Opening Sequences

What is the purpose of an Opening Sequence? 

The opening sequence or credits are shown at the beginning of the film/tv show/video game to introduce the audience to all or some of the following elements: main characters, locations, themes, plot,  and settings. The Opening Sequence establishes the key atmospheres and moods that are going to be present within the media product; giving the viewer a clear sense of what to expect.

What is the difference between an Opening Credits and a Title Sequence

Opening Credits attribute the directors and key people (the main actors, directors) who played a part in creating and producing the media. They do this because people are attracted to movies/tv shows because of the actors and the director. For example, if the movie/tv show stars a famous, highly regarded actor/actress the media is likely to have many more sales than if it stared an unknown or slightly well known actor/actress. whereas a Title Sequence is how the company decides to present their title, the "header" of the movie. 

 

What techniques can be employed in a Opening Sequence?

Directors/Producers can choose to create exciting and captivating title sequences by using many different and abstract methods of production. For example, in the movie Vertigo (1958), Alfred Hitchcock uses dramatic non-diegetic sound to create a feeling of suspense and unease.. Like the feeling you get when you know something is about to happen. For example, he starts hard and fast with loud, emphatic string music. This is effective because it launches the viewer straight away into the movie, grabbing their attention. Also, when the credits come onto the screen, the music gets louder and sharper; as if emphasizing the people's name. Hitchcock also uses extreme camera shots, such as an extreme close up on a women's lips; creating slight confusion and curiousness for the viewer. Already after only a few seconds, the viewer is already intrigued and left expecting more action. This suspense is also created by the colors and shapes Hitchcock uses, by zooming up an into the worms eyes, flashing with red and then screening an abundance of spirals, flower, and colors (which become important later on in the movie). Commonly, opening sequences are filmed chronologically. It is the first part of the TV show/movie and it then continues to fold out from there. However, these days directors/producers decide to "change it up a little" and actually change the order of this sequence. They decide to start off the opening scene right in the middle of the action, or with a scene from the middle of the movie and then have the rest of it be a lead up and/or entertaining unfolding of events leading up to the opening scene. An example of this is in a movie is Saving Private Ryan (1998). 

Thriller Comparison

*Unknown(2011): As soon as the movie starts, we are greeted with non-diegetic and dramatic, yet reasonably soft string music. A piano and violins are the primary instruments being used in this sequence. Only the sound of the plane is diegetic at this point. The director uses modern producing techniques in this movie by using creative and "out of the box" ways of making their opening sequence. For example, the first thing we see in the movie is a moving shot of clouds. We see predominately black on the screen, with a few gaps of colored sky here and there.

This sequence is already preparing the viewer for what is going to happen in the movie; most of the time both us and the main character, Dr. Martin Harris (Liam Neeson), are trying to figure out where we are and what is going on (we are in the dark), and every now and then we have a few moments of clarity. The viewer is also already aware that they are up high somewhere in the sky. Next the camera zooms back out of the clouds and we are moving into a plane through its window. It is as if we are traveling into a different world; our perspective is literally being pulled "out of the clouds."

 The first figure we see at this point, is a man sitting alone in the plane, and this is the first part of diegetic sound we get- the man opening his journal and writing in it. This shot can symbolize the fact the man is secretive and possibly a character to be  suspicious of as he is writing about something we cannot see.

However, we are unaware of his identity because his face and nearly the entirety of his body is in the dark. This is created by the use of a side-portrait shot. The only lighting that is used is the natural light from outside the plane and it is shining lightly on his hands and part of his face. The effect of this is to create mystery and suspicion. They use side lighting in this case because while the left side of his face is lit, the side that we see (the right side) is fully in shadow. This, again, is a way to create a question in the viewer's mid of his identity and keeps them hooked. We get close up on the mans hands; he is now writing frantically in his journal.

We don't see any writing or any sign of what he might be writing, we only see the camera pan over his hand moving and the back of the journal. This is significant because it already prepares the viewer for the fact that during the process of the movie, we get to see an outside view is happening, but we don't really get much detail or intel into what is really happening. This is also created by the use of slow pans that stop just before anything could be revealed and the use of jump cuts. The lights switch on in the plane cabin, and what do you know? We see his face; his identity is
revealed. We see someone is flying with him, but not just anyone; a woman (who we assume to be his wife as they both wear rings on their marriage fingers). At this point, the music also starts to change, introducing a double bass, and creating a mysterious atmosphere.

The next significant shot is the camera zoomed in closely on the man's briefcase. And the dramatics of the music gets higher and louder. This alerts the viewer to place important attention on this object.

Already the viewer is shown that the briefcase is an important object and that we should be paying attention to it. 

Now the title sequence. Again, the music has changed. It is much louder, but less mysterious- they keep it at a consistent, steady level. This persuades the viewer that "everything is just what it seems", as if attempting to convince them that everything is normal. The title "Unknown" slowly fades in; "known" first, then "un" second. This is an interesting effect because it prepares the viewer for things to happen out of order. Throughout the movie, we are watching it nearly back to front, and this title sequence is a taster for that. The title lasts there for 4 seconds, and then it disappears. Just like that, its there and then it's gone.

This is an interesting parallel to the movie, as again, this is what happens throughout the whole course of the movie.. We as the viewer, and Dr. Martin Harris get intel or a character shows up in the movie, and then they're gone- you'll miss it if you blink. 

The final shot of this Opening Sequence is, again, of the briefcase. We see that the briefcase has been left behind by the couple who has just driven off in a taxi. We have already established that the briefcase has plays an important role in this movie, and the fact that it is the last shot of the sequence, confirms it further.

*North by Northwest(1959):

The first shot we get in this movie is the MGM logo with a roaring lion on a vibrant green background. Here the music starts as loud, dramatic, and scary. This already makes the viewer uneasy. As the logo fades and changes into moving lines and credits,the music changes into a more exciting and intense sound rather than scary.

After the logo disappears, blue parallel lines slice through the green background, creating an uneven grid, while the credits slide in from different angles on the screen. We see that, in fact, those lines turn out to be the frames of windows on a tall building in New York as established from the iconic yellow cabs that can be seen in the reflection on the glass. This is already showing intel into the movie as this is a direct correlation to the protagonist in the movie as he is seen as something he is not.

Many quick transitions are used in this opening, for exapmle, immediately after the windows are revealed, we jump from long shots of people rushing through the streets, to a aerial shot of people flooding down the stairs to the subway, and to more long shots of people fighting over tax rides and getting shut out of buses. The purpose of all of these shots convey to the viewer the intensity and aggressiveness of bustling streets, and how so much confusion and frustration can be created by the people who also want to calm it and control it. 

The people in this sequence all seem to be reasonably well dressed and majoritively all of working class and they all seem to be young adults to elderly in age.

click HERE to watch the opening sequence of North by Northwest.