Conventions of an opening sequence

Conventions of an opening sequence:

Opening sequences consist of many generic conventions, in order to entice the audience. These conventions are methods by which cinematic films or televisions programmes (for instance: drama); represent their conceptual visuals and in some cases, sound. In the mis-en-scene it should include the establishment of characters and genre. Directors can achieve in this in many ways. One of these generic conventions are denoted through a flashback within the opening sequence, this signifies to the audience a feel for the narrative back in time – in order to connote a key event.

Furthermore, the planning of landscapes, captured by an established shot sets the scene and informs the demographic where the film is set.


                                      

                              

Also, another generic convention of an opening sequence can incorporate narrations. This is an easy and effective way of grabbing the audience’s attention straight away. A technique used to give background information on what has been happening or who the characters are, giving the audience an insight so that the rest of the film makes sense – this can be represented through an action scene (for example: a car chase through various major cities and settings e.g. Hong Kong, London and possibly a mountain range; connoting the connection between the film and settings fixed in the film like Hong Kong or London).

This will engage the audience forcing them to carry on watching. Also, an enigma code may be represented in order to connote the narrative to the audience.  As well it automatically connotes the genre of the film or TV programme if included in the opening sequence. Whether it is either a hybrid genre or just simply a sub-genre, an example of a sub-genre would be ‘Rocky’; this particular film would be suited to the category of sport under ‘boxing’.

In addition, every film stereotypically starts off with the institutional logo, for instance: Paramount or Dream works.

                             

If the film is high budget the logo will be adapted in order to represent the genre and story line of the film. Also, all films have title scenes too; these denote the cast and production team for the films. The titles can be a way of building up suspense and can connote the genre of the film.

Conventionally, the opening sequence relates to Todorov’s narrative theory in terms that the start of the film stereotypically represents the equilibrium of the narrative. Furthermore, Rick Altman’s genre theory signifies the genre is constructed by two different elements: Semantic and Syntactic elements. An example of semantic elements would involve the use of visual iconography, for instance if the genre was horror then within the mis-en-scene visual iconography such as: blood and possibly a weapon would suit the theory.