Opening credits, structure

Get to know and interpret features of the beginning of a film

Who made this film and which actors appear in it? Who was behind the camera? Who is responsible for the music and who produced the film? These unasked questions are usually answered in a film’s opening credits.

The opening credits (also called the main title Sequence) signpost the beginning of a film, in which the participants are introduced in writing. At the beginning of film history, writing tablets were used for this purpose and it has been customary since the 1950s to show these credits over pictures. The opening credits perform different functions in the filmmaking process and are divided into different categories, which can sometimes be combined.

Task 1

  1. Watch the first few minutes of Run Lola Run and read the brief descriptions of the categories of opening credits. Decide in each case whether or to what extent the category applies to Run Lola Run.

TC: 00:00:00 – 00:04:32

Introductory credits

The film's action begins while the text is faded in.

Does not apply
True
Cartoon opening credits

Animations appear detached from the film or already provide ideas for the story.

Does not apply
True
Title opening credits

The text appears on a neutral or graphically designed background.

Does not apply
True
The opening

Tells a story that stylistically refers to the film, but is otherwise an independent story.

Does not apply
True
Space-time opening credits

Provides information about the plot or anticipates the content of the film.

Does not apply
True
The prologue

Tells a story that plays no role in the further course of the plot.

Does not apply
True
  1. Find still images from the first few minutes for the applicable categories. You can generate a still image by tapping the camera icon in the video.

TC: 00:00:00 – 00:04:32

Task 2

The first few minutes of Run Lola Run consist of various cinematic elements that visually can be clearly separated.
  1. Identify the various structural elements of the first few minutes of Run Lola Run. Place a still image of each element on the workspace. To generate still images, tap the camera icon in the video.
  2. Then create note cards to give each element a short descriptive title.
  3. Take a closer look at your selected still images. You now have the option of using the markers to mark cinematic design elements that you notice in the still images. So you can, for example, focus on the shot size of the settings, the camera angles or the sound design.

    (Hint: If you want to look up the technical terms, you can use the free film language app. The film language app is available for iOS and Android.)

TC: 00:00:00 – 00:04:32



Note cards
Arrows
diegesis
composition
setting
lighting style
lens type
focus
camera angle
camera distance
static camera
mobile camera
point of view
editing
continuity editing
transitions
pace and time
voice
music
sound effect
ambient sound
  1. Compare the opening of Run Lola Run with other film beginnings you know. Is Run Lola Run a typical beginning of a movie?
    2.
  2. Make an educated guess as to why the director started the movie this way.
    3.