This document provides a detailed summary and analysis of the opening credits sequence of an unnamed film. It analyzes the stylistic choices, ordering of credits, and use of lighting, music and imagery to set an ominous, mysterious tone and build intrigue around the narrative. Key details like the director and lead actors are revealed early to draw in audiences, while the title is delayed to increase tension. Distorted images and text flash by quickly to disorient the viewer and hint at disturbing plot elements, leaving them primed for the start of the film.

1. This is the first text shown in the whole
opening and is portraying the distributor
'New line Cinemas' which as a major
company as it later merged with Warner
Brothers. This suggests that, at the time,
the film was fairly large and and had a big
budget due to it's release being popular.
Showing it first, also connotes that the
company had a large contribution to the
film.
The font colour is white which
connotes innocence, purity and
naivety and contrasts with the dark
and ominous feeling background. The
colour therefore could also
foreshadow the narrative with
innocent people being caught up in
horrific events. The white colour of
the font is quite effective as it is
almost luminous, casting a surreal
and mysterious atmosphere. The
contrast the white brings instantly
draws in the audiences attention to
the text, with it standing out so vividly,
and then keeps the attention with the
text being so aglow. The high-key
lighting of the text creates questions
as to the relationship of it in contrast
to the low-key lighting and about it's
meaning within the narrative.
Strangely, at the beginning the text it tells us that David
Finch created the film (from which we deduce he is the
director) only it doesn't say his role, as that comes at the
end of the opening, and so this suggests that they want to
let the audience know straight away that he is largely
involved ( possibly to draw in a secondary audience of
those who are fans of David Fincher's work).

2. The first names shown are of
those who are the main actors
in the film and who also are the
most famous and well-known in
real-life. This results in the
audience instantly being drawn
in and intrigued to watch the
rest due to their knowledge of
other great films they've been.
Showing them straight away
also keeps their secondary
audience interested and willing
to watch as they may be
watching only due to being fans
of either of the two actors
instead of the film and it's
genre.
The text is shown with only a
plain black back drop which
causes the information regarding
the actors to be more prominent.
The audience isn't distracted by
anything happening in the
background and thus their
attention is completely on the
text.

3. The title of the film is shown
approximately 25 seconds into
the opening sequence which
increases tension and curiosity by
withholding the information.
However, due to it being shown
slightly later on makes it more
dramatic when it is finally shown.
The positioning of the title, to the
left, gives it a quirky and slightly
more erratic feel, than if it was
positioned traditionally in the
centre, which is coherent with the
rest of the film.
The title starts off small and the
same size as the rest of the
text, causing it to appear
inoffensive. However, the title
quickly flashes across the
screen causing the audience to
see a glimpse of the enlarged
title. This comes as a shock,
builds anticipation and makes
you take note of its significance.
The letter 'V' is replaced by a
'7', which could further
foreshadow and provide insight
into the narrative, and provides
the film with a recognisable and
distinct image.

4. All the text is in a font reflecting almost scratchy handwriting, which connotes the films hybrid
genre of horror and physiological thriller, and also creates a sense of foreboding. There's almost a
child-like feel to the writing which causes it to be eerie and sinister. All of the names displayed are
that of the minor actors who don't have as big a part in the film and yet notable enough to be
shown on their own. The movement of each piece of text is unique, but they all move and distort
in some way. This is accompanied by ominous music that is mostly made up of creepy, non-
diegetic sounds such as that of creaking doors and noises created by something possible
identifiable as a razor? However, some of these noises could be diegetic due to bad visibility of
what's happening in the background and the blurry, low depth of field.

5. Throughout the opening sequence you
receive flashes of images or text that are
mainly incomprehensible due to the speed
and erratic way it is shown. The writing that
is shown is that of a twisted nature, which
suggests what may happen in the narrative,
and is used both to shock and intrigue the
audience. This makes them want to
continue watching, so as to see what will
unfold.
These three names are shown grouped together due to their similar job roles being involved
with the casting. Still in keeping with the rest of the film, the text is shown overlaid an eerie
and disturbing picture with incoherent scratches and letters flashing over the top. An
example of this, is the word 'warning' appearing on the screen so quickly the audience
doesn't have time to consciously read it, however they do register the gist of what is says. All
of this fits with the films genre by it being disturbing but keeping the audience gripped!

6. The next information shown is of the
person who does the music. The text still
holds the same connotations that the
white colour brings but this is now
particularly prominent because of the red
background. The red connotes blood and
horror but also is also identifiable as a
'dark room' which hints at the time the film
was set in and evokes questions as to why
and what is going on.
The credits shown in the
opening sequence are in an
order of the different job titles
(and their importance?) The
name of the person is shown in
the same font as the others
have been previously but their
job title is in a bolder font which
pulses almost reflectively with
the steady heart beat like drum
included in the music score.

7. Next follows two of the
important roles within a film,
editor and director of
photography. This means that
due to their importance their
names come later on in the
opening sequence which seems
to be a pattern among the
majority of film opening
sequences I have watched.
This is also emphasised by the
fact that they each have a
screen to themselves, with
nothing going on in the
background, so that they have
the audiences undivided
attention.
What stands out in this particular frame
is that the font of the job title exudes
luminosity and this high-key lighting both
further connotes their importance, draws
your attention but also stresses the eerie
mysteriousness that is prevalent
throughout the sequence.

8. Nearing the end of the sequence comes the
larger, more significant roles in the film such as
the varying different producers where their
names are grouped together in accordance to
their roles. The music in the background
increases in tempo and intensity indicating you
are coming to the end of the opening sequence
but also builds anticipation for the actual film to
start.
What makes these frames
interesting is that all the names
have different positions and are
all slanted in different ways. This
makes the film seem
unpredictable and hints at the
protagonists character and
personality.

9. The writing in both of these
frames is nearly illegible however
this makes it interesting as it
really makes have to focus and
try to work out what is going on.
The erratic nature and brightness
of both frames almost messes
with your head and throws you off
centre. It creates a sense of
disorientation but also makes it
difficult to look away. The depth of
field is very low and the focus is
very blurry which causes the
words to jump out at you in a 3D
like manner and further
emphasises all of the above.
These frames are made more
unique due to the importance of
the job titles.

10. The final frame is for the most
important figure in creating the film
– the director. The title is shown for
slightly longer than some of the rest
of the titles and creates a sense of
coherency with the sequence
starting and ending with the
director 'David Fincher'. His name
is shown with a back drop of black
expanse which forces all the focus
to be on the text. Despite this, the
text is no bigger or any more
prominent than any of the previous
text, indicating he doesn't see
himself as any more important than
others involved with the film.
However after only a couple of seconds
the directors title is replaced by flashing
images and words in a quick fire torrent
(such as this). They are mostly
unidentifiable although they are all of a
disturbed and random nature. However if
the audience is paying close attention
there are hints at what may occur later on
in the film. This last burst of colours and
images is the final frame before the film
starts and thus leaves the audience on
edge and in anticipation.