Research: Key Conventions

Key conventions of an opening scene of a movie:

• Titles 
• Actors/Actresses names 
• Diagetic music 
• Barthes' Enigma Code 
• Narration 
• Exposition 
• Being able to establish the genre 
• Main characters 
• Main story line or setting of the movie.

 Having done some research into opening titles, I found a lot of key conventions.
One key convention is that the production companies are shown at the beginning of the titles. They are the ones who have funded and produced the film, so they have a duty to be mentioned. The names of the main, or most famous, actors are shown too. This is sometimes to draw the viewer more into the film if there is a famous actor identified. In the opening title, main characters are usually shown to show us, the audience, that they are important and take the most crucial role. The main setting is nearly always shown too, which sets the scene and gives the audience a feel for the movie. An example of this would be a council estate being shown with teenagers roaming around, which would give us the image of a film such as 'Adulthood'. The characters being shown in a certain setting gives them a persona, and this setting could be natural or unnatural for effect.

The most important thing - the name of the movie - is shown either at the beginning or at the end of the titles. 

The music most of the time always starts at the beginning of the titles and this non-diegetic music ends at the end of the opening titles, either for being dramatic or for a change of scene. The type of music can give the viewers a sense of the type of genre of the film.

As well as the production companies and the actors, the costume and music people are shown too. This is because they are of obviously importance to the movie. The last person to be mentioned is the director as he is the main person in charge of the film and has put the movie together and is basically in charge.

Popular shot types in the opening titles are close ups - especially in horrors - are point of view shots. Flashbacks and ellipsis are used too, for example "three months earlier". Writing a time or place can also be common. Narration/voice over is also popular. This is usually the main characters telling his or her story so far or introducing themselves.

The main thing that an opening title does is open up questions or puzzles which the audience find will be answered throughout the film, Barthes' Enigma Code states this.

There is usually drama or action too, showing what is to come. All these key conventions help the audience recognise the theme running throughout and therefore be able to tell the genre. These conventions are all very important in keeping the attention of the audience as to ensure they will want to carry on watching the film and are interested about what is about to come later on in the film.