What are Opening Credits?
Opening credits are the text shown at the beginning of a film, TV show, or even video game. It gives credit to the main cast and crew that worked on the media for the audience watching. Opening credits can be on top of a blank screen or on top of the action. The way these films showcase these opening credits can help set the tone for the entire movie. For my upcoming opening film project, I will have to create these opening credits and to do them correctly I will need to research how they are done within my genre! Let's get into it!
'Almost Famous'- Directed by Cameron Crowe
This opening credit scene is rather unique for it shows someone within the film writing the credits on a notebook paper rather than it just being edited on the screen. Important background props and posters help represent.
The writing of the names signifies the importance of writing within this film, proven by the fact that the film is about the journey of a young journalist. Alongside giving a major focus on the writing aspect of the film there was an emphasis on the rock and roll elements the movie has through showing off posters and trinkets that are in one way or another related to the rock scene in the 70s. There are also other props used to give the aesthetic of the 1970s which seems to be when the movie takes place in the viewers' minds.
Overall, the visuals in the opening are simple. It is someone writing the credits on paper while shots of 70 rock and roll aesthetic pieces are shown. But this is impactful because it sets the tone and focus for the whole movie. It gives realism as you watch the hand that is writing correct some writing and take its time writing each name or word. The messiness of the room also feels realistic and relatable. The writing has a huge focus and stays in the viewer's minds throughout the rest of the film as well as the aesthetic of the 70s rock and roll room.
The sound also helps set the tone and focus. Besides the music, all the audience hears is the writing, making it blatantly clear that writing is the focal point and main subject of the film. The music has a determination feel to it and feels as though it keeps building upon itself, representing the determined main character himself, William Miller, who keeps building on his skill and on himself.
This opening is simple but very effective and prepares the viewer to know exactly what they will be watching.
'Ferris Bueller's Day Off'- Directed by John Hughes
This opening perfectly represents what film this is going to be. In contrast to 'Almost Famous', 'Ferris Bueller's Day Off' focuses on the scene rather than the credits, throwing them to the side. They pop up but the visuals keep your attention to what is happening within the scene rather than the credits. This makes it so audiences are immediately immersed in the story instead of what is happening with the credits.
In turn, this tactic feels less impactful than the one used in 'Almost Famous'. Sure the tone and focus is set up through the scene being played out, but we don't know much of the character except he has a typical and loving family and is a teenager wanting to get out of school. The credits could've been applied in a way to show off Ferris' personality slightly more by having them stylized in a way that represents his character. Do not get me wrong, I enjoy this movie a lot, but I do think there could've been a lot of techniques used to improve the opening! These techniques I feel this opening is lacking are definitely techniques I will be including in my own opening.
Despite being less successful, it is nice to get right into the story and the world of the character. Even if the credits weren't used to represent the character, the background of his room, the way his actor conveys him, and the music playing certainly do. He is a little bit of a troublemaker teenager with there being a focus on his comedic aspects and the comedic tone of the movie. The music being soft and sweet when Ferris speaks to his parents, it gives a hint at the family values within the movie.
'The Perks of Being a Wallflower'- Directed by Stephen Chbosky
(I was unable to find a clip of just the 1:35 opening credit sequence, so I had to use this video which shows the first 9 minutes of the movie. I only discuss the first minute and thirty-five seconds of this video)
'The Perks of Being a Wallflower' is a very interesting opening credit scene. I think it is very clever that before you see anything on screen, you hear a typewriter. That clues the viewer on typing or writing will be important to this film and the main character it involves. When the credits appear on screen, the font appears to be a faded white font in the style of old typewriters. It connects these credits to those typewriter sounds, which connects the creators of the film to the film itself. There continues to be typing as the stars of the film have their names appear on the black screen. Then, a ding is heard and the title appears. I'm not sure why, but I adored this little aspect. It's the little things!
The black screen fades away as street lights pass by with credits still rolling, just no more typing. The typing is replaced by the sweet music of 'Could it Be Another Change' by The Samples. This song I feel represents the tone of this movie with a feeling of bittersweet that the movie ends on and the feeling of moving on.
The camera appears to be strapped onto a car as it drives down a road and into a tunnel that is seen later in the movie! This lets the audience know this driving aspect is very important to the movie just like the typing and is solidified later on in the movie. It is simple and soft but holds the key aspects that a the focal point of the movie. I may not like said movie, but I do like this well-made opening.
Conclusion!
Judging the different aspects of these three opening credit scenes, I think the most important thing to do is to shed light or focus on the focal point of the whole movie. I do think having fun action like 'Ferris Bueller's Day Off' is good to have for sure, but I would definitely want to include the techniques used in both 'The Perks of Being a Wallflower' and 'Almost Famous' to showcase what is both important to the character and the story since coming of age movies are heavily focused on characters and their growth. Having what is important to characters shine from the very beginning lets the audience feel the impact more whenever that special interest or focal point is seen again. Music is also important to keep the tone balanced and to clue the viewer on what could be the lesson taught.
My idea would be to have a main character be an artist/sketchiest. We (me and my group) can make an opening have a lot of action but include drawings somehow of the credits or characters within the story. Maybe another art form that hasn't been portrayed as much in media, like maybe sculpting! Credits could be sculpted out of Play-Doh or something simple and fun. An art form that is important to the main character showcased in the characters is all I really want!
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