Producers and Distributors

In this piece of research i attempt to identify key reasons for the success of certain film producers and distributers. As well as this, i think it will be key to my eventual production to understand why minor companies are unable to break the trend and be classed as 'major' companies. Above all, i will try to understand why major film companies have endured so much success as well as identifying ways we can successfully produce and distribute our own film successfully.

Learning comment

From this piece of research i have learnt that there are several producers and distributers that have produced numerous films. From this i have realised that there are successful distributors that are minor companies such as Dogwoof. This surprised me to a certain extent because before this research i thought that only major companies, e.g. Warner Bros, were successful. However, from this research i have learnt that this is not always the case. In addition, i have identified how important the distribution of films influence how the amount of success a film will have. Although minor film companies enjoy some success; the majority of the minor film companies will struggle to compete with the major ones due to the simple fact that the distribution of the major films will be on a much larger scale.

Conventions of an Opening Sequence

In this piece of research i will aim to start identify key conventions of opening sequences. I will predominantly do this through closely looking at the mise en scene, sound and camera angles. As well as this, i will also make sure that i identify reasons why the directors have included certain conventions in order to engage their specific target audiences. Most importantly, spotting key conventions for Coming Of Age films will be crucial for when we come to produce our own Coming Of Age Opening Sequence.





Learning comment: From this task i have identified similar codes and conventions to task one. However, having studied two films in much more detail, i have identified certain conventions that make these movies incredibly successful. For example, the use of the same font in Forrest Gump as well as the same font colour, gives the film a clear identity. As well as this, i have seen how important it is for the opening sequences to have interesting camera shots in order to engage the audience. Specifically in Forrest Gump, the use of a 'tracking' shot shows the audience the origin of the feather and where it ends up. This effective technique is definitely something i will consider trying to include in my opening sequence when it comes to production.

History of Coming of Age Films

Learning comment: From this task i have learnt several things about the history of coming of age films. Firstly, i have learnt that there are several codes and conventions that reoccur in the majority of these types of films. Furthermore, i have identified that to make a successful film, it is imperative that you engage your target audience. For example, Juno uses on-screen graphics of a cartoon theme to enagage a younger audience demographic right from the start of the opening sequence. 

Director casy study: Jason Reitman

37 year-old, Jason Reitman, is a film director from Quebec, Canada. Son of director Ivan Reitman and Genevieve (actress), Jason’s career always looked to be heading towards the film industry. His father, Ivan, directed successful films such as Ghostbusters and Stripes.  Throughout his younger years, Reitman would often be on-set with his father learning his trade in the editing rooms and even serving as production assistant. Whilst attending Skidmore college to major in a pre-med studies degree, Reitman had a sudden change of heart and opted to move back to Los Angles to complete a degree in English and creative writing at the University of Southern America.  

Reitman started out making short films during his time at USC. Throughout his 20s, instead of accepting offers to make commercial feature films, Reitman began making his own short films and directing commercials. Although he was offered the opportunity to direct  Dude, Where's my car? on two separate occasions, he declined to pursue production of his own short films.  In 2006, Reitman eventually directed his first feature film, Thank You For Smoking. The film was a commercial and critical success. Following the release of the film, it eventually grossed over $39million and was nominated for two Golden Globes. This success certainly showed that Reitman was more than capable of directing films to a very high standard.

Reitman has a particular style when it comes to his films and particularly the opening sequences. He regularly uses high key lighting with bright colours to add to the positive atmosphere created. These two conventions are regularly used due to his films mostly being comedies like Juno. The consistent use of high key lighting and bright colours also gives an insight to the nature of the film for the audience. Furthermore, the bright colours may engage the target demographic (E) for these films more so than low key lighting and mundane colours. In addition, Reitman's opening sequences are well credited worldwide with lots of original elements that many other directors do not use in their opening sequences. For example, Reitman use a clever pan shot in his sequences to give the audience a clear idea of where the film is set. A successful use of this in in Juno when the main character is followed in a pan shot throughout different seasons which gives the audience a clear insight to the narrative. This is a clever technique use by Reitman as it shows that he is understanding of the how the target audiences are engaged in films. 

In addition to the more complex camera techniques, Reitman also uses simple camera shots successfully. One example of this is in Juno where there is a frequent use of a high angle shot. The use of this high-angle shot connotes that there is going to be something in the film that the protagonist has no control over. This makes the audience want to carry on watching to see what the disruption of the equilibrium will be. Furthermore, close up shots are also used to emphasise the facial expressions of the main characters. This is extremely important in the opening sequence because it allows the audience to form an impression on the main character.




After Reitman's first success with Thank You For Smoking (based on the novel by Christopher Buckley), he admitted that he would like to work with Buckley again. However, to date, they are yet to reunite with the hope of a success as big as Thank You For Smoking. Having said that, there does seem to be a particular theme with the choice of actors from Reitman. He often uses a female as a protagonist. For example, he uses Ellen Page in Juno as the main character and Lianne Halfon in Young Adult. The narratives for these two films, in particular, are very similar. They both see the protagonist finding themselves with some sort of problem. However, the resolution is always found but perhaps not in the way we imagined as an audience.

Learning comment: I have learnt from this task that it is very important to engage your audiences immediately from the start of the opening sequences if you are to have any chance of producing a successful film. Furthermore, I have understood that establishing a certain style of film is very important as well. This can easily be done through the use of certain sound effects. In addition, having a clear protagonist from the immediate start may be more engaging than having several characters. Jason Reitman does this well in the majority of his films with having just one protagonist, for example, in Juno and Up in Air.

Famous Opening Sequences

50 Shades of Grey Opening Sequence Analysis

The Breakfast Club Opening Sequence Analysis



Easy A Opening Sequence Analysis

Fast and Furious 6 Opening Sequence Analysis

Forrest Gump Opening Sequence Analysis



Juno Opening Sequence Analysis

Star Wars (1977) Opening Sequence Analysis

Superbad Opening Sequence Analysis



Pitch Perfect Opening Sequence Analysis

21 Jump Street Opening Sequence Analysis

Learning Comment: In this task I have identified the various codes and conventions commonly found in film opening sequences. This includes certain fonts connoting certain genres, music that suits the feel and narrative of the film, institutional information being shown; particularly with the institution logo commencing the sequence and director ending it. The typography is a key aspect of an opening sequence as it gives the audience insight into film genre  and also the specific audience it was aimed at. The music is just as important as it can also reveal parts of the narrative and allows the audience to feel certain emotions depending on the choice of music which will make them question the narrative of the film. Most importantly, I feel that all of the effective opening sequences I saw were done in an creative and original manner that highlighted and hinted at the narrative yet didn't give away too much as to what the film will be about.