Codes and Conventions of Film Openings

I will be watching 6 very different film openings and exploring the conventions of credits, narrative, styles of font and sound featured in these films. The films I have chosen are:

• Monsters, Inc.
• Pride and Prejudice
• Dark Skies
• Legally Blonde
• Kung Fu Panda
• The House at the End of the Street

Conventions of Credits

The conventions of credits vary from film to film, however many film openings as a whole share a general pattern of how the information is given in text to the audience. The production company tends to appear first in the opening of a film, with the cast names and the name of the film following from that.

This pattern is shown in Pride and Prejudice. The film shows the production company, Universal Pictures at the beginning of the opening. The title of the film, Pride and Prejudice, the fades in and back out again. This is the only text shown in the opening however, cast names are not given straight away with this film.

Monsters, Inc. however, has a complete different opening scene. It is animated and is more of a title sequence then the other 2 films. It begins with showing the audience the production company, Walt Disney Pictures and Pixar Animation Studios. Many doors open to reveal random letters then they are correctly rearranged to spell ‘Monsters, Inc.’ the title of the film. The rearrangement of letters is done to appeal to the main target audience of children.

The Dark Skies opening credits are also set out slightly differently to the majority of films, due to the genre of film (horror). The first text shown is a quote by Arthur C. Clarke that reads “Two possibilities exist… either we are alone in the Universe or we are not. Both are equally terrifying.” This was put at the very beginning, even before the main title of the film, to get the audience thinking about what else could be living in the universe and to put them on the edge of their seats, possibly scared, which is what you want to be when watching a horror film. It also gives the audience a teaser of what is to come in the film. After the quote, the title of the film fades in from black then fades out again, a typical horror convention. The opening then begins to show information in the form of text about the production company and cast.

Narrative

A film opening usually introduces us to the main character or the main setting of the film. A general idea of what will be happening is usually hinted in the opening. We are normally dropped straight into the action of the main film however in horror films, the opening is usually set some time before the main film is (prelude). This is to give the audience some background knowledge of the location or characters before the main film has even begun.

In the Pride and Prejudice opening, the credits are shown in front of the sun rising through the trees onto a field. The scene cuts to the main character of the film, Elizabeth Bennet, who is reading a book through the field. The audience realises straight away she is not from a wealthy background, we can tell this due to her costume and the way she carelessly walks on the narrow bridge across a dirty river where ducks are swimming. We then see her walking through white sheets, which reflects the purity of this character. The audience may also establish the genre of the film from the opening scene (period drama) due to what is shown.

In the opening of Dark Skies, after we see the quote and the title, we are introduced to a busy street of suburban America. We understand this street is in America from the American flags hanging along the street and the bungalow homes. There are cars driving on the road, teenagers biking and walking home from school and younger children having water fights on the lawn outside their houses. This looks like a safe neighbourhood where everybody knows everybody. It is a bright sunny day and everyone is smiling and looks as if they are having fun. This subverts the audience expectations of a horror film. Although we are introduced to the street the aliens will soon invade, we are not introduced to any of the main characters at the very beginning.

In the Kung Fu Panda opening we are introduced to the main character, Po, straight away. He is wearing a conical Asian hat linking with the settings of the film, China. We also can establish the genre of comedy as a Panda wearing this may be seen as funny. We are dropped straight into the action as he is challenged to fight by another in martial arts. Wee see Po defeat the villain and become the town’s hero. Not only are we introduced by the main character wee are also introduced to the ‘furious five’ who play a big part in the film.

Style of Fonts

Usually in films, the style of font reflects the genre of the film is. Colours and the type of font especially are considered to fit in with the overall tone of the film.

The style of font in the Monsters, Inc. opening have been considered and are in a particular font type and colour to appeal to its target audience, children. When it shows the production company, Walt Disney Pictures, the text is in a childlike font that looks unformal, appealing to children rather than adults. Each letter is in a door, linking to the theme of the film. The title of the film is in the same font at first but then is in a different font, which is big, bold and blue. This, again, appeals to children, this time especially boys. The ‘M’ has an eye in the center, linking with the main theme of the film once again (monsters).

The style of font has also been considered in the opening of Legally Blonde. The white text is shown with a pink outline and looks as if it has been handwritten. This has been done on purpose to appeal to the films main target audience of girls. The handwritten effect links with diaries and the stereotype of girls keeping a diary and writing about their day in them. Whereas the other information in text just fades in, the title of the film appears as if it has just been handwritten. Pink (the main colour of the text) connotes love and passion and is looked at as a very feminine and romantic colour. This reflects the genre and plot of the film, and helps the audience establish this straight away. The ‘I’ in ‘Reece Witherspoon’ is dotted with a heart shape, also appealing for their main target audience of girls.

In House at the End of the Street, font styles have also been considered. The main text is in a formal typewriter like font linking with the horror genre. We also see the font change from the formal typewriter font to a font that appears to be written by a young child. The font also looks creepy and fits in well with the horror genre due to the letters being different sizes and it not being very neat. This links in with what the audience is about to see, a young girl with brain damage who ends up killing both of her parents.

Sound

Sound is generally used in film openings whether it is a song or sound effects, but it is always used to reflect the genre of the film. When watching various film openings I have found that films use sound that will appeal most to their target audience.

In the opening of Legally Blonde, the song ‘Perfect Day’ plays throughout. This goes well with the footage of girls doing their hair and makeup. This song will also appeal to the films target audience of girls. Girls, especially, may recognise the song and enjoy the film more than if an unknown song was playing. ‘Perfect Day’ also fulfils the audience expectations of a typical chick flick, romantic comedy as a girl sings it and has lyrics that a girl may relate to.

In the Kung Fu Panda opening there is a voiceover throughout. The voiceover refers to Po as a legend and we see other characters believe this as the opening continues. The audience can easily establish the genre of the film (comedy) from the voiceover that says “He was so deadly in fact, that his enemies would go blind from over exposure to pure awesomeness.” We then hear voices from reality over what we soon realise is a dream, hence why Po, himself is the voiceover; being part of the furious five is his only dream. Chinese music plays throughout in the background of the voiceover as linking with the setting of China and the theme of Po wanting to become part of the furious five (martial arts).

In the opening of House at the End of the Street, there is no running song playing throughout, as this is a horror film. At the very beginning there is dramatic instrumental music that gets louder and suddenly stop when there is a cut from black to close up of a snow globe, what the girl is holding. The sounds of footsteps from the girl are heard, as she is getting closer towards her parents bedroom. There is also the sound of thunder coming from outside, which is an example of pathetic fallacy where the weather reflects the mood; this is typical of a horror film. The only dialogue used is from the parents when they are awoken by the sound of their daughter smashing a light bulb when she knocks over the lamp. She whispers to her daughter that she must go back to bed before we hear screams coming from the mother as she has been stabbed; this is an example of non-diegetic sound.