Task 2.1 Research Into Existing Products: Conventions Of An Opening Sequence

Conventions Of An Opening Sequence



In an opening sequence it is important to display some form of credits at the beginning as you need to inform the viewer of the production companies involved and the actors. Also, it is most important to actually signal the start of the film with the actual title of the film.

After the opening credits it is very much necessary to give the viewer an enigma, or a hook for a better use of the word. This is to ensure a viewer is interested and remains interested throughout the duration of the film without turning them off before its really began.

Sound in any film is a necessity in the modern era but the first five, or ten minutes is the most important part. This is where you must strike the viewer with awe inspiring sound which is most often achieved through an orchestral piece. One of the best examples of this is during the opening scenes of Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship Of The Ring.

I think this piece is specifically exceptional due to the use of vocals as well as that of the use of the orchestra to give a presence of almighty awe capable of reflecting the battle it is played over. Diegetic sound is also an important part of and opening sequence as it gives the viewer a way of 'being there'. They hear the same sounds as the characters and it intrigues them, making them want more.

A wide and varied range of shots is also a valuable tool to be used during the production of an opening sequence. Common practice is to use an establishing shot as it informs the viewer where they are and what is taking place. In the video embedded for example, there is an establishing shot of the map of middle earth and also one of Dagorlad (the battle ground). Close ups are also an important shot to use in an opening sequence as it allows you to show the emotion on a characters face, in this clip they use a close up to clearly show the ferocity that Lord Elrond brings to the battle through a close up.

Correct framing stops unnecessary things from being in shot and keeps the necessary ones in it too. It is form of making sure continuity stays throughout the sequence and the rest of the film. It is also a way of highlighting certain things such as emotion and important characters to make sure the narrative is clearer.

One of, if not the most vital convention of an opening scene is a clear narrative. A clear narrative makes sure the viewer knows what is happening, when it's happening. A convoluted narrative is very hard to do and often results in turning the viewer off due to the confusion caused therefore a linear narrative is most often the route taken with only minor diversions occurring.

Cross-referencing, or intertextuality, is extremely important as bringing aspects of other films, or other forms of media such as books into your film, will create a connection with your audience if they understand the reference. A great example of this is the delorean in the film 'A million ways to die in the west'. However, if the reference isn't picked up and understood it can have an alternate effect, driving the viewer away therefore it is vital the reference is in some context and somewhat related to the genre as it is very likely they will share the same audience.


The pace and style of editing is another important aspect of an opening sequence as this will either entice the viewer or bore them. The modern 'Bond' films are perfect examples of this as they start with lots of fast cuts and the tempo is naturally high due them starting with an action scene. The style of editing will be roughly the same however it will vary as the pace of the film will speed up and slow down.