Overview & Institutions

Overview and Institutions 

Overview

Now that I have finished my analyses of action and thriller films I can see that there is a structure that the opening credits do follow and it tends to start with the production company and then the distributor. The main actors then follow and then the casting by, co-producers, music by, editors, director of photography, production designer, executive producer, story by, produced by and directed by. This is the structure that I will follow in my project. 

From the opening credits that I have watched, I have noticed that images of what is to come in the film are shown and they each have their own meaning. A range of shots are used and I would like to use a lots of shots in my project. I would also like to use a range of camera movements in my project because this will be quite interesting to work with for my chosen genre. 

The fonts that have been used in the opening credits are interesting, for example, the fonts used in Terminator are very interesting because they look like a coding font used on a computer. I would like to use fonts like this for my opening credits because it will be useful in connoting that type of film I am making. The colour of the font is also very important in the opening credits, for example, the colour of the fonts in Alien are white and this contrasts with the colour of the shot which is dark. This connotes that there is going to be conflict in the film which is the message that I would like to get across in my project. 

All of the opening credits I have analysed have used music and the music they have used is very useful in setting the scene. For example, the music in The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is a well known piece of music (Immigrant Song - Led Zeppelin) which has been re-written for this film. I would also like to use music in a way that will be able to help define my project, something either really heavy or sinister like the music from Alien. 

Institutions

All of the opening credits I have analysed have used different distributors and companies so I will use MGM.

Opening Credits Analysis 5 - The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo Opening Credits Analysis 

Dark colours have been used for each of the shots such as black, grey and sometimes white to help reflect the images we are being shown. This connotes simplicity but the music contrasts with this because it is quite heavy with could suggest conflict. The images that we are shown are all flashing which would connote that time is passing quickly.

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo title appears and this is then covered with a black liquid. 

The black liquid keeps seeping through the images that we are shown as if it is something that is taking over, like a toxic liquid that all of the images are trying to escape.

We are shown an extreme close up of a mouth leaking the black liquid and this connotes that the black liquid is trying to escape from something that it stronger than it. 

Then a shot of fire is shown in the black colours which connotes hope but destruction through this. 

We see a match falling through a tilt which connotes that there is going to be destruction. 

When the fire finally hits the ground it sets the black liquid alight which connotes problems and disruption. The chorus of the music kicks in at this point which is a lot louder than the music before hand which connotes the problems are every growing. 

A skull on fire is shown which connotes death.

A close up of a face is shown rising above the black liquid which connotes that it is going to escape the problems that it's currently facing. 

A flower blooming is shown and this connotes new life.

Order of Titles:

Columbia Pictures and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures present

A Scott Rudin and Yellow Bird Production

A David Fincher Film

Main Characters

'The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo'

Casting by

Costume Designer

Co-Producers

Sound Design by

Music by

Editors

Production Designer 

Director of Photography 

Executive Producers

Produced by 

Based on the Book by

Originally Published by 

Screenplay by 

Directed by

Opening Credits Analysis 4 - Terminator

Analysis of Terminator Opening Credits

There is a long shot of Los Angeles in 2029 A.D.where dark colours have been used and we can instantly see that it is quite late. The land looks disturbed and there are remains lay on the ground which suggests that there has been a war or some sort of damage done by someone.

A light then flashes by which connotes a prison at night when the grounds will be guarded by people to make sure that no one can get in or out and then smoke is shown moving across the land in the same shot as before. 

A ship flies over the top of the damaged land which suggests that the land is still used or it is searching for something/someone. 

A close up has been used to show the wheels of a tank moving over the ruins of the land as if it is a war zone. We are then shown lots of skulls lying on the floor and this connotes death and toxicity as if the land has been poisoned by something. 

A pan has been used to show someone running away from the fires of a gun and the light is still searching the land.

As the guns fire, smoke is formed from the ground which suggest toxicity and damage. It is as if the smoke is deadly and will always follow the person wherever they go. 

Some text then appears on the screen to inform the audience of what could possibly be going on in this scene but the text has used a computer style font as if it is new technology in an old land. 

The shot is still in the background of the text but then it begins to fade out as if a new day is starting but the text still remains connoting that the past will always follow you. The music then starts with a drum repeating the same pattern as if it is a war drum. 

The words then fade and a blue line appears on the screen. The blue connotes peace and calm which contrasts with the previous shot of the war zone.

Each of the names that then follow on the screen are in the same font as the text that was shown about the past. This then fades green and flashes off the screen, the green connoting that the name has been authorised on a computer. A synthesised keyboard has been used with connotes the future and what will come. 

The large letters are still moving in the background which connotes a scanner. The war drum is still repeating with the titles and this suggests that the war is never ending. A high pitched metal on metal sound is then introduced with connotes that something is being built.

'The Terminator' then appears on the screen in blue and black font which again represents a computer text. This connotes that technology has developed and we are in the future. 

Order of Titles:

Hemdale Presents 
A Pacific Western Production of a James Cameron film
Main Characters
Edited By
Director of Photography
Music By
Casting By
Executive in Charge of Production
Special Terminator Effects Created By
Special Visual Effects By
Written By
Executive Producers
Produced By
Directed By
'Terminator'

Opening Credits Analysis 3 - Alien

Analysis of Alien Opening Credits

The music starts with an image of space but you can see a ring to a planet on the right edge of the screen which connotes alien lands and new adventures/ exploring further than ever before. 

