The Differences Between Mainstream and Independet Film Openings (G321)

There are key differences between the openings to mainstream and independent films. For example the openings to mainstream films commonly feature the following things:

• Big name actors
• major genres
• Big budget/complexed openings

Where as the openings to independent films commonly feature the following things:

• Less well know actors
• Less expensive openings

An example of a mainsteam film opening featuring a big name actor is Disneys National Treasure (2004) the opening to this film features such as Nicolas Cage, who has also starred in Con Air (1997) and Lord of War (2005), and Justin Bartha, who has starred in Failure to Launch (2006) and The Hangover (2009). Actors like this would usually not be available to indpendent companies as their wage demands would blow their bidget out of the window.


An example of a major genre being used by a mainsteam company is Casiono Royale (2006). This is an action film which features Daniel Craig playing James Bond for the first time. In the opening sequence to this film we see a parcour chase which features gunshots, a protagonist, an antagonist and explosions. These are all generic convections of the action genre, a major genre. Stunts such as the ones which feature in this sequence would be very dificult for a independent to poduce due to their far inferior budgets.



An example of a big budget opening being used in a mainstream film is the opening scene from Fast Five (2011) the 5th film in the Fast and the Furious series. This film opening features a complexed stunt driving sequence featuring a Corvette, a Mustang and a Dodge; which are all very expensive cars, and a bus.

You would not see a independent company producing this opening sequence as it would be an expensive one to make, and an even more expensive one should something go wrong. i.e. One of the cars gets written off.

This opening sequence hopes to attract an audience by using jaw-dropping stunts to entertain them, something which this film can afford to do because of its budget of $125m.


An example of a independent film opening featuring a less known actor is Kidulthood (2006). This independent film was produced by Stealth Films and was made on an estimated bedget of £600,000. The majority of its cast was made up of teenagers.



An example of a small budget opening being used in a independent film is the opening scene from This is England (2006). It is made up of old video clips from the 1980's from things such as the news and top of the pops. This is because, unlike a Holywood production company which would have a budget of over £70m in most cases, This is England only had a budget of £1.5m so it didn't have much money to play around with so they couldnt produce an opening sequence the same as a film wiht a big budget.

How does a film opening attract an audience (G321)

Ways which a film opening attracts an audience include:

• Catching their attention straight away.
• Generic convections
• Targeting selected groups

Catching their attention straight away
It is important to grab the audiences attention straight away as doing this immediatley gets them into the film. If you fail to grab your audiences attention then they may struggle to get into and follow the film and therefore will not enjoy the media product. A good example of this is the opening to the film Zombieland (2009).


Generic convections
The use of generic convections is another thing which is used to attract an audience. Take the opening sequence to Live and Let Die (1973) for example, the generic convections we see and hear in this sequence inclued a gun, fire, high tmpo music and a skull symbolising death. These are all generic convections of the genre action. This shows that the target audience for this film are people who are fans of the action genre.



Targeting selected groups
Film openings from films such as Live and Let Die are targeting a large mainstream audience, one which is usually easily influenced by a film and just wants to be entertained, one which fits into the hyperdemic needle theory. These groups are most commonly targeted by big name production companies such as Warner Bros. and New Line Cinema by producing films which fit into major genres such as comedy and action.

On the other handmore specific, niche audiences can be targeted by production companies. However these 'niche' audiences are usually targeted by Independent production companies such as Film4 and Kojo Pictures. An example of an independent film opening is the opening of the film This is England (2006). The opening title sequence of this film specifically targets a british audience and even more specifically people interested in british history during the 1980's.