Conventions of an opening sequence include establishing equilibrium, disequilibrium, or normality at the beginning. Directors typically use close-ups and extreme close-ups of characters to show emotions and details. Titles are included to identify the filmmakers and set the tone. The soundtrack helps set the mood and genre. Establishing shots, mood, theme, and clues are also used to intrigue audiences and prompt questions about what will happen.

1. Conventions of an opening
sequence.
What do we mean by conventions?
- The elements we expect to see in a particular media product.

2. EQUILIBRIUM
Most films would start with equilibrium which is an idea of normality. This
means that it would first start of with something positive and then introduce
something negative. However, thriller would start with disequilibrium. This
means that it would start with someone negative and then end with something
positive.
An example of a film that has used equilibrium first would be
An example of disequilibrium being used at the beginning of the film is,

3. CLOSE UPS AND EXTREME CLOSE
UPS
A director would have a put a close up shot into an opening sequence as it
allows the audience to see the characters face. Also, by using close ups it shows
the audience the thoughts, feelings and emotions of the character. An example
of films that has used close ups are ‘Spiderwick Chronicles’, ‘Matilda’ and ‘Saw’.
A director would put extreme close ups into an opening sequence as it allows
the audience to see a particular things in greater detail. An example of film’s that
has used extreme close ups are ‘Memento’, ‘Wallander’ and ‘Brick’.

4. TITLES
Titles are what the director would put at the beginning of the film. They inform
the audience all of the people that have help to create the film. The titles can be
many different colours, sizes and fonts, the directors would have thought
thoroughly about what colour, size and font they use as it helps to add effect to
the film and also lets the audience know what type of genre its going to be. For
example, the titles used in ‘Bridget Jones Diary’ are wrote in a font which looks
like handwriting, this links to that the film is called ‘Bridget Jones Diary’. Another
example of titles used is in the film called ‘The Sixth Sense’. They have used a
font called ‘Serif ’, this is because it adds a more serious effect to the film.

5. SOUNDTRACK
The soundtrack is a non-diegetic sound that is used throughout the opening sequence to
create a mood/atmosphere. Also, by adding a soundtrack, it lets the audience know what to of
film to expect. For example, ‘The Sixth Sense’ use quite a dramatic soundtrack which
suggests to the audience that the film their about to watch is going to be scary and dramatic.
Another example is ‘Bridget Jones Diary’, in this opening sequence the soundtrack used is
quite depressing as it is about being on your own – which links to the film well as it is talking
about Bridget's life and how she's lonely without a partner. The last example is ‘Spiderwick
Chronicals’. This opening sequence uses quite a soft, sparkly soundtrack which suggests to the
audience that the film is going to be magical.

6. ESTABLISH MOOD/THEME
It is always good to establish the mood or theme throughout the opening
sequence as it gives the audience an idea as to what the film is going to be about
and what genre it is. The cinematography, mise en scene, sound/music and
editing help to establish to mood/theme. For example, the films called ‘The girl
with the dragon tattoo’, ‘The orphan’ and ‘Bridesmaids’ have all used
cinematography, mise en scene, sound/music and editing within their opening
sequences to help establish the mood and theme.

7. ESTABLISHING SHOT
The director would add establishing shots within an opening sequence as it
shows the audience what location the character is in and what kind of surrounds
are around the character/s. For example, in the film ‘Brick’ it has a wide shot of
the boy standing at his locker and you can see everything in his background. This
is done to let the audience know what type of environment the boy is in.

8. PROMPTS THE AUDIENCE TO ASK
QUESTIONS
The director will put moments in the opening sequence that prompt the audience
to ask themselves questions. They do this as it makes the audience more intrigued
to know what's happening or going to happen next. An example of prompts
being used is in ‘Wallander’ when it has the man in the car covered in blood, the
fact that he was covered in blood makes the audience question themselves as to
why and what has happened.

9. GIVES THE AUDIENCE CLUES
The director will add things into the opening sequence which will be little clues
to the audience. The clues will be a little bit of information but not enough for
the audience to completely understand what is going on. By adding clues to the
opening sequence, it gives the audience enough information for them to be
intrigued as to what is happening and make them want to carry on watching the
rest of the film. For example, the film ‘Brick’ has used clues. We can see this
when there is a close up of the boy holding the note which the girl had put into
his locker. This is a clue to the audience because it gives them a little bit of
information for them to know where the girl wants the boy to meet her but still
doesn’t give them enough information for them to know what has actually
happened to the girl.