Research: Opening credits - Mrs. Quinlan

Opening credits are written information presented to the audience on who produced the film, who is staring in it and other production roles. The opening credits are effective in thrillers when accompanied by sound to create tension and fear. This can be very effective when the images don't make sense. Opening credits are usually tailgated by music which gives the audience a foundation of the movie.

There is a certain order the production team are displayed on the movie due to importance in their jobs:

- Studio Name
- Production Company
- Producer Name
- Directors
- Actors/Actresses
- Film Title
- Editing
-Music By



These are all important information as some audiences watch certain films because of the production company or the director.For example movies produced by production companies with big names such a summit entertainment and Lions gate are bound to be good as they have a reputation and are big A-list companies that invest in films they know will be big movies.

Certain directors are known for movies with certain genres their good at making so the directors names are very important in the opening credits. As there are fan bases for A list actors, there are also some for directors such as Hitchcock. When Hitchcock is mentioned, The audience knows the film is going to be a thriller as he is well known for the thriller movies he makes.

  

Following on, the actors that play in the film are one of the most important aspects of the opening credits as actors have their own fan base without the film so they're loyal fans are bound to watch movies with them in it. Also actors are an efficient way to promote the movie as the more known and liable A list actors you have the more audiences the movie will attract.

Blade

The opening credits in Blade 2 are really effective as it gives a good foundation of the film to the audience both using diegetic and non-diegetic sound. The opening credits give the audience an over view of the narrative of the story. In terms of the writing, the first thing we see is the name of 'New Line Cinema', then it introduces some of the support companies like 'Imaginary' who they were in association with. What is different about this is that they don't show any names of the people who starred in it and it ends with the name of the film.






                                                           

Moreover the opening credits of Sweeney Todd also give the audience an insight into the film as before the opening credits even begin we see a design drawn with blood which indicates that the design has a significance to the movie. Unlike most movies Tim Burton the director is introduced in the end of the opening credits. Prior to this, the Production company is stated and then we see Burton's name. Once we see this, the famous stars are revealed. After popular star names, some of the roles are introduced like casting and lighting.


Out of the two openings, I preferred the one for Sweeny Todd as it has more information that I think is relevant for an opening like the cast.


This research has been beneficial because it has allowed me to think about what order I want my credits to come. When it comes to planning and making my own opening, I want to start with the production company, then I want to introduce the main people like the director, producer and editor. Once I have done this, we will introduce the stars in the production and end with the title on the film. I believe this will be a conventional order to the opening credits.