what are the 4 different types of film openings?

Titles on a Blank Screen

Titles on a blank screen involves different types of type faces on a black background. Often white is used against a black background to create a high contrast, providing clarity for the audience. They are low budget and offer a simple and uncomplicated way to include institutional information at the beginning of a film.
An example that uses titles on a blank screen is the movie 'Psycho' which uses white against a black background which has a high contrast and uses effects to engage the audience. The music is what mainly engages the audience because it gives them an idea of the genre of the movie and sets a tone for the audience.

Titles on Still Images

Titles on still images are more elaborate than black and white text on a black background as it incorporates a visual image to hint and portray a tone to the audience. The music accompanied can also help to hint the tone. Historically title cards developed to include hand drawn borders and other images. Title on still images led to credits becoming longer and people recognised their contributions.

Titles over Moving Images

This title sequence incorporates moving images behind titles, including sound but not dialogue. Moving image serves to offer a metaphor, narrative thread or to help introduce storylines.


Titles using Animation or Motion

This title sequence became or popular in the late 1990s. Titles became part of a moving image and was integrated with images seen. It requires a lot of digital technology and stylized editing. In my opinion this types of title sequence is the best because it clearly shows the tone of the image and uses music to add to this. An example of this is 'Catch Me If You Can.' The opening involves animation and is essentially a short introduction to the film highlighting what the film is about and is an engaging way to read the opening credits of the film. The music adds to the tone as it creates a mischievous atmosphere.
 The type of title sequence I like the most is the montage opening




An example to this type of opening is the movie ' se7en'. This is because the beginning starts with an sinister music in the background with sound effects to create tension and fear to the audience. What makes the opening effective is that while the music is playing, t the background noise is Also hearable, for example the screaming and gates opening. Also while the title credits are presented there are moving images on the screen with it, not like a classically opening with a black screen and the company names shown to the audience. This gives the opening a sense that it is a film before a film effect and gets the audience more keen to watch the film as the use of props and characters creates a mysterious feeling to the audience. The props used in the opening was chosen wisely as it seems it's giving a hint to the audience of what's going to come up next, as it has a specific order it is all presented. Also with just seeing the props the genre of the film is so clear and How the characters/setting is going to be formed. Furthermore the use of the mise-en-scene also creates a powerful look to the opening as the dark lighting and location it is set in gives you sight of how the film is going to be illustrated. The performance of the character attracts the audience as there is a sudden excitement to figure out the issue that he/she is dealing with, this is because in the scene you can see writing and blood, as it seems like a problem is trying to get solved.
I particularly enjoyed the order and structure of the credits as it started with the main character and continued with the rest of the production team and so on. Also the font of the writing is small and not covering the whole screen which doesn't block you from seeing the actually opening, as I do believe that is important for an audience.