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Film opening: Titanic (2000)

This is the opening sequence to Titanic. Even though this is not a thriller it was good for research as it includes aspectsof thriller elements throughout the film.

Conventions 

The film opening shows the Title of the film and a Title sequence. The Title of the film is actually shown near the end of the Title sequence. Unlike the majority of title sequences, this one does not introduce the characters/actors involved. For those who have never seen/heard of Titanic before it leaves them wondering who is going to star in it. The opening follows the typical convention of showing the distributors, Paramount Pictures and Twentieth Century Fox as well as the production company, Lightstorm Entertainment. This is done so the companies get advertised. Before the title appears the sequence is shown with clips from what we believe to be the original Titanic ship. These clips are old and coloured differently to the rest of the sequence. This is done to draw people in and interest them. The film opening closes with a submarine deep in the ocean. It is a tense and eerie closing which leaves us wondering what will happen next in the film. The first part of the sequence has humming soundtrack, to possibly try and get the viewers to feel more sympathy for those who tragically perished, whilst the second part has the non-diegetic sound of the submarine going deeper into the ocean. This is also to create suspense and make the viewer want to watch more by keeping them wondering what will happen. Wide shots, extra wide shots, long shots, two shots, and over the shoulder shots are used in the first part of the sequence, whilst a close up of the submarine in the second part of the sequence is used as well. This is done to make the sequence effective. In this sequence the setting is both on the ship and in the ocean. This is done to keep the audience guessing about where this film will actually be set.

Overall the film opening is effective as captures peoples eyes and draws them in and the $2,185,372,302 it made at the box office proves it!