Opening Sequences

Question - What is the purpose of an Opening Sequence?

Answer -  The purpose of an Opening Sequence is to show the who the main character is and also show the mood/genre of the Film. To make the Opening Sequence look more professional and well written, Setting, Narrative, Plot and Themes are also shown. Another main key for an Opening Sequence is to try and hook the viewer into watching the entire film, this is the main overall objective for a Opening Sequence.

Question - What is the difference between Opening Credits and a Title Sequence? 

Answer - The Opening Sequence, as I explained in the previous question, is used to show the main character, what the setting is, the plot and also hook the viewer into watching the entire Film. However the Title Sequence is also used to grab the audiences attention but in a much quicker way. A Title Sequence is also used in a intro-like fashion, which is the same for every episode or film (Phineas and Ferb, Intro) The Title Sequence also sets the genre of the episode or film. 

Question - What techniques can be employed in an opening sequence?

Answer -

•  Quick cuts to show lots of information to the viewer as well as create suspense (thriller genre)
• Show time codes before any scene - this can give information to when the film is set to the viewer. (A Quiet Place Intro)
  
• Opening Sequence has to show setting, this gives information to the audience and can create suspense based on what genre the film is set in (A Quite place, shows an abandoned street with a broken traffic light, this could show that the world is in ruin and we don't know what has happen to mankind)  
  
• No music in a Opening Sequence can create suspense within a thriller film, because music can be reassuring to the viewer. However if there is no music and only natural sounds (birds, wind etc) then this can create suspense ( A Quite Place Opening Sequence)
• Some Opening Sequences are filmed in a small space in order to show all characters, set the genre and create a mood. (A Quiet Place Intro)
• An Opening Sequence can also include a momentary threat or problem, that would be later explained throughout the film or episode. This would help with establishing the genre, mood and hook the audience. (A Quiet Place)
• Pan shots in an Opening Sequence show lots about the setting and also could create a mood for the film as well. (The Rear Window - Hitchcock)                                    
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• Some Opening Sequences will show the main character and then use a pan shot and show all of the other minor characters and then pan back to the main character. (The Rear Window - Hicthcock) 

Question - Demonstrate how both films achieve the purpose of the Opening Sequence, and contrast their techniques.

A Quiet Place

• Uses no non-diegetic sound to create suspense and uses lots of diegetic sound. E.g wind, leaves rustling, birds.
• Abanoned street shows that something has happened to mankind and the audience will show find out. This is a good technique to use because it hooks the audience.
• Small space is a good way of showing all main characters at the beginning of a film as well as setting the scene and establish a mood/genre.
• A great technique that A Quiet Place used is showing a threat at the beginning of the film that the characters don't know about yet. (Rocket toy in this case) Us as the audience knows about the threat because we have been exposed to it through the camera work. This technique is a great way of setting the threat/mood for the film within the first few scenes.
  

The Rear Window

• Starts off with a pan shot showing the setting and establishing the mood of the film by using music and diegetic sounds.
• The camera shows all minor characters before settling on the main character and showing his problem (broken leg)
• The Camera is the Opening Sequence uses a lot of pans to set up the back story of why the main character's leg is broken (race car crash) 
• The director made the main Character have a broken leg to set up the plot of the film. The main character can't do anything while his leg is broken so he observes the people living around him. This then leads us into the main plot of the film.