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.