The whole point of an opening sequence is to grab the audiences attention to make them want to watch the rest of the film, an unsuccessful opening sequence may put the audience off and cause them to lose interest. To create a good opening sequence specific characters may be introduced or by creating enigma; but never giving too much away too early on. However, it may foreshadow what is to happen later on in the film.
The film institution/company logo will be is conventionally the first thing to appear on a film opening sequence, sometimes these logos will be edited to fit the genre of the film as shown above by DreamWorks. The film institution that is shown can give an insight to what the audience are to expect, for example anything made by Walt Disney Pictures will most likely be child friendly where as Twisted Pictures may only be suitable for adults by its use of barbed wire in its animated logo.
Establishing Shots may be used to 'set the scene' by showing long shots of a specific area to give the audience an idea as to where the film may be taking place. This may also give the audience an understanding of specific dates and times. These shots may also include an introduction of key characters from an early point, this can alter the audiences personal relationships with the characters on screen; some horror films that begin with the introduction of characters are:
- Dawn of the Dead (2004)
- 28 Days Later
- Halloween (1978)
- Evil Dead (2013)
- Insidious
Here is the opening sequence to Halloween :
Juxtaposing that, some opening sequence may start with no introduction to characters or settings and will create Roland Barthes' enigma code by beginning with something which will question the audience and create a sense of mystery, for example 'who are they', 'where are they', 'what are they doing'. This can be as equally successful because it may leave the audience on the edge of their seat. Films that do this well are:
- Sinister
- The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
- Se7en
Here is the opening sequence to Sinister:
The title can either be shown before or after the opening clip, even the title may connote to what will happen throughout the film. For example the SAW V title contains denotations and connotations of what is to happen within the film. The blood on the wall in the background denotes pain and suffering, the harshness of the V entering connotes actions within the film will be sharp and sudden and/or not leave time for decisions. In addition, the blood on the walls denote how someone (or more) will be killed or left in pain throughout.
The conventional opening credits name the people who are the most significant and important in the making of the film or the characters in it. This may signify to the audience what the film may be about - if a director for example Tim Burton's name appears it may connote to the audience that the films may be more creepy than gory because of his films Edward Scissorhands and Corpse Bride which are both horror fantasy's.
However, some films like to avoid opening credits because they want more of an unconventional and memorable opening sequence, sometimes the credits may take away from the film and it is more dramatic and sharp to leave them out. An example of an opening sequence that does this is the horror torture film Hostel.The audio is a strong convention of an opening sequence; it may be used to build tension by using non-diagetic sounds to unease the audience. The use of familiar songs are also used to attract the audience because they may see where the scene is to go from that point. In 'The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo' 'Immigrant Song' by Led Zeppelin is used to introduce the film, because the opening sequence is so confusing the familiar song helps to level this. Pace is built by the use of sound effects and music if the music is fast paced it may connote that something major is about to happen. A voice over is sometimes used to introduce characters as aforementioned and create more of a personal bond between the screen and the audience.
Tzvetan Todorov believes that all films begin with an equilibrium (life is normal); in the genre of horror this statement is mostly untrue. Horror films like to throw you in at the deep end by usually beginning with a disruption to emphasise the fact that it is of the genre horror and forshadow what is to happen later. An example of this is 'You're Next'.
This is the only video I could find for You're Next opening sequence, watch up until 3.03.
I will apply the knowledge I have learned from this task to help me with my preliminary and final opening sequences.
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