Types of film openings

The media have a variety of film openings they use to create a unique effect on each film. There are 4 different openings:


Titles over a blank screen

Titles over a blank screen is the most known type of film opening due to it being cheap yet still effective. In many movies this simplicity often makes the film more effective and intriguing than having a complex film opening which is more expensive.

An example of this is in the opening of the film Psycho where white text is displayed over a black background.

Titles on still images

Titles on still images are more elaborate but incorporate their text with a visual image. It requires a combination of different media to make the background.

An example of this is the 1981 film "The day the earth stood still"

 

 

Titles on moving images

Titles on moving images incorporate the titles with the moving image, sound and usually no dialogue. This way of using titles can create good metaphors and helps to introduce the tone and the storyline.

An example of this title would be Alfred Hitchcock's "Rear Window"

 

 

Titles using animation or motion


Titles using animation or motion became popular in the late 90s when technology began to rise. Titles became apart of a moving image and were much more stylized due to digital technology.

An example of this would be "Casino Royal"