Styles and Types of Film Openings

By: Faraz Malik

Different conventions of title sequence

There are 4 different ways to present a film opening sequence used by studios in order to present their product to the audience.

1) Titles on a Black Screen

2) Titles on Still Images

3) Titles over Moving Images

4)Titles over Animation or Motion

1) Titles on a Black Screen

This is one of the most common types of title sequence used. It's not necessary that the film may have a lower budget to use this technique. This can be used depending on different genre as well. Usually when black screen is involved, the text used is then always whit or a lighter shade of colour.

1) Titles on a Black Screen

2) Titles on Still Images

This title sequence is comparatively more complex since it doesn't just use simple black or white frames. Such title sequence not only provides an insight into the genre and tone of the film but also use of good music. This type is more appreciated by the audience but again it varies genre to genre.

2) Titles on Still Images

3) Titles over Moving Images or Videos

This type of sequence is most commonlynused nowadays since it provides a more depth storyline of any film opening.

It also makes the title blend in the scene which doesn't give a huge dramatic effect, rather it induces a calm feeling. It assures the audience that nothing dramatic is going to happen.

3) Titles over Moving Images or Videos

4) Titles sequences using Animations

This type of sequence is the most technical amongst all because it requires a lot of editing and different softwares. For such titles, it is a must to have a higher budget because a team is hired solely for all the animations.

4) Titles sequences using Animations

Sub Categories

These sequences can be further categorized as:

1) Narrative Title Sequence: These titles aleady tell us about the beginning of the story, for exmaple: The location, the genre, charecters etc. This is done with the help of establishing shots or full shots.

2) Discrete Title Sequence: This title sequence only provides the audience with hints about the plot of the film and helps set the tone.

3) Stylized Title Sequence: This is a mixture of the other two sub categories and uses their combined efect.

Title Text