Conventions of an Opening Sequence

Sixteen Candles 



Here is an example of work done by Ella Henley:

 

Here is another powerpoint done by a member of my media class, Freya Vincent:

 

  Learning Comment:

After viewing my previous learning comments,  I now know that not only do film opening sequences use specific codes and conventions depending on the genre of the movie, but also that different directors use specific conventions as a signature in their own opening titles', for example there are many similarities between the John Hughes' directed films, Sixteen Candles and Ferris Beuller's Day Off, such as the use of family to set the scene in the first two minutes of the film. 
The use of mise en scene in these opening sequences is subtle but very effective because it is partly what helps the target audience identify with the film. For example in the Sixteen Candles opening sequence, they use the body language of the protagonist to show that she's a very insecure teenager and this was felt by a lot of young people at the time therefore making the film a lot more relatable to the target audience; it helped to identify the film as having a coming of age genre and also helped to engage their interest in the film too. 
The way that the credits were edited between the opening introduction scene and the start of the actual film was good because it set up the perfect start to the narrative. The dialogue used was effective too because after the first two minutes, the audience already knew what the film was going to be about and therefore could decide whether the film was engaging for them or not.