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The Dark Shadows Opening

The dark shadows title sequence includes several long shots and establishing shots, which I will attempt to use in my film opening, to show the setting and general mood of all the characters in the scene. In these credits, I also like how you have a medium close up of Victoria, showing some of her emotions and suggests what sort of character she will be. 

In addition to this, as I have mentioned in previous posts, I like how the credits fade in and out on either side of the screen. The general colour of the shots emphasise the darkness and there is an overall grey colour to it, this with the deep, melancholy soundtrack portrays a dark and gloomy look to the movie.

Order of opening credits

•  Name of the studio

•  Name of the production company

•  Starring

•  Film's title

•  Featuring

•  Casting/Casting by

•  Music

•  Production design

•  Editor

•  Director of Photography

•  Screenplay

•  Producer name

•  Director

Trunk shots

Quentin Tarantino's trunk shot/low angle shots have always interested me because you don't know what or who is in the trunk, like in reservoir dogs its a police officer, I like the fact the shot is basically what the officer is seeing and adds a hint of mystery to a shot.

Music for opening credits

As I wanted my opening credits to be melancholy and a generally gloomy and sad atmosphere I wanted music to accompany that mood, and then an action or speech to add a humorous spin on the situation. I also liked the simplicity of just a piano playing, I'll be asking my friend Lily, to help compose and play a piece for my opening.

Possible font for opening credits

I might use this font in my film opening as it is simple and won't be the main focus of the shot, I would like to have this font in a grey colour and softly appear and disappear in the bottom corners of the screen.

A Dead Man's Shoes Opening Credits

In a Dead Man's Shoes I particularly like how the credits show up in the corner of the shot rather than in the middle of the shot or just getting in the way of the shot. I think it's a more subtle way of showing credits. I'm also fond of the colour of the font. In addition to this, I also like how the lighting isn't very high and there's an almost greyish look to it.

Juxtaposition in Reservoir Dogs

In the famous ear cutting scene in Reservoir Dogs juxtaposition is used with music, in this scene Mr. Blonde  tortures a tide up police officer by cutting off his ear, absolutely grotesque and a horrible thought, let alone someone in a film actually doing it. Quentin Tarantino makes this scene almost humorous by playing an upbeat song (stuck in the middle with you) and having Mr. Blonde dance around and having him enjoy himself whilst he's doing it. Tarantino somehow manages to lighten this scene by playing this.

In Bruges Title Sequence

There are several elements of 'In Bruges' opening credits that I like and would like to incorporate in my film opening. Firstly, all shots are dark and shadowed in the night time, even when there's a shot in the daytime, there is still a greyish tinge to the colouring and no enhanced lighting, giving it an overall glum look to it. Secondly, the font, the colour of it and how it softly enters and exits throughout the sequence, again adding to the slow, moody, glum atmosphere. Further adding to this, the music I particularly like, having just a piano playing makes it simple yet explains a lot about how the opening credits are setting a fairly miserable view on what the film will be. Finally, my favourite part, where everything is fairly down and melancholy, when Colin Farrell starts speaking, he adds a lot of humour to it, even though we find out that he's a murderer, and in general a fairly grumpy irish git, he is still funny. I enjoy juxtaposition where a sad mood is completely spun around and made humorous.