I have studied two examples of opening credits sequences here, for two different genre of film: horror and comedy. The films are also different in the sense that one is an American film (Dawn Of the Dead) and British (Four Lions)
Firstly Four Lions. The opening sequence occurs above the picture rather than over black. It is quite minimal; in fact no actors are credited. Firstly (in the opening titles) we see a city scape shot, with the words ‘FILM4 PRESENTS’, with ‘FILM4’ being the largest text. Both are unobtrusive, white fonts seen in the bottom centre of the screen. This shows the studio is the most important, as it is first to be credited. After a zoom on the cathedral/temple (it is night, but it is clear a building is illuminated) the film title ‘FOUR LIONS’ is seen, in slightly larger font to ‘FILM4’. It cuts to an image of an indoor shopping mall at night, while the words ‘IN ASSOCIATION WITH WILD BUNCH AND OPTIMUM RELEASING’ in the same position and font as the other words. The distributors/studios names are slightly larger, like ‘FILM4’ to show that they are important, in the sense they are funding the film. As it cuts to a cleaner, we see ‘A WARP PRODUCTIONS FILM’ and ‘A CHRIS MORRIS FILM’ with ‘Warp Productions’ and ‘Chris Morris’ being enlarged. These are the only credits shown in the opening. All the companies credited are either studios funding, distributing or both. The only person to be credited is Chris Morris, the writer and director of the film.
By only having select names, it tells the audience that it is a small ‘indie’ film, rather than a Hollywood blockbuster, and as such there are no ‘big names’ which are instantly recognisable within the film. The companies/director stands out from the rest of the text to show who helped to create the film. Below is the opening sequence, from 2:52
The second opening sequence we looked at was the 2004 remake of George A. Romero’s Dawn of the Dead. After the opening sequence (which is about a nurse who finds a child and her boyfriend have been turned into zombies, causing her to escape) we see the titles. Unlike Four Lions, these titles are over black, but cut between video clips made up to appear as news stories, interwoven with real news clips of rioting and general disorder. Any news reporters are actors; as are zombie shots, but all clips have a grainy effect put on them to make them all appear real. The credits are on a black background, and use red text, draining away like blood. These are intercut at different points, so it isn’t always one clip per credit although this is the case for the majority of cases. Apart from screams at the beginning, and any news broadcasts, the only sound heard is Johnny Cash’s ‘When the man comes around’.
The opening credits are ‘UNIVERSAL PICTURES PRESENTS’ (cut to several people bowing, possibly WWII concentration camp), where the presents is smaller than Universal Pictures, who is the films distributor. Next is ‘A STRIKE ENTERTAINMENT/NEWAMSTERDAM ENTERTAINMENT PRODUCTION’ who are studios involved with the films creation. Clips of a zombie are then shown before the title ‘DAWN OF THE DEAD’ is shown. This is the same font used in the original, a homage of sorts. The titles after this are: SARAH POLLEY, VING RAIMES, JAKE WEBBER, TAY BURRELL, and MEKHI PHIFER, all on separate screens. This features a voice over from a medical conference, where doctors say they do not know the cause of the virus. Over the next clips Johnny Cash begins to play Then MIKE KELLY, KEVIN ZEGERS on the same screen. LINDY BEATH, JANE EASTWOOD, MATT FREUER are also on a screen together. This shows the actors importance, as the more well known actor/ characters will be first or have their own screen.
After this is the technical staff, in order, with clips in between: CASTING BY JOE MIDDLETON, MUSIC BY TYLER BATES, MUSIC SUPERVISOR G. MARQ ROSWELL, SPECIAL MAKEUP DAVID LEROY ANDERSON, COSTUME DESIGNER DENISE CRONENBURG, CO PRODUCER MICHAEL MESSIENER, EDITOR NIVIEN HOWIE, PRODUCTION MANAGER ANDREW NESKO ROMMEY, DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY MATT F LEONETTE, EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS THOMAS ABLISS DENISE E JONES ARMYAN BURNSTEIN, PRODUCERS RICH RUBENSTEIN MARK ABRAHAM ERIC NEWMAN, BASED ON A SCREENPLAY BY GEORGE A. ROMERO, SCREENPLAY BY JAMES GUNN, DIRECTED BY ZACK SNYDER. This list of credits is longer, mainly due to the use of the song, although many cast and crew would be named anyway, as would George A. Romero, as he created the original. However, it is unusual for costume designers and make up artists to be credited. The inter-cutting clips show what is happening around the world, without the use of expositional dialogue.This is the full opening title sequence:
In conclusion, different films will use opening sequences in a variety of ways and depending on who the stars are, will depend on the length. Smaller films may only have studio and director credits, while big Hollywood films will also include their bigger stars. They may be over image, or over black, depending on how the directors/producers decide would be best for the atmosphere or story.
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