Differences between mainstream and independent film openings.

An independent film is a film that has been mainly produced, marketed and exhibited without the aid of a major film company. It is usually produced on a low budget and rarely has major actors in its cast. There will be few if any special effects or special features included in the film. The director will normally be an unknown name, and it is often through independent films that directors come to be well known. Independent films are usually based on a script that has been specifically written for the film. Soundtracks tend to feature music that is not particularly well known. Marketing is far more limited than in mainstream films as independent producers struggle to find money for expensive advertising campaigns, particularly for TV adverts. Independent distributors are usually quite small companies such as Working Title Films. Distribution is not on such a vast scale as on mainstream films.

A mainstream film will be funded by a large film company such as Paramount Pictures or Universal Pictures. The film will have a much larger budget, the size of which will depend on the projected success of the film. A- list actors will be involved as the budget will be sufficient to finance this. It will normally be produced and directed by a well -known name such as Steven Spielberg. Again the large budget can pay for this and increase the chance of the film being well directed and therefore a success, and also giving the film a greater reputation.  A mainstream film is often inspired by best- selling novels – such as the Harry Potter films. These are the novels that the public enjoy and therefore they will want to see the film adaptation of those novels. Mainstream films can afford to pay the rights to include well known music tracks in the films. Marketing for mainstream films is widespread and diverse, promoting the maximum interest in the film. Most mainstream films are distributed by massive distribution companies such as Warner Bros Entertainment. Large funding means they can be distributed quickly to many formats in a high quality.

The difference in budget has a major effect on the openings on mainstream and independent films.

“This Is England” is an independent film produced by an independent company, Film 4. The opening scene is made up of many different video clips showing different events occurring during the time frame of the film. They show good and bad times during the period of Margaret Thatcher. This independent film would have had a low budget for the film and particularly for the opening titles. A high action, high drama opening filmed with high quality, professional animation is very expensive and is within grasp only of high budget mainstream films. In ‘This is England’, there is a montage of archive film clips which have already been made. These are not re-mastered for the opening sequence, nor are the black and white shots turned into colour. This sequence would have been achievable on a fairly low budget. Having said that, the opening titles clearly set the scene and tone for the rest of the film by taking us back to the way of British life under Thatcher, and perfectly fit with the rest of the play.

Non-diegetic soundtracks for the opening sequences would be very different for mainstream and independent films. Mainstream films can afford to have music especially written for the film, such as the music for Skyfall sung by Adele. Independent films use music that has already been composed but can be used to fit the mood and tone of the film.

The finish and class of the opening of a mainstream film would be vastly superior to that of an independent film, again due to restrictions in budget.
This will aid me in creating a film opening as it allows me to see the standard that mainstream film openings are at and will encourage me to create a film opening of this standard to attract a larger audience.