watching on, if there is no big question then the audience
may have a lack of interest to continue watching.
• In my own opening sequence, the big question the
audience is left with is: 'Does the witness expose the
Government's plan or does he get 'silenced'?‘ this creates
enigma.
• The Woman in Black is a really good example of when
enigma is used. The audience question who is the woman
and why is she haunting people?

14. Genre
• To help the audience identify the genre, the visual codes
such as the mise-en-scene are really vital in helping the
audience identify the genre.
• The costumes, props, location, lighting which are all a
part of the visual codes really present the genre. For
example, horrors may set their film in an abandoned
house which creates an unnerving atmosphere within
the audience.
• Another example is the angelic lighting in romantic films
such as The Notebook, which suggests love and warmth.
• In this example from Saw, the lighting and the fake blood
on the floor and the location of the filthy, destructed
bathroom all help the audience to know that the genre is
a horror as it creates an eerie atmosphere.

15. Other examples of where Mise-en-scene
helps the audience to identify the genre.

16. Audio codes
• Audio is also a key element in creating a certain atmosphere.
• In horrors, such as The Silence of the Lambs the music used
throughout the film is dramatic, suspenseful and causes
tension within the audience. This results in the audience
being hooked by the frightening atmosphere which has
been created.
• By contrast, comedies and romantic films such as Step
Brothers which will have joyful, uplifting music which will aid
in making their target audience feel good whilst they are
watching it. Titanic has dramatic and emotional music which
accompanies the visual codes during the more upsetting
scenes, it also helps with connecting the audience to the
characters.