Genre and Subgenre

Genre refers to a class or category, having a particular form, content or technique. In media, films are grouped into categories such as Thrillers, Comedies, Horrors, Dramas, Westerns and Crime and Gangster.
Subgenre is a lesser or subordinate genre. For example; thriller films can be categorised into more specific genres, such as psychological thriller, action thriller and romantic thriller.


Psychological thrillers are films such as:
Dream House

Action thrillers are films such as:
Taken 2

Romantic thrillers are films such as:
Unfaithful

Scarface - Gangster

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre - Horror

Hangover - Comedy

Goodfellas - Drama

Cat Ballou - Western

Film Conventional title orders

The Order of the title sequences

Most film openings share a similiar begining with the conventional order the choose. In the conventional order of the title sequence within a film the production company's identity appears first and then after the distrubution company's identity appears. The 2 identity's are shown at the very beggining of the film because without them the film would not exist and by putting them at the start of the order they are getting the credit they recieve.

1. Production Company Identity
2. Distribution Company Identity
3. Distribution Company Title
4. Production Company Title
5. Actor 1 (Star)
6. Actor 2 (Star)
7. Film Title
8. Actor 3
9. Actor 4
10. Casting
11. Costume
12. Music Supervisor
13. Music by
14. Edited by
15. Production Designer
16. Director of Photography
17. Executive Producer
18. Written by
19. Director

The film "Panic Room" is a great example of how a typical film should start with all the credits. It is an example of the order of the title sequences starting with the production company identity all the way through till the Director which is at the end of the title sequence:

The conventional order of a title sequence

Order Of Title Sequence

In the title sequence, there is a lot more importance to the order in which the credits come up even if it seems like there isn't. It is also important how many times a certain name comes up in the title sequences for example the distributors company name might come up 3 times where as an actors name will only come up once. This is because as the distributors they normally would have paid the most money for the film to actually be made and seen in cinemas so they have priority and authority over when and how many times the company name comes up.
This is why the order of title sequences are important.
1) you will almost always have the production and distribution companies name come up, and they are usually in a stand alone title sequence and are ordered in how helpful they were in the making of the film. All this is done for promotional reasons, giving people credit and saying thank you for taking part in this film.

2) you will either have some actors names depending on how big they are, or what normally comes second the film title. The film titles will also come in a stand alone title sequence most of the time, but always in big bold letters, bigger than any other title in the whole opening.
2) you will either have some actors names depending on how big they are, or what normally comes second the film title. The film titles will also come in a stand alone title sequence most of the time, but always in big bold letters, bigger than any other title in the whole opening.


The common order of a title sequence is as followed: 

- Production Company Ident
- Distribution Company Ident
- Actor 1
- Actor 2
- Actor 4
- Actor 5
- Crew: Casting by
- Crew: Costume Designer
- Crew: Music supervision
- Crew: Music by
- Crew: Editing by
- Crew: Product Designer
- Crew: Director of Photography
- Executive Producers
- Producer

- Distribution Title- Production Title
- Film Title- Actor 3

- Writer
- Director

Conventional Order of a Title Sequence

The film openings which I have watched follow a conventional order. In the conventional order of a title sequence, the production company's identity and name is the first item to appear on the screen. This is then followed by the distribution company's identity and name. These two are the first items to be shown as they are the reason why the film exists - the films have been funded and distributed by these companies. Below is a chronological list of the rest of the items which appear in a title sequence:

• Production company ident
• Production company titles
• Distribution company ident
• Distribution company title
• Other production companys
• Cast (main actors/actresses)
• Film title
• Cast
• Casting
• Costume
• Music Suprevisor
• Music by
• Editor
• Prod design
• Director of photography
• Writer
• Director

The film 'Panic Room' follows the conventional order of title sequences well

Production & distribution company ident

Production company title

 Production company 2

 Production company 3

 Actor 1

Actor 2

 Actor 3

 Film title

 Actor 4

 Actor 5 & 6

 Actor 7 & 8

 Casting

Costume

Music by

Editors

 Production designer

 Directors of photography

 Producers

 Writer

Director

Arlington Road Final

This is our final version of this film...

The Conventional Order of Title Sequences - Panic Room

Analysing Title Sequences

• Production Company Identity
• Distribution Company Identity
• Distribution Company Title
• Production Company Title
• Actor 1 (Star!)
• Actor 2 (Star!)
• Film Title
• Actor 3
• Actor 4
• "
• "
• "
• Casting 
• Costume
• Music Supervisor
• Music by
• Edited by
• Production Designer
• Director of PhotographyExecutive Procedure
• Written by
• Director

Title Sequence Analysis

'Panic Room'

The purpose for the production and distribution companies to be introduced at the start of the movie is mainly for the promotion for the company. The  name sis attached to the film, which means they gain credit for contributing to the film.  

The start of the film titles are as follows:

- ColumbiaPictures

- A Hofflundapolone Production

- An Indelible Picture

Then into the actors names e.g. Jodie Foster.

The film title is placed in the middle of the title sequence. Film titles nearly always appear after a few big named stars, in the middle of the sequence. The font types are usually big, bold and clear in capital letters. The font size is bigger than all the other titles and it stands out. The colour is normally white or superimposed - black over image. The institutional information such as the production companies and distributors appear two or three times and the titles are 3-4 seconds each. Panic Room' has a conventional timeline, which includes - Identity - Famous Names - Film Title. 

The Title Sequence of 'Panic Room':

Production & Distribution Identity - 0:00

Production Company Title - 0:24

Production Company Title - 0:29

Production Company Title - 0:30

Actor 1 - 0:35

Actor 2 - 0:39

Actor 3 - 0:41

Actor 4 - 0:47

FILM TITLE - 0:50

Actor 5 - 0:56

Actor 6 & 7 - 0:59

Actor 8 & 9 - 1:03

Casting - 1:08

Costume Designer - 1:13

Music - 1:15

Film Editors - 1:19

Production Designer - 1:23

Directors of Photography - 1:27

Producers - 1:31

Writer - 1:36

Director - 1:40

Order of titles in Arlington Road