Structure of Film Openings

In film, there are four different types of film openings which follow a conventional structure in the way it chooses to incorporate the titles, credits and the film's plot. The four different types are:


1. Discrete Title Sequence
2. Traditional Film Opening
3. Credits Over a Blank Screen
4. Stylized Editing- Usually appears as discrete or traditional, however has been heavily edited in post production and very stylish as a result.

Here is an example of a discrete title sequence from the film This Is England. It uses random images from the film with titles superimposed on top of them. Through discrete title images, the mood is able to be set and it introduces the audience to the characters of the film and events that may take place without them even realizing it. In this titles sequence you can tell that the three boys in the second frame may be our main characters and events such as the concert, the kiss and a fight may all take place within the film. The use of the Great Britain flags also tell us that that the film is set in the UK, with the title of the film confirming that it is indeed set in England. 

Here is an example of a traditional film opening, shown in the film Colombiana. As shown, it begins with an establishing shot of the location which the film is set in. Titles are also rolled over these images of the location and then slowly fades and then stops where the film will begin. In Colombiana, we are shown by the establishing shot that the location of this film is Columbia. The last frame shows how the titles end and the establishing shot fades into the actual film. 

Here is an example of a title sequence where the credits are shown over a blank screen from the film One Hour Photo. Literally, all there is are titles displayed in a basic font, over a black screen. Although this title sequence opening is very basic, its becomes effective and creative with the small transitions they use. In this opening, a fade out into the colour red is used at the end of each title. As the colour red generically symbolises blood, death anger or love, this could reflect what the film may be about. There is also a slight flash on each titles as it is shown which creates the impression of photography which is also stated in the title. When the title is shown in this title sequence, it flashes into several different colours before there is a blank frame, before the film actually starts. As gathered previously of what the colour red may symbolize, the flashes of many other different colours may imply mixed emotions/feelings or a range of different moods. 

Here is an example of stylized editing in film openings from the film Just Wright. Stylized editing may usually appear as discrete or traditional, however has been heavily edited in post production like this one  which makes it appear very stylish. In this opening, the titles are shown over a blank screen only taking up part of the frame, whereas in the remaining parts of the frame, snippets of the film is shown also introducing the characters just like a traditional title sequence would. 








The film opening I prefer is the stylized opening. I prefer this opening as each frame of the title sequence is different as it sometimes uses transitions and effects and edits in post production to make it stand out and different from the other types of film openings. As stylized openings also have features of discrete and traditional openings, I think the benefit is in itself as it seems like three types of openings in one.