RESEARCH - Film Openings

There are 3 main structures to title sequences; the discrete title sequence, the title sequence where the titles appear over a black screen, then the film begins, and the title sequence which appears over the start of the film.


Discrete Title Sequence
This type of sequence contains shots/images/scenes that stand apart from the film opening. They tend to be heavily edited and stylized. Here is an example from the movie Seven.

Narrative Title Sequence
this is when there is a narrative opening and has titles running throughout the first part of the movie with the titles either super imposed or inter-cut. An example of this being used would be Panic Room.

Credits Over A Blank Screen 
This is when the titles are shown over a black screen and is then followed by the narrative. An example of this being used would be in Donnie Darko.

There is also another type of opening that is used sometimes is one that has a lot of stylized editing. It is highly edited and has loads of effects, An example of a film opening with stylized editing is The Taking of Pelham 123