Categorizing Title Sequences
One of the most important part of the film industry is the title sequences. From holding a large board with titles on a blank screen in the early 1900's to exciting, digitalised animations behind explosive titles and orcherstral music. There are many different types of title sequences used to accompany the theme and tone of the film, drawing the audience in. All different but all with the same purpose, to create suspence and mystery by giving the viewers clues to the plot and what is going to happen next.
One type of title sequence is the titles on a blank screen. This is the most common use of title sequences as it is the oat economical way to use them. Its main conventions white typefaces used on a black background to create high contrast. In addition to this, this is the most simple way to include information about the cast, production and key details about the movie. It was most commonly used in the early 1900's.
An example of this type of title sequence is the film "Pulp Fiction". There is small white text that introduces the cast's names as well as key production information. The bold title is smothered with orange and red outlines, two contrasting colours that create a striking opening title. As the cast is introduced, the title slowly zooms out to introduce the opening scene. This is also followed by metal music that suggests a tones of violence and action in theme of the of the film.
Another type is titles on still images. These tend to be more elaborate than simple. The title sequences dont just move past text but it is a way to incorprate text with a visual image to hint the tone and genre of the film. It coincides with the credits to corperate more than just the title of the film but also the director, the cast, the studio, etc. Therefore, this makes the title sequence longer as studioes can also be recognised for contribution to the film. Moreover, it also combines different media such as the background as well as using music and images to give the audience clues to the genre of the film.
One example is Kyle Cooper's opening title sequence, "Wimbledon". In here, Cooper uses sound affects such as the "pong" noise a tennis ball makes to match it with the changing faces of the still images. This creates a tense atmosphere and it makes the viewers feel as if they are part of the audience in the tennis match. The text pops in and out, in time of the arrival of the "pong" sound effect. In addition to this, the music seems to be quite calming which emphasizes the ambient sound of the crowd and the tennis ball going back and forth.
The third type of title sequences are titles over moving images. These incorperate the credit titles with moving image behind titles, followed by rhythmic music that suits the genre of the film as well as ambient sound affects. These introduce the type of setting and location to the audience. Often, a character theme is created with muted dialogue which introduces the tone of the film. As well as this, some of these title sequences also tend to include narrative threads.
For example, the movie, "City of God", there is a sense of action and tense atmosphere which is indictaed through the fast-paced moving images shadowed by parallel sound and non-diegetic sound. As it opens with classic, simple produciton titles on a black screen, the bold, blue title zoomes out of what looks like a collage of the man shortly after the foley sound affect of the knife. This is then followed by tense music playing with the arrival of the fading title credits. This contracts the tone of the film as the opening scene is fast-paced whilst the text fades in and out.
The fourth category are titles using animation or motion. These involve stylized editing that includes animated motion of the characters and setting. Moreover, the title credits tend to be striking due to their contrasting colours that hint at the tone and genre of the film. As a result of these digitalized animations, there is more credit given to the digital editors, studios and the effects team.
An example of this type of title sequence is the James Bond film; Royal Casino. Here, it displays many different dark colours which indictae a tone of suspense and action. Further to this, the most seen colour is red which symbolises violence, hinting at the plot of the film. This also adds rythm to the tone of the film. Futhermore, there also seems to be applied effects on the animation vertical mirroring. The title is not seen until after the actor's name, Daniel Craig, in white arial font so that it stands out infront of all the contrasting colours. This also makes it easier to read for viewers.Finally, the title sequence differs from other sequences such as titles over a black screen as it takes longer to finish as there is more credit given to the digital editors, affects team, studio used, etc.
Although there are many exciting title sequences, the two most important categories we will be focusing on for our coursework are the titles with moving images as well as the sub-categories.
Sub-categories of title sequences
1. Narrative Title Sequences
These titles are integrated into moving images as the film begins. They can be used over a series of shots and take longer to give viewers watching an insight of the theme of the film. Some are done to fit in the setting of the plot. For example, in the title sequence of the film, Panic Room, the titles are designed to suit the different shapes of the New York City buildings. Most of these title sequences are fit according to the camera angle of the buildings.
2. Discrete title sequences
These are titles that are integrated into moving images but the plot or storyline isnt clear to the audience. However, it does set the tone and gives the audience a few hints at the theme of the film and what could happen later. In additon to this, there tends to be less people in the opening title sequence and more emphasis on the props used. For example, the movie "Seven" does not introduce any charaters that could be considered the main persona in the film and instead, there seems to significance in the actions of the hands and the props used. Most of the title credits come below the hands to highlight the props' importance in the film.
3. Stylised title sequences
These are highly stylised title sequences with a mixture of two sub-categories. Stylised title sequences are moving images and title sequences with filtered titles as well as motion to help create a combined affect. There seems to be transitions in between the text. With all of these integrated effects, clues are given to the audience as to what the film is about. One example of this type of title sequence is the movie, "The taking of Pelum 1 2 3". Here we see the title credits moving at a fast pace along with the moving images to create a sense of action to the audience. For example, there is a scene of the moving train in which the title credits seem to be racing with. This indicates that the genre of the movie will most likely be action-based.
