Structure of Openings Lesson

There are 3 main structures to title sequences; the discrete title sequence, the title sequence wehere the titles appear over a black screen, then the film begins, and the title sequence which appears over the start of the film.

Discrete Title Sequences
Discrete title sequences are separately edited sequences that stand apart from the film opening. They are stylised and heavily edited, and they support nearly all of the opening credits and film title.


Enemy of the State (1998)

Arlington Road (1999)

Seven (1995)

Narrative Openings

The Shining (1980)

Panic Room (2002)

Credits over a blank screen


Donnie Darko (2001)

Dead Calm (1989)

Stylised Editing

I've included a fourth style of film opening which is amazingly stylised.  Here are a couple of film openings that stand out because the editing is so sophisticated. This will take a very long time in post production if you wish to attempt anything similar so you need to be well planned

The Taking of Pelham 123 (2009)

Mezrine (2008)