OVER A BLACK SCREEN

O p e n i n g C r e d i t s

OPENING CREDITS OVER A BLACK SCREEN IS AS IT SOUNDS, A BLACK OR PICTURE STILL WITH THE CREDITS OF THE COMPANY SCROLLING OR APPEARING ON SCREEN. THIS CAN BE SEEN IN A VARIETY OF MOVIES SUCH AS ALIEN, HALLOWEEN OR MESRINE. IT CAN BE USED TO INSTIL DIFFERENT EMOTIONS IN PEOPLE SUCH AS FEAR, CURIOSITY OR RELIEF.

THE SLOW REVEAL OF THE TITLE ADDS A CURIOUS PULL, AS THE NAME IS NOT IMMEDIATELY OBVIOUS, ALSO AT THE TIME, WHAT THE ALIEN LOOKED LIKE HAD NOT BEEN REVEALED IN ADVERTISING, ADDING EVEN MORE TO THE VIEWER’S DISCONTENT. THE PLANET THAT IS SEEN IN THE BACK IS SHOWN TO PIQUE THE VIEWER’S INTEREST EVEN MORE SO, AS IT ISN’T RECOGNISABLE AS ONE OF OUR SOLAR SYSTEM’S.

The beginning of the movie ALIEN (1979) begins with the image of space slowly listing to the left. As this happens, the title of the film is revealed, all the while the credits for the movie appear one at a time.

There is also an aspect of satisfaction to the audience as the title is designed in a way that it is symmetrical up till the title is revealed. This is also a sort of foreshadowing, as the Alien is described as a perfect lifeform in the movie. These three aspects give the viewer a sense curiosity, but at the same time wariness as they may not be satisfied with what they find.

THE SOUNDTRACK USED FOR THIS SCENE CONTAINS STRINGS PLAYING HIGH NOTES WITH THE FLUTES PLAYING A SOMEWHAT TRANQUIL MELODY. THIS HELPS ACCENT THE SILENCE OF SPACE, AND ALSO HIGHLIGHT THE MOVIE’S TAGLINE ‘IN SPACE, NOBODY CAN HEAR YOU SCREAM’. THERE ARE ALSO LARGE ‘BUMPS’ HEARD, WHICH ARE MADE BY THE LARGER STRING INSTRUMENTS, BUT ARE USED TO SIMULATE THINGS MOVING ABOUT SUCH AS WIRES OR CABLES, RAISING THE VIEWER’S AWARENESS OF THE MOVIE. ADDING THE SOMEWHAT PEACEFUL TITLES, IT CREATES AN UNCOMFORTABLE MIX OF TENSION AND CONTENT. DURING THE VIEWERS WATCHING THIS, THE SOUNDTRACK IS GETTING SOMEWHAT LOUDER, NOT MUCH, BUT ENOUGH TO INSTIL A SENSE THAT APPROACHING ANY FURTHER COULD LEAD DOWN A DANGEROUS PATH.

THE WHITE TEXT USED AGAINST THE BLACKNESS OF SPACE CONTRASTS ALMOST GIVING OFF A VIBE OF AN UNNATURAL PRESENCE, FORESHADOWING WHAT THE ALIEN IS. WHILE THE CAMERA MOVES ACROSS THE IT, THE ACTUAL PLANET ITSELF IS COMPLETELY BLACK, HELPING THE CONTRAST STAND OUT EVEN MORE. THE DARKNESS ALMOST PULLS YOU IN, AS AT ONE POINT IT COVERS THE WHOLE SCREEN, EXCEPT FOR THE LETTERING, AND MAKES THE PLANET SEEM DANGEROUS.

THE ENTIRE OPENING SEQUENCE IS DESIGNED TO PLACE THE VIEWER INTO A SENSE OF AWARENESS BUT AT THE SAME TIME IT MAKES THEM FEEL SOMEWHAT SAFE, AS THE PLANET IS INSINUATED TO BE WHERE THE ALIEN IS, THE VIEW OF IT FROM SPACE LEAVES THEM WITH A SENSE OF SAFETY. THIS IS EFFECTIVE BECAUSE THE CHARACTERS ESSENTIALLY ARE SAFE UNTIL THEY SET FOOT ON THE PLANET.

The almost silence used in the scene also carries through to the start of the movie which has the ship almost completely silent apart from the beeping of computers. These factors help create a tranquil setting which entirely contrasts to the end of the movie.

The tranquil feeling of the opening is also made to contrast what the audience is supposed to feel throughout the rest of the movie, which is a psychological horror, and helps simulate to the audience what the characters would be feeling as the movie went forward.