Structure Of Film Openings

The structure of a film openings are an important aspect of the film as a whole. If the audience aren't engaged at the begging they are more than likely to develop a negative view on the Film and see it as uninteresting, therefore approach the off button. There are four different ways in which a film opening is constructed, these are; Discrete, Narrative, Stylized and a blank screen. 

Enemy Of The State

A Discrete Opening tend to be heavily edited, they stand alone from the rest of the opening sequence and support nearly all the opening credits including film title. This type of opening draws in the audience without giving away future events of the film. An example of this may be 'Enemy Of The State' in which a lawyer becomes a target by a corrupt politician and his NSA goons when he accidentally receives key evidence to a serious politically motivated crime.

The Shining 

A Narrative Opening is presented with the credits running throughout the opening scene without interruption, this type of opening allows the audience to create a sense of location and an understanding of the film. An example of this type of opening may be 'The Shining' as the credits seem to flow to the top of the screen (newsreel).

Seven

Stylized openings are usually very heavily edited and stand out as the editing is so sophisticated and of high quality. These types of film openings usually take a long time in post production but the finished product creates a very unusual and interesting piece, in which may engage and keep the audience wowed as the opening sequence goes on. An example of this type of opening may be 'Seven' in which keeps the audience engages and also allows them to raise questions of what happens later during the film. 

  

                                         Donnie Darko

Titles over a blank screen often builds tension and suspense as the credits move on throughout the opening sequence. Although this may bore the audience and is very easy to create. An example of this type of opening may be 'Donnie Darko' in which presents its credits over a blank screen to build tension and suspense of what's to come.