HCT: What Conventions Are Used In An Opening Sequence?
Using the example film of: Brick (Johnson, 2005)

(viewed on DVD format, no link available on you tube)

• Brick is a Film-Noir that is based upon a young teenager (Brendan) who goes looking for his girlfriend (Emily)
• Right from the start an enigmatic scene of mystery is created. This is done through the use of obscure camera shots and non-verbal language. A handicam is used to create realism. This seems to be a common convention in most of the sequences I and the other members of the group have studied, this technique adds an element of seriousness and is only presents in most thrillers and horrors.
• A panning shot with the handicam is used to make a CU shot of Brendan's legs and feet in a crouching position, this cross dissolves to an ECU of his eyes. The little exposition of the protagonist makes it hard for the audience identify him fully. 
• His non-verbal language shows him transfixed on something and his eyes are almost worrying to the audience creating an enigmatic scene as we do not know what he is focusing on, This also clouds our knowledge of his emotions even though an ECU is meant to give an insight into the characters personal thoughts. 
• This technique of showing only partial sections of a character creates enigma as we cannot identify him/her. It also creates quite an artistic shot. This technique is used  in the openings i have studied and are proven to add good effect (for example in se7en we only see the mans hands.)

• A long shot is used which simulated a number of things. Emily (the girl on the floor) is viewed for the first time. Herself and Brenden are framed on each side line of the rule of thirds. As the camera Angle is notably low, Emily appears as almost a mess on the floor this shows she may have been put here by someone.
• The mise en scene shows her as wearing a white top and who has blond hair, juxtaposing the dirty sewer she lies in and the muted colour and lighting of the scene.
• There is a large tunnel occupying a big proportion of the frame. The darkness of the tunnel also juxtaposes with Emily and creates suspense as the generic audience relates darkness with the unknown. 
• These techniques are often used in film openings. The light contrasting with darkness (in this case the white of Emily's dress, to the darkness of the sewer and tunnel) creates a strong effect in many title sequences. This is often created by the antagonist represented as darkness and protagonist as light. This is also used to create the person reflecting a lighter colour as vunerable and innocent.

• There is a montage edit of Emily on the floor,in several awkward, unnatural positions leading us to believe she is dragged there, setting many unanswered questions off in the audiences mind. The last clip of this montage is of Emily's bangle, - her hand is lifeless and still. It then cuts to a hand reaching out to a locker with the same bangles on the wrist, we identify this person as Emily, this is also reinforced by a shallow depth of field. This symbol helps us identify the character. This is a good method of connecting two characters and having a visual link. 

• The title 'two days previous' is overlayed on top of video footage which is a nice effect that has been used in every sequence i have studied which is a common opening convention. The two days previous is a nice way of introducing a flashback. 
• A note is left for Brendan-this is common in mystery horrors and thrillers commonly from a killer or antagonist, for example in the full film of se7en.
• Heightened tensions are used when Brenden is on the phone to Emily, her voice raises in volume and this is synchronous with the sounds of a car engine getting nearer. these two sounds climax to a very loud point creating excitement. This is a common convention used in quite a lot of sequences. The end is heightened in excitement through different techniques.
• The sound is very odd as it seems to sound like it is played on bottles with sticks, this music is accompanied by a guitar creating almost western music. This is quite a strange technique that is almost a wild track.
• The main title is a solid text which fits well with the word brick and the physical object of a brick.It is white typography on a black background which is quite simple. This is quite a common choice when making a film opening title but this obviously depends on the films genre and what impression the director wants to give off to the audience (audience reading).