Conventions of an opening sequence

There are many conventions that make up an opening sequence. These consist of setting the tone and the atmosphere, make the audience ask questions and withhold information. There is also many other conventions that must be used but this blog will only be talking about these three. Some other conventions are:

• Production/ Distribution Company
• Show the Theme
• Engage the Audience
• Titles
• First Impressions of the Character

Convention - Setting the Tone:

Example - Bradford Riots

In the opening sequence of 'The Bradford Riots', the tone of violence and aggression, is shown through the use of costume and props as the audience is shown many police officers with rioter shields and people throwing rocks in hoodies. This shows violence as the police are in large numbers and have weapons and shields showing that there is some sort of fight going on and that they are in need of protection. This makes the audience think that there is going to be this level of violence throughout the film.


 Example - Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

 

  In the opening sequence of the film 'Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire', the volume and the use of string instruments, in the soundtrack, creates a serious yet mysterious atmosphere towards the audience. The string instruments create a serious and exciting tone as the audience are excited by the opening soundtrack which will make them want to watch the film and it give away a hint that in the film, something bad or mysterious may happen, this would create  Curiosity towards the audience. 

Example - Panic Room

In this score from the opening sequence of the film panic room, a tone of eeriness and danger is created. This is done through the use of a slow rhythm of the sound as well as the change of high pitched sound to a very low pitched. The use of the high pitch puts the audience on edge as it suggests that something dangerous may happen and the low pitch emphasizes the seriousness and the dangerous atmosphere.

 Convention - Making the Audience Ask Questions: 

Example - Brick 

 

In the opening sequence of the film 'Brick', the use of the shot/reverse shot between the man and the girl makes the audience wonder what has happened. due to the camera cutting from the girls lifeless body/body parts, it makes the audience ask what has happened, what is the relationship between the man and the girl and why is the man there but not doing anything. this can also bring about the questions, if he is just sitting there, did he do something to the girl, was it on purpose or was it by accident.

Example - Iron Man 3

 

In the opening sequence of the film 'Iron Man 3', the use of the dialogue/ contrapuntal sound played over the shot of the three Iron Man suits being blown up makes the audience shocking and confused to as what he is doing. The slow calm speech played over a destructive background shot would make the audience ask questions such as, why is he doing this, why is he so calm about it and what is going happen next the protagonist/hero. 

Example -  Memento 

 

In the opening sequence of the 'memento', the three shots - one of the blood running up the wall and the two shots of the objects (a Bullet and bloody glasses) - can create a mysterious atmosphere and make the audience confused as to what has happened. It will make the audience ask questions such as what has happened, who has been there, who did it involve. The audience would be drawn in to watch more to find out what is going to happen and to see what actually happened and who done it.

Convention - Withholding Information.

Example - Brick:

 

In the opening sequence of the film 'Brick' the use of the pull focus withholds information about the character such as his facial features and identity. During the pull focus, as the shot is blurry, this is hiding the characters identity. This changed as the pull focus happens and the image start going into focus, we see the characters identity slowly revealed to the audience. This will then make them as questions as then are slowly shown the characters face and identity.    

 Example - Brick:

In the opening sequence of the film 'Brick', the use of the long shot with both characters faces not facing the audience/camera hides the Characters information. This crafts a mysterious atmosphere as the audience can see two characters and are unaware what has happened. This hides both characters identity as the audience cannot see any distinct facial features to recognize the characters by. This makes the audience want to watch on as they wan to find out who the characters are and what has happened in the scene.

Example - Wallander

In the opening sequence of the TV Drama 'Wallander' episode 'Firewall', the use of a mid shot of the back of the two female characters heads withholds the identity of the two girls. As we can also see the back of the two female characters heads, will start to create on image of what the two characters look like and their personalities. As the audience can only see the back of them, they cannot picture the characters faces exactly and relate to them.