We researched into opening sequences by watching various openings such as Kick-Ass, Brick, London-Brighton, Shifty,In Search of a Midnight Kiss and Train spotting and this is what I found to be the typical conventions :
- First of all they have the titles including producers names, directors an actors/actresses. Usually with music but can also have no music which can create a very different effect. For example in London to Brighton we see just a black background with titles over the top. This creates a big suspense and a mystery of what is gong to happen.
- Another convention is that voice-overs are used over the top of footage of different characters. This allows to get to know the characters.
- There is sometimes writing over the top of the film such as 'six months earlier' seen in Kick ass. This gives us a sense of time so things make sense when watching it.
- There are also freeze frames used to to show the different characters.
- Another convention is that the enigma code is used where questions are created for example in brick where the boy is looking at the dead girl, we want to know what's happened to her, who she is and what's his involvement in the situation.
The main points of an opening sequence are that introduces us to the different characters and therefore the actors/actresses playing those roles, such as in Kick ass we can tell through the opening sequence that Dave is a very normal person although lacking in female attention. It should also perhaps use Barthes Enigma code theory so that Different questions are raised such as in Brick, straight away there is a mystery as to who the girl etc. Opening sequences should also gives us a sense of time and setting such as again in Kick ass we can see in the opening sequence a normal maerican type neighbour hood street and also stereotypical american highschool, and over the top of this, at one point, we also see 'six months earlier'.
The main points of an opening sequence are that introduces us to the different characters and therefore the actors/actresses playing those roles, such as in Kick ass we can tell through the opening sequence that Dave is a very normal person although lacking in female attention. It should also perhaps use Barthes Enigma code theory so that Different questions are raised such as in Brick, straight away there is a mystery as to who the girl etc. Opening sequences should also gives us a sense of time and setting such as again in Kick ass we can see in the opening sequence a normal maerican type neighbour hood street and also stereotypical american highschool, and over the top of this, at one point, we also see 'six months earlier'.