Opening credits are included in the beginning of films because they give credit to all the people involved that help work towards the finished product such as the production company, actors, director and producer etc. The opening credits and sequence also establishes the genre more clearly to the audience, this is done by the overall aesthetics of the opening like the font, colours used as well as how they the credits are delivered and displayed such as in a jerky and unsteady fashion, conventional to the thriller genre.
As a class we looked at the opening credits to the film 'Se7en'. The order of the production roles are as follows: Production company; director; actor; title of film; more actors; casting; music; costumes; editing; production; camera operator; co-producer; producer; writing and last of all the director again. During the opening credits a lot of dark colours and low-key lighting is used, this is conventional to a thriller and helps to define the genre more easily to the audience. The white of the writing on the black background shows the contrast between good and bad. The iconography during the credits and the hidden identity because you don't see the person's face adds a sense of mystery, conventional to the thriller genre and portrays this to the audience more clearly. The jerkiness and uneasiness of the credits adds a sense of enigma which is also conventional.
Our order of credits:
My opening credits:
After reviewing the opening credits of several films I have come to the conclusion that my credits will appear in the following order...
1. Sandstorm Productions
2. Director - Joe Smith
3. Director of photography - Daniel Armstrong
4. Actors - Cara Gaffner, Daniel Armstrong, Joe Smith
5. Film Title - TBC
6. Editing director - Reggie Witham
7. Producer - Sam Smith
8. Co producer - Mark Abraham
9. Costumes - Lara Walker10. Music - Joe Smith
I feel that this is a very concise order and it will look professional as this is similar to the order that is used in many of the big budget films that I have analysed
Fonts, Styles and Colours...
For the font of our group credits I have suggested a jagged, almost hand written font. I believe this is conventional to the thriller genre as it will look as if it has been written by someone who is unstable. I also believe this font is most relevant to the images that will be shown on screen at the time. I have also seen this hand written type of font used in many of the thriller films that I have analysed, therefore it must have some type of impact on the audience. Furthermore, I have suggested that the colour of the credits should be in red, I believe this is most conventional of the thriller genre as it connotes evil, danger and blood, all of these being things you would expect to see in a thriller film. I was going to use the colour white, however I don't think this will allow the credits to stand out as much as the colour red will. For the style of our groups credits, I would like them to fade on and off of the screen slowly, so that its noticeable to the audience but at the same time it will create an eerie effect.
This post demonstrates a basic understanding of why credits are important. You have analysed one sequence and need to include a second analysis. Also further discussion of the conventions, colours, effects and audience expectations of a narrative is needed, to demonstrate further understanding.
ReplyDeleteNow you need to start considering what the style of your own credits will look like and what colours and fonts that you will include and why?
Finally, aim to include images, to support the points that you have made