RESEARCH - Different types of film openings

The way film openings are structured follow one of four ways:

• Stand alone titles
• Narrative openings
• Discreet openings
• Stylised openings

Stand Alone Titles

These are types of titles which are shown on a blank screen, usually black. they may be boring when it comes to watch it, but sometimes the blank screen is used as effect for the start of the film. There are not any images, but text which is mostly simple. characters are not shown, nor a stylised background. The music behind these sequences differ to the others, as the music has to be sharp to engage the audience.

Narrative openings

These openings would come over the scene and run over throughout. characters and locations are shown, and a connection between what is seen to what the character does throughout the film is shown in the openings. however, considering it is the opening, not the whole story line would be told, but more of a preview which gives the audiences ideas, rather than upfront hints.

an example of this is in the shining, as the car is shown going through the mountains throughout the scene. as the audience, we are able to follow the car o its destination, instead of guessing what is going to happen like in a discreet opening. Whilst this is happening, the titles run over the scene.

Discreet openings

A discrete title sequence has a little relation to the actual film itself, having a bigger effect in editing, separating it from the film sequence and story line. It is well used in teasing the audience than narrative openings. Information about the film, such as location, characters etc are not given away, but effects can also be used to engage the audience. An example of this is Seven. 

Stylised Openings