Opening Sequences

Conventions of Opening Sequences

• Introduce the audience to the setting, showing us where and when the film was set, so that we can begin to build up an idea of what might take place in the film.
• Introduce the audience to a main character so that it is clear that the story will centre around this character.
• Provide information about the production company, director, and leading actors, which may give us an idea of genre. For example, a Jim Carey film is likely to be funny, and an Arnold Schwarzenegger film is likely to be violent.
• Offer hints as to the what the narrative of the film may be. This may be a spy recieving their assignment, or someone being captured, or the hero told about events in the past that must be put right, etc.
  

Narrative functions

• There is always some form of equilibrium at the very start
  
• The protagonist is always introduced
• There is an obstruction which the protagonist must resolve
• It never has any closure as it is just to set the scene, leading on to the main part of the film.
  

Benefits for audiences

• They are immediately informed of character, setting, and narrative
• They can get an immediate idea as to whether or not they will like the film
• If they dont already know, they can get an idea of the genre of the film almost immediately.
• A film has to start somehow; the audience will not understand the film without an opening sequence.
  

Benefits for institutions

• The film makers need to appeal to the audience in order to make money, so they included for the reasons above.
• The film makers must make the opening sequence reveal some basic information to the audience, but not reveal too much so to keep the audience's interest, so they want to watch on.
• The titles allow the film-makers to show the audience who made the film, which in a  way advertises the film