Film Opening Sequences

In the opening sequence to a film we expect to see the title of the film along with it's opening credits of the main characters and the directors and producer and possibly script writers. The opening sequence will show the title of the film along with the production company. As well as establishing a style the opening sequence will introduce us to the main characters and the main location of the filming. Below i have made a list of 3 opening sequences and my opinion of them

Office Space

In the opening sequence to 'Office Space' we are introduced to a comedy genre within the first 20 seconds as the first bit of text we see is the production company's name '20th Century Fox' is presented to us in a blue bubbly and almost child like font. 25 seconds in we are faced with an upbeat soundtrack, with this we are introduced to various master shots of a traffic jam. within this traffic jam we are introduced to the main characters in their cars and we are shown how they are dealing with the traffic jam. The genre of comedy is reinforced 58 seconds in as we are shown that an old man with a Zimmer frame is moving faster than all the traffic. From this opening sequence the film seems easy going.

In my  opinion office space looks fun and funny, the soundtrack is bubbly witch puts you in a good mood and causes you to anticipate comedy. The film doesn't look to demanding and eases you into the story line.

Train Spotting

'Train spotting' has a completely different opening sequence. We are faced with a basic block font of the production company's name and are then immediately thrown into the middle of the action of a police chase, the sound track has a fast pace to it and a strong energetic beat immediately drawing our attention to the action happening on screen. We are introduced to our main character through his voice over of his life and a nick name which is flashed across the screen in a freeze frame 51 seconds in. We are introduce to other main characters in the same way, through freeze frames with their nick names flashed across in the same font as the productions company was presented in. 

In my opinion this film looks interesting, the soundtrack entices the viewer and you are lured in through the voice over to watch more. As a viewer I was immediately drawn into the action of the film, it looks like the film could be funny but also deal with serious problems.

Sweeny Todd

'Sweeny Todd' has a completely different opening sequence to the previous two films, it is more of a title sequence which is made up of graphics. 2 seconds in we are immediately introduced to a thin spindly and almost haunting text displaying the production company's name. This prepares us for the film to be of the horror genre. We are then introduced to an eerie soundtrack with a graphic master shot of rain and clouds which reinforces the horror genre by giving it a spooky effect. Through the title sequence we are introduced to the storyline and some of the location rather than the characters, this is done by showing a trickle of blood going through the machinery which turned Sweeny Todd's victims into pork pies. This blood theme on the dark background paired with the eerie soundtrack confirms our thoughts that this film will be a horror.

In my opinion this title sequence works really well and it entices the viewer to watch more as it does not give a lot away within its title sequence encouraging you to watch more and find out just how the title sequence related to the film.