A title sequence is the method by which films or television programs present their title, key production and cast members, or both, using visuals and sound.
2. What is the function of a Title Sequence?
To give a brief overview of the main cast and potentially whats going to happen later whilst drawing the audience in and wanting to make them watch the rest of the film.
3. Name three films featured in the A Brief History of the Art of the Title Sequence?
- The Pink Panther
- King Kong
- Juno
4. Select a film Title Sequence shown in the A Brief History of the Art of the Title Sequence and discuss how the Title Sequence uses Typography Elements, Visual Imagery/Sound Elements and what kind of mood/feeling is created as a result? Name of chosen Film Title Sequence: Use of Typography Elements (text): Use of Visual Imagery/Sound Elements: Mood/feeling:
The Pink Panther:
In this opening title the typography interacts with the cartoon character, possibly a cartoon version of the main character. The background and text itself is pink with blue corners. Also on the typography the 'the' is in lower case letters but the rest is in capital letters that grow later on in the opening to try and injure the main character ( cartoon cat). There is also a star over the i instead of a dot. all of this voilent happenings potenraily revels that there might be quite a lot of action / vilence later in the film.
5. What does the use of Typography Elements (text), Visual Imagery/Sound Elements in the chosen film Title Sequence suggest about the theme/content of the film?
From just seeing the opening titles you could easily think that the film was a cartoon. Where the 'the' is the only part of the typography in lowercase this could possibly suggest a haricary of power. When the letters grow trying to crush the cartoon cat (possibly representing the main character) it could be that he is running away / trying to be killed buy a number of people.
6. Select another film Title Sequence shown in the A Brief History of the Art of the Title Sequence and discuss how the Title Sequence uses Typography Elements (text), Visual Imagery/Sound Elements and what kind of mood/feeling is created as a result? Name of chosen Film Title Sequence: Use of Typography Elements (text): Use of Visual Imagery/Sound Elements: Mood/feeling:
Batman:
7. What does the use of Typography Elements (text), Visual Imagery/Sound Elements in the chosen film Title Sequence suggest about the theme/content of the film?
The title sequence suggests nothing particularly about the character of Batman and his role in Gotham. It does not establish the setting or the characters involved but Elfman's theme does suggest a sense of mystery and danger. The typography is simple and does not dictate the genre or content of the film.
8.Visit the following website: Art of the Title watch the sequences and read the 6 Film Title Sequence interview with Richard Morrison. The videos are on vimeo and will take a little while to load so be patient.
What kind of nuance does Richard Morrison look for when creating a Title Sequence? Select 2 of the 6 Morrison Title Sequences (CHOICE: Brazil, Batman, High Fidelity, The Dreamers, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, Vantage Point) and answer the following questions: Name of 1st chosen Film Title Sequence created by Richard Morrison: Use of Typography Elements (text): Use of Visual Imagery/Sound Elements: Mood/feeling: Sweeny Todd
9. What does the use of Typography Elements (text), Visual Imagery/Sound Elements in the chosen film Title Sequence suggest about the theme/content of the film?
The typography used within the "Sweeny Todd title sequence is extremely plain,This is backed up by the use of white.The font of the text is "Times New Roman".This is extremely appropriate due to the time period the movie is set.The fact that the text is made to be so plain and formal is to draw focus to the visual imagery.The imagery shown within the sequence depicts darkness, blood ect. At the beginning of the sequence it shows rain and thunder, this conveys an extremely dull and depressing mood.The imagery shown seems to have red as the brightest colour,drawing focus to the blood. This shows that blood is a key element within the movie. The imagery also foreshadows the movie linking things in such as ; The barbers chair, meat grinder, cogs, trapped door,pies. The fact the title sequence uses so much blood in a number of different ways and also tracks the journey that the blood takes from the barbers chair, makes the whole experience of the sequence slightly uncomfortable and uneasy. Although the typography is extremely plain it soon changes to a bright crimson to announce the title of the film (tying in with the theme of blood). The sequence uses an orchestra for the opening music. This is extremely appropriate due to the fact it is a musical. The melody creates a climax at times by changing the tempo and dynamics of the composition.
10. What does Richard Morrison explain about the Film Title Sequence?
Richard Morrison explains that he had to build platforms and then pour fake blood down them to imitate the blood movement and film it. he explains that he wanted to give it a comical feel, which worked rather well.