The music continues as the shot pans to the surface of the planet on the right of the screen and a single line appears in the middle of the screen which connotes that something is developing. 

More lines appear on the screen which are first shown in a dark blue colour and then they fade into white which connotes peace developing into a new land with new features. 

The shot is still panning the planet with the rings while the lines are appearing on the screen. 

The colour of planet is very dark which connotes that there is no life there because there is no sun to be able to provide life. The planet looks dead and this is because of the dark colours that connote death.

The planet does have a white/silver lining around it which we associate with the saying 'every cloud has a silver lining' suggesting that the planet could possibly have life and there could be more to it than what the eye can see. 

The music is still playing as more lines are appearing on the screen but it has started to take a dark side and the music is suggesting that something is wrong because the peaceful music that was once there has modulated into something that will cause problems. The lines on the screen are starting to spell out 'Alien'.

As the word appears on the screen, the whole planet has been shown in a pan which connotes that it has been visited and left. 

Order of Titles:

a Brandywine-Ronald Shusett production

a Ridley Scott film

Main Characters 

Music By

Conducted By

Executive Producer

Screenplay By

Story By

Produced By

Directed By

Alien

Opening Credits Analysis 2 - Divergent

Analysis of Divergent Opening Credits

The Summit Entertainment logo is shown first while the music starts and then the Redwagon Entertainment Logo is shown, both of the logos have been shown in the same colour which directs the audiences' attention towards the music.

'Divergent' is then spelt out on the screen through lines which then form the letters.

The first shot is of the grass with a sunrise in the background which connotes a new day and peace and harmony in the world. We associate the grass with the countryside which is normally a relaxing place.

A pan is then used to show a long shot of a boat on the land but the boat is damaged and this connotes that something is going to disrupt the harmony in this land.

We are then shown a large fence which connotes that something is being kept in to possibly be protected from what's outside.

A tilt has then been used and we can see a city behind the fence. This connotes that there is life in the protected area.

Lots of long shots are then shown of the city and the music crescendos which suggests life and the business of what's going on in the city.

We are then shown a lot of people wandering around and this suggests that it is a normal world inside a cage that they just have to live with.

Order of Titles:

Company
Production
A Neil Burger Film
Divergent
Main Characters
Casting By
Co-Producers
Senior Visual Effects Supervisor
Music Supervisor
Music By
Executive Score Producer
Costume Designer
Editors
Production Designer
Director of Photography
Executive Producers
Produced By
Based on the Novel By
Screenplay By
Directed By

Opening Credits Analysis 1 - Skyfall

Analysis of Skyfall Opening Credits

The opening credits instantly start with loud music and James Bond falling into the water but with no panic. The colours that have been used are dark blues and sometimes light blue to show the direction in which he is heading.

The music then kicks in with 'Skyfall' and we see James Bond being pulled under the water by a large hand as if something else is controlling him and he is a puppet. Then we see his legs but with no hand as he is heading towards a hole in the seabed. A  point-of-view shot has been used so we would feel as if we were James Bond.

As he falls into the hole in the seabed, 'Skyfall' is shown on the screen and then this fades out as he goes deeper. Cross fades have been used into the next shot.

We are shown a target with blood pouring from it and this foreshadows what is to come. We can instantly see from this shot that the film is going to have a lot of violence in it and possibly training to kill because these 'dummies' are used when police/ military are training. The shots continue to use dark blues with the light blue to show light on important parts of the shot such as faces, guns or blood.

When the chorus of the music kicks in the shots have used a red colour and this connotes blood. It foreshadows what will happen through the film. The music has also used a title hook 'Skyfall' is sang in the chorus and this is also the name of the film.

We are then shown a close up of 007's eye and the red hue has faded a lot but we can see the light blue of his eye which connotes that he is the good in the evil.

A crane has been used when we see James Bond shooting his shadows, it is almost as if he feels small and he is trying to escape from himself. A sepia effect has been used on this shot and this connotes that he can never have a taste of reality in his life because all he knows is how to kill so he will never live the 'normal life'.

The blue and red colours have then been used in the same shot, the red acting as pouring blood and the blue connoting the good in the blood. This connotes that the good could be easily destroyed. The blood then creates a skull which connotes death and toxicity.

The next shot shows a gun and it zooms in on the end of it where we can see fire through it. Fire connotes destruction but warmth and this could foreshadow what is going to come in the film.

A black and white effect has been used in the next shot of the woman moving around and this gives the impression that something is unbalanced and no one knows which way to go, almost as if there is a constant divide in what's right and wrong. There is also a kaleidoscope effect which connotes unbalance and a dizzy feel to the film.

The skull appears again in black and white and then we are shown a graveyard which we associate with loss and misery.

James Bond's eye is shown again and zooms in on it as the music begins to fade, the same chord has been used at the end of the music as at the beginning and this connotes that although there could be some trouble everything will fall back into place again.

Order of Titles:

The Production Company

Main Character

Title

Starring

Actors

Co-Producers

All of the roles of set design, makeup/ hair, costume, effects etc.

Casting

Main titles designed by

Special Effects

Stunt Coordinator

Editors

Director of Photography

Production Designer

Music By

Performed By, Written By, Produced By (music)

Executive Producer

Written By

Produced By

Directed By