What exactly are Intros and Outros?
As you might expect, intros are the visuals that display before the primary material, similar to the title sequence in a movie, and outros are the visuals that appear after the main content concludes, similar to the closing credits in a movie. From the classic Star Wars crawl to The Adventures of Tintin’s whimsical, adventurous opening sequence, intros are frequently your first chance to catch the audience’s attention. Similarly, the exhilarating ending credits of Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation, in which we are shown a review of all the action moments in the film, may leave an impression on you long after the film has ended.
How would you create the opening and outro scenes for your own (short) film? What impact do you want them to make on the audience? This post will provide you with a few pointers on how to improve the intros and outros of your videos.
6 Techniques for Writing the Best Intros and Outros
1. Examine the Templates
Most video editing programs have a collection of pre-loaded, customizable templates and a video intro builder. These are beneficial since a lot of the work has already been done for you, and all you have to do is add the required text or visuals to the template. If any current templates meet your requirements, choose them to get started.
On the other hand, you may create your own template and utilize it as a standard for all subsequent films. The Star Wars opening crawl is a beautiful example because the identical text and backdrop structure is utilized in all of their films. This is especially beneficial if you create videos for a brand or corporation.
2. Make Use of Custom Fonts and Transitions
Intro (or outro) sequences for a video vary depending on the content: if it’s a movie, the names of the actors, director, and so on can be included in the intro or outro; if it’s a training video, the intro would include the topic name, teacher’s name, and so on. You may specify whether the typeface and transitions should be official and plain or colorful and lively.
You may have the text appear from the sides, zoom in or out, just appear and fade, or be in a static slide. In this light, the beginning sequences of Dr. Strangelove and The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo are excellent instances of aesthetically stunning intros. The former employs a humorous typeface, while the latter’s gloomy atmosphere and bizarre graphics make it unsettlingly appealing.
3. Insert music and sound effects.
Many iconic movie soundtracks have captivated us from the beginning, as they play as the titles roll. This is well shown by Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho’s electrifying score and Steven Spielberg’s tense music in Jaws. Hans Zimmer’s score for Inception and A R Rahman’s song Jai Ho! from Slumdog Millionaire are two of the most excellent music compositions to accompany outros.
The music you add might be made particularly for the video, or it can be a song from another album (the song Where is My Mind plays in the last scene of the film Fight Club). Special sound effects can be added based on the effect the text has in the intro and outro. In Martin Scorsese’s Goodfellas, for example, the characters’ names slide across the screen from right to left, accompanied by a rushing automobile.
4. Use Relevant Images
This is increasingly typical in outro sequences, as seen in movies like Argo when images of the performers and the real-life characters they depicted are exhibited side by side. The same may be said about the situations in the film and the events that occurred.
If the audience is still getting familiar with the cast and crew, images might be utilized in the closing scene to display their faces. You may also use photographs to show off some of the sets, behind-the-scenes happenings, and bloopers while the credits roll.
5. Create a Unique Video Sequence
This will undoubtedly need more effort and time, but it may be worthwhile for beginners. Make a video for the title sequence instead of presenting the intro on a blank backdrop. This allows you to incorporate numerous changes to demonstrate your video editing talents without
detracting attention from the following primary information.
Catch Me If You Can, directed by Steven Spielberg, is a separate animated video title sequence that also narrates the film’s story as credits are presented. The opening montage of David Fincher’s Fight Club transports viewers to the brain’s neural network, representing the mental processes launched by the narrator’s fear impulse. Casino Royale, another James Bond film, contains:
- An eye-catching title sequence that uses animation.
- Patterns (including shapes like hearts and spades).
- Minimalist images illustrate scenes from the film.
6. Ensure that the intros and outros overlap with the main content.
While some may claim this is annoying, doing so immediately captures the audience’s
attention because the primary material is also playing. To overlay the text on top of the screen without covering any crucial details, you must plan and edit correctly,
and any sound effects or music should not interfere with the primary video. This approach is used in the opening scenes of films such as Back to the Future,
Raiders of the Lost Ark, and the final sequence of Call Me By Your Name.
The Editor wishes you well!
Indeed, when you have so many of the most excellent online video editors at your disposal, this twist on the iconic Star Wars adage makes a lot of sense. Use your imagination and consider these approaches while creating the intros and outros. And, of course, make the most significant use of the available technology!
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