Planning opening credits

Introduction

The purpose of having opening credits in films is so that the audience can find out information about the film. For example, they know the actors and the producer. It also shows the directors style of film making so the audience then know what to expect from the rest of the film. The opening credits introduce the narrative by the font and movement of peoples names. The font is usually bold and red for a thriller as this shows blood and danger. Finally, the audience have expectations of a film company so know what to expect in the film.

Analysis of Se7en's opening credits sequence:

The opening credits sequence to Se7en was very conventional to the thriller genre. One reason for this is because of the colours they decided to use. These were white, black and red. The use of white showed the victim as it symbolises innocence and purity. The black showed mystery which foreshadows a hidden identity which is conventional as it keeps the audience engaged. Lastly, red connotes blood, danger and anger which are all used in the film making it a conventional colour to use. A second reason for it to be conventional is because of the font used. It is jaggered which shows the audience the mind of the killer being unstable. Also, the tense music builds up suspense for the audience making them want to know what is going to happen. The objects which are shown in the opening credits sequence are sharp like the screw. These foreshadow the weapons used in the film. The photos shown during the sequence could tell the audience who the antagonists victims are so that may be his hit list. Finally, the order of appearance is the order to be expected in a film as it starts with the production company and ends with the director.

Group member: Samara Stevenson

I ensured that my design followed the conventions of a thriller because, firstly, I used red, black and white. The red shows blood and danger which tells the audience that something bad is going to happen. The black shows the mystery of the antagonist as he has a hidden identity making the audience question who he really is keeping them engaged. The white symbolises the victim as they are innocent which is conventional because the audience feel sorry for them. The font text I used was 'Birch Std' which I think is conventional to the thriller genre because each point on the letters is sharp which shows the murder weapon the antagonist uses. This foreshadows the knife in which the antagonist kills the female victim with. By the production name being smaller and in the corner ad the film title being bigger and in the middle, it shows how it is more important and dominant just like the antagonist is to his victim. I think that because all the words used in the opening credits sequence are jaggered, it shows how mentally unstable the antagonist is. It also tells the audience that he won't care what he does and will just go ahead with killing people without thinking first.

Strengths: By using the glow effect, it makes this design stand out more which brings the title out more against the black background. Also, by using these dark colours, it is conventional to the thriller genre because it symbolises mystery and death which are both used in our sequence.

Weaknesses: The red could be brighter so that it contrasts more with the black background which would represents more danger and blood. Also, the font of 'Birch Std' is unconventional because it is not showing the unstableness of the antagonist and it doesn't foreshadow the dangerous weapons used.

Group member: Layla Boudaboussa

Strengths: This design is conventional to the thriller genre because by using the colour red in the title, it conveys death, blood and anger. By using a black background, it represents the antagonist by showing he is bigger, dominant and has more power over the victim. The white writing represents the victim as it shows purity and innocence. The idea of having a red, spotty font foreshadows a clown as this is a popular outfit worn by clowns and we are going to have one in our thriller.

Weaknesses: I think that the name of the production company should be in more of a bright red rather than a white so that it stands out better and matches with the titles shadow. This would also stand out more against the title and the opening credits with a red colour.

Group member: Leo Ly

Strengths: I think that by having a white title, it shows the innocent victim and the black shows the darkness of the antagonist. This is conventional because it tells the audience that something bad is going to happen to the victim. Also, by using the colour red is shows danger and blood which is conventional to the thriller genre.

Weaknesses: The colour red should be brighter to show more blood and danger. This would also make it more conventional to the thriller genre as the audience know something bad is going to happen. I also think that the title of the thriller should be in red and the name of the production company should be in white as this will make the name stand out more to foreshadow what's going to happen with the idea of blood from the colour red.

Summary

We will work mainly with Leo's design because it is the one most conventional to the thriller genre. One reason for this is because of the glow effect which he has used as it stands out and helps show the innocence of the victim. We also chose this because the font used is very conventional to the thriller genre as it is creepy. As mine and Layla's opening credits are conventional to the thriller genre, we will also use some ideas from these. For example, from Layla's we will use the shadow effect in the background as it represents blood and the victim in the background. This is conventional to the thriller genre as it tells the audience that something bad is going to happen creating tension. From mine, we will use the idea of having the title larger than the rest of the credits as it makes it stand out and show this is the most important part of the credits. This also shows how the antagonist is more important and dominant than the victim.

The order that the opening credits will go in are:

Production company - Peach tree productions

Director - Layla

Actors - Leo and Rhiannon

Title of film - The Clown

Actors continued 

Casting - Fred

Music - Charles

Costumes - Sarah

Editors - Leo, Layla, Samara

Camera operator - Samara

Co-producer - Leo

Producer - Samara

Writers - Leo, Layla, Samara