Group 2: conventions of film openings

In class we saw 3 film thriller openings: Trainspotting, Goodfellas and Psycho.
Goodfellas opening scene
Trainspotting opening scene
Psycho opening scene

In all 3 thriller openings, I noticed that they all use similar conventions to open up the thrillers.

In there openings they introduce the production logo and the distribution logo:

Production and distribution for Goodfellas

Production and distribution for Psycho

Production and distribution for Trainspotting

Using their own production logo or a distribution logo allows them to"brand" a film so the audience can be familiar with their work behind-the-scenes so therefore, the production team can attain percentage of the credit.

They of then carried a title sequence. Each opening had their own unique sound to create the mood, tone and the setting.

For each opening they have their own specific non digetic sound, so the audience can establish the genre of the film due to the tone and mood of the sound, which helps to exaggerate the thrilling atmosphere.

for example in Trainspotting music is used to help set the mood. They used a pop song because they audience will be familiar with the song and engage into the film.
Another example is in Psycho the music was chilling and low beat drone to establish the mood.
in Goodfellas they use the non digetic sound of the boot slamming down to create a tense atmophere

In Trainspotting and Goodfellas when introducing the characters they each use freeze frames gives the audience to understand the characters names and the type of character they are depicted by their body language.

The shot types used in the 3 thrillers are near enough mid shots to close ups this is beacuse it is used to create intensity, which engages the audience.