My personal preference
Personally, the title sequence that stood out to me the most was the titles over the moving images. This is because it incorperates the credit titles over moving images which gives many clues to the audience watching about the genre and plot of the film. It also offers the chance to create effective film openings that does not require many people in it as seen on the film, "Seven". This is the title sequence I would like to do for my coursework.
An example of this type of title sequence is the film "Pulp Fiction". There is small white text that introduces the cast's names as well as key production information. The bold title is smothered with orange and red outlines, two contrasting colours that create a striking opening title. As the cast is introduced, the title slowly zooms out to introduce the opening scene. This is also followed by metal music that suggests a tones of violence and action in theme of the of the film.
Another type is titles on still images. These tend to be more elaborate than simple. The title sequences dont just move past text but it is a way to incorprate text with a visual image to hint the tone and genre of the film. It coincides with the credits to corperate more than just the title of the film but also the director, the cast, the studio, etc. Therefore, this makes the title sequence longer as studioes can also be recognised for contribution to the film. Moreover, it also combines different media such as the background as well as using music and images to give the audience clues to the genre of the film.
One example is Kyle Cooper's opening title sequence, "Wimbledon". In here, Cooper uses sound affects such as the "pong" noise a tennis ball makes to match it with the changing faces of the still images. This creates a tense atmosphere and it makes the viewers feel as if they are part of the audience in the tennis match. The text pops in and out, in time of the arrival of the "pong" sound effect. In addition to this, the music seems to be quite calming which emphasizes the ambient sound of the crowd and the tennis ball going back and forth.
The third type of title sequences are titles over moving images. These incorperate the credit titles with moving image behind titles, followed by rhythmic music that suits the genre of the film as well as ambient sound affects. These introduce the type of setting and location to the audience. Often, a character theme is created with muted dialogue which introduces the tone of the film. As well as this, some of these title sequences also tend to include narrative threads.
For example, the movie, "City of God", there is a sense of action and tense atmosphere which is indictaed through the fast-paced moving images shadowed by parallel sound and non-diegetic sound. As it opens with classic, simple produciton titles on a black screen, the bold, blue title zoomes out of what looks like a collage of the man shortly after the foley sound affect of the knife. This is then followed by tense music playing with the arrival of the fading title credits. This contracts the tone of the film as the opening scene is fast-paced whilst the text fades in and out.
The fourth category are titles using animation or motion. These involve stylized editing that includes animated motion of the characters and setting. Moreover, the title credits tend to be striking due to their contrasting colours that hint at the tone and genre of the film. As a result of these digitalized animations, there is more credit given to the digital editors, studios and the effects team.
An example of this type of title sequence is the James Bond film; Royal Casino. Here, it displays many different dark colours which indictae a tone of suspense and action. Further to this, the most seen colour is red which symbolises violence, hinting at the plot of the film. This also adds rythm to the tone of the film. Futhermore, there also seems to be applied effects on the animation vertical mirroring. The title is not seen until after the actor's name, Daniel Craig, in white arial font so that it stands out infront of all the contrasting colours. This also makes it easier to read for viewers.Finally, the title sequence differs from other sequences such as titles over a black screen as it takes longer to finish as there is more credit given to the digital editors, affects team, studio used, etc.
Although there are many exciting title sequences, the two most important categories we will be focusing on for our coursework are the titles with moving images as well as the sub-categories.
Sub-categories of title sequences
1. Narrative Title Sequences
These titles are integrated into moving images as the film begins. They can be used over a series of shots and take longer to give viewers watching an insight of the theme of the film. Some are done to fit in the setting of the plot. For example, in the title sequence of the film, Panic Room, the titles are designed to suit the different shapes of the New York City buildings. Most of these title sequences are fit according to the camera angle of the buildings.
2. Discrete title sequences
These are titles that are integrated into moving images but the plot or storyline isnt clear to the audience. However, it does set the tone and gives the audience a few hints at the theme of the film and what could happen later. In additon to this, there tends to be less people in the opening title sequence and more emphasis on the props used. For example, the movie "Seven" does not introduce any charaters that could be considered the main persona in the film and instead, there seems to significance in the actions of the hands and the props used. Most of the title credits come below the hands to highlight the props' importance in the film.
3. Stylised title sequences
These are highly stylised title sequences with a mixture of two sub-categories. Stylised title sequences are moving images and title sequences with filtered titles as well as motion to help create a combined affect. There seems to be transitions in between the text. With all of these integrated effects, clues are given to the audience as to what the film is about. One example of this type of title sequence is the movie, "The taking of Pelum 1 2 3". Here we see the title credits moving at a fast pace along with the moving images to create a sense of action to the audience. For example, there is a scene of the moving train in which the title credits seem to be racing with. This indicates that the genre of the movie will most likely be action-based.
My personal preference
Personally, the title sequence that stood out to me the most was the titles over the moving images. This is because it incorperates the credit titles over moving images which gives many clues to the audience watching about the genre and plot of the film. It also offers the chance to create effective film openings that does not require many people in it as seen on the film, "Seven". This is the title sequence I would like to do for my coursework.
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