Opening Credits Research

4.3.2.1 and Shank 

 

These are the first pieces of text that we see come up in both of the trailers in 4.3.2.1 and Shank. Instantly the audience first see the titles of other movies related to the genre, allowing the audience to know instantly what the genre is, as well as if it's from an acclaimed producer. The two films they pick 'Adulthood' and 'Kidulthood' are iconic for the Urban Drama genre, therefore if the audience enjoyed these films, they know that they will enjoy the films featured. 

 

 The next point that both the trailers share in common is that they then feature the basic storyline and plot of the film within a few (or one) short sentence/s. The typography that they use relates to the film also, with 4.3.2.1 the iconic London background is shown as a dark silhouette image, and there is an emphasis on 'they' and 'target', showing the film has a group of protagonists and a 'target' based plot.  

Shank uses London again to emphasise the genre of the film, and the date that is not too long away in the future. The line 'the gangs have taken over' would strike a nerve from the audience as gangs pose to be a problem in society. This short declarative statement is combined with the bold font that has been chosen, against the dark and off brown colour. 

4.3.2.1. uses the movie title as an opportunity to create a tag line, with 4 girls, 3 days, 2 cities and 1 chance. This gives more background knowledge to the viewer and creates a tense atmosphere. 

In comparison to this, Shank integrates the movies release date into the tag line and plot overview. The three separate statements are used at different stages of the trailer, but they make sense fully when put together 'This march, there is one rule, kill". The use of the verb 'Kill' implies violence in the film and is used in a way to attract the young audience to this Urban Drama film. The Kill also adds to the implied meaning of the movie's title "Shank" which would only be understood by the youth of today. 

Shank uses the actors names in order to gain credit and recognition for the film, as well as known characters of the film to be recognised by the audience. 

 

Both film titles are used towards the end so that the audience remembers the title. They both continue with the same theme as the other parts of the credits, and share the same typography and backgrounds used. 

Both trailers then continue on with the credits with the main tag line of the films, Shank opts for a longer tag line which takes up 2 spaces within the montage trailer, whereas 4.3.2.1 uses a shorter tag line. Yet both are still related and are important to include into the trailer as the audience will remember them as one of the last things that they see in the trailer. 

Shank then reiterates the release date of the movie. What I found interesting was that 4.3.2.1 didn't mention their release date, and after my research I find that to reduce an audience's desire to see a movie if they do not know when it will be released in the cinema.

Final details of production companies, and actors are mentioned here which is a common convention for all opening credits, and I feel that for total effectiveness we also need to recreate something like this.