What are opening titles?
Opening titles are the writing we often see at the beginning of the film. They give information about who contributed to film and what their role was.
Often, professional looking films stick to showing credits in a particular order and way. There are usually white letters scrolling on a black background. This has become synonymous for the opening and closing scene of feature films. However, occasionally opening credits are met with a more creative approach, more animation and colour is used, but the order of credits normally stays the same.
How do they look?
Often, professional looking films stick to showing credits in a particular order and way. There are usually white letters scrolling on a black background. This has become synonymous for the opening and closing scene of feature films. However, occasionally opening credits are met with a more creative approach, more animation and colour is used, but the order of credits normally stays the same.
What's the order?
For a lot of films, these titles are used in this order:
1. Distribution company presents...
2. A...production
3. A... film
4. Film title
5. Lead cast/main actors
6. Supporting cast
7. Casting director
8. Music composer
9. Costume designer
10. Associate producers
11. Editor(s)
12. Production designer
13. Director of photography
14. Executive producer
15. Producers
16. Writer(s)
17. Director
For minimal titles you must at least use...
The order of the opening credits in the title sequence begin with the distributors.
production company
a film by
Title
starring... main characters
casting by
music by
production designer
edited by
director of photography
writen and directed by
(CTS)
1. Distribution company presents...
2. A...production
3. A... film
4. Film title
5. Lead cast/main actors
6. Supporting cast
7. Casting director
8. Music composer
9. Costume designer
10. Associate producers
11. Editor(s)
12. Production designer
13. Director of photography
14. Executive producer
15. Producers
16. Writer(s)
17. Director
For minimal titles you must at least use...
The order of the opening credits in the title sequence begin with the distributors.
production company
a film by
Title
starring... main characters
casting by
music by
production designer
edited by
director of photography
writen and directed by
(CTS)
What do all of these people do?
A Distribution Company is involved in the distributing of the products, to wholesalers and retailers.
A Production Company are the people who fund (either through earnings, studio investors, or private investors). Bigger production companies often work with well-known and expensive talent.
The film title's main function is to tell people what they're watching! Often the title is spooky and relates to the storyline. This can also work to foreshadow what's happening in the film.
Putting a title to show the Lead Cast can often give people more confidence in the film. This is the opportunity for the production company to show off the brilliant actors they've got in the film. This gives the audience more confidence in the film and shows that it will be good.
Often there will be famous names in the Supporting Cast too, this is often why this is added.
The Casting Director is then given credit. During the film-making process, the casting director would be in charge of choosing which actor is most appropriate to play which character. A casting director would be involved in the auditioning process and would spend lots of time with the actors.
The Music Composer is mentioned next, he/she would be in charge of composing the soundtrack/soundtrack's for the film. He/she would have to make sure that it fits with the tense scenes in the film and links to the overall concept and storyline. The Music Composer would also need to consider any sound effects that could need to be added later on.
A Costume Designer would have lots of fashion and costume knowledge and would be heavily committed to understanding the plot and the identity of the characters, the costume designer would then use this knowledge to choose how the characters should be dressed in each scene of the film. They would have to consider things like colour connotations and material choice. The Costume Designer would also need to think about the target audience of the film and whether the film's storyline relates to a specific period in time (and certain styles).
We weren't completely sure what the role of an Associate Producer is, so we decided to research the role as a job description on a website called 'creativeskillset.org' and the site described the job: 'Associate Producers are usually individuals within production companies who have played a significant role in the development of the script or screenplay. They may also have helped in the packaging process or contributed important creative ideas to the production. Sometimes they are a producer or a senior Script Editor who helps with the final drafts of the screenplay and without whom the film may not be financed.The term Associate Producer is also sometimes used to describe a Producer from a smaller production company which is co-producing the film. They may have raised some funding for the project, but not enough to get an Executive Producer or Co-Producer credit. Associate Producers take on responsibilities delegated to them by the Producer. They work on the development and pre-production stages, and on the production. Duties can range from supervising the production design team or post production, or co-ordinating the work of visual effects companies. They also carry out any production work that is not covered by one of the other production roles (e.g. Executive Producer, Co-producer, Line Producer).'
The Editors' job is to remove the unneeded clips and fit them together to make a finished movie. He/she would work with the cinematographers and sound editors to bring the visuals and sound together. The Editor has the huge responsibility of capturing the directors visions and to tell a compelling story. There is normally a team of editors.
Production Designers are major heads of department on film crews, and are responsible for the entire art department. They help Directors to define and achieve the look and feel of a film. Production Designers begin work at the very early stages of pre-production. They may be asked to look at scripts to provide spending estimates before a Director is even approached. On first reading a screenplay, they assess the visual qualities that will help to create atmosphere and bring the story to life.
The Director of Photography (often shortened to DP or DOP)is sometimes also given the title of 'cinematographer' too. The director of photography is in charge of the camera crews working on a film and is responsible for achieving artistic and technical decisions related to the genre of the film.
The Executive Producer is the head producer who oversees the creation of a film. An Executive Producer usually works for a production company, but may work independently as well.
Producers fill a variety of roles depending upon the type of producer. Either employed by a production company or independent, Producers plan and coordinate various aspects of film production, such as selecting script, coordinating writing, directing and editing, and arranging financing.
Writers are in charge of thinking up an exciting, original storyline for the film that's going to be made. They have to think about what kind of film is missing in cinemas recently and what their target audience would like to see.
The Director directs the making of the film. Generally, a film director controls a film's artistic and dramatic aspects, and visualises the script while guiding the technical crew and actors with the aim of making the film as close to the writer's ideas.