Title Sequence research and analysis

 Analysis and research of title sequences 

There are four main structures of an opening title sequence that are demonstrated in various films depending on genre, audience, purpose and director. A title sequence allows the production company to present the title, the cast and crew of the media product whilst also creating the atmosphere for the film. For example this can be created via conceptual imagery and sound relating to the films genre. In horror films the music may be eerie relating to the films plot with imagery that portrays the horror genre. The typography may also be edited to fit with the horror genre and keep the audience intrigued. 

Narrative Openings: Narrative openings generally have the titles of the film on the screen throughout the opening.  Narrative openings feature conceptual cinematography, mise-en-scene, characters and the cast and crew of the film. The opening sequence of a narrative opening will feature a micro story line or a series of events that will lead up to the film in order for the audiences to be intrigued or shocked. The narrative opening will give an indication of what genre the film is based on various factors, e.g., sound can be an immediate indicator. As I researched into The Shining opening the sound is eerie and out of place for the scenes we see. The isolated scenes becomes gradually haunting as it is repetitive and at a constant pace. It allows the audience to infer that the film will have elements of isolation and loneliness due to the vast ariel shots and long shots.Suspenseful films may opt for a calm yet intriguing opening with signifiers that may foreshadow that the calm will be disturbed. For example The Shinings opening title sequence follows a car that is on route to a hotel. The sophisticated cinematography and ariel shots depicts that there is somewhat of an omniscient being following the journey as it heads further and further into the unknown. The lack of vehicles on the road suggests they are heading somewhere remote and reclusive where danger could present itself. The haunting and eerie diegetic sound is emphasised as the the car progresses along the road; the abrupt change in music to the almost screaming and dynamic metallic like sounds causes the audience to fear the upcoming destination. The haunting screaming sounds creates a paranormal feel to the film and as the camera pans around the hotel, the amount of cars stationary at the hotel car park is surprising for the viewers but does however make it all the more unnerving.  The opening sequence of The shining, adheres the general conventions of a horror instead it uses the lonely and reclusive countryside to portray aspects of a horror teamed with a hauntingly clever score.From the director himself, Stanley Kubrik, he states it was important to establish an ominous mood during the characters first drive up to the hotel. The vast isolation and eerie splendour of high mountains and the narrow winding roads which would become impassable after heavy snow.

Stylized editing: These titles are often heavily edited in post production in order to give the audience an effective film opening. For example within Se7en the titles jump erratically around the screen suggesting that the character/characters will become increasingly erratic throughout the film. The typography of the film is interesting as it compliments the thriller element to the film and the fact it transitions around the screen makes the audience focus in on what they are seeing more.
The title "Se7en" appears numerous times to suggest that seven is important within the film. The films content features the seven deadly sins and the opening sequence reinforces this. The appearance of the title changes throughout the opening as it changes in size and format and position. The use of this is to again reinforce the idea that Seven will be of importance in the film. The typography of the font is handwritten, suggesting that the protagonist of the film is the hands we see throughout writing in the book. Throughout the sequence there is an indication of religion due to the lexis we see on screen. Words such as repent, god, and sin indicate a semantic field of religion, it is a code that aims to help the audience figure out what the films content will be.



Title credits over a blank screen: Which are then followed by a narrative opening generally shown on screen with a black background. Within Halloween the titles are over a black screen. The font is a standard size but the colour, orange reinforces the Halloween element to the film. A pumpkin gradually zooms into view until the light inside burns out suggesting that Halloween night will be the end for the characters within the film. The narrative then begins. As Halloween was during the late 1970s the use of titles over a blank screen is a common feature due to the lack of special effects and budget. The titles over a blank screen typically don't give much of an insight into the film as it is not accompanied by a visual aid. When planning our title sequence we will take into account how limiting the titles over a blank screen can be in terms of suggesting what genre it is. The titles are however accompanied by a haunting and eerie piano soundtrack that becomes increasingly faster as the Pumpkin zooms in. The pumpkin is very suggestive of the genre as it has many associations with the Halloween period.


Discrete Title Sequences: Discrete title sequences are edited separately during the editing process. The titles will stand out from the opening of the film and are usually discretely placed in the action of the scene. Within the title sequence Panic room, the titles stand out from the film but are however discretely hidden amongst the buildings in a thick stylized font that will have been created in After effects. It creates a serious tone as it aims to blend into the background images and keeps the audience focused on the surroundings and the places the text is featured, indicating that the Panic room will occur in the city.

Title sequences are the beginning intro titles to the film which features the cast, director, producers,the title and media distributor, e.g. Warner Brothers. Film sequences will always begin with the films distribution logo, for those who view films often may be able to have an expectation of the film depending on the distributor. For example if Warner Brothers is featured, the audience could expect a large budget film as Warner brothers is a recognised multi million conglomerate.

The titles of a film give the overall visage of the film, it can often foreshadow the following events or give insight into a particular character. Foreshadowing events may be present in the title sequence to show a possible encoded signifier. For example a weapon featured in the titles may then be featured in the film, bringing cohesion to the film and allows the audience to make assumptions about the film. Other generic conventions of a title sequence involves the title of the film, music may also accompany the titles to add to the overall effect of the film. The title at the beginning of the film is vital as it gives an insight into what the film may be about. For example the title of the film VHS has the effect that it is a video tape recording as grains have been added to give it the effect of an ended VHS. This foreshadows that the film will be of dark content as the beginning titles already suggest an end of some sort and the unknown as the image is unclear. The content of the film will have a relation of video tapes, perhaps footage that is unnerving. 

Within a title sequence it usually is an introduction to a particular character, possibly the protagonist therefore the audience can familiarise with the character and make assumptions about them. Another key convention of a title sequence is the choice of sound whether that be music, dialogue or sounds such as birds tweeting. Often films will feature there soundtrack or theme within their title sequence which allows the audience to create associations with the film and music. For example the popular soundtrack to jaws when a shark is about to kill its prey, people automatically associate the sound with sharks.

Encoded signifier featured in seven

 Many films intentionally cause the audience to ask questions about the films based on the opening sequence. Questions such as why is this happening, what is happening may be some of the questions the audiences ask themselves. The opening sequence adds somewhat of an essence of mystery and intrigues the audience. This is called narrative enigma.Encoded signifiers as stated above are used within the title sequences to hide or rather encode specific items that will later become significant as the film progresses. For example, the opening sequence of Seven has various encoded signifiers and enigmas such as, who is the person in the opening scene, the razor, the biblical messages and music referring to 'closer to god' are all essential to the plot. The hands are the ten commandments killer, the razor is representative of the dark content and self infliction of the killer, the biblical messages and scrap book indicates the obsession and mind of the killer and finally the reference to god and the dollar that states 'In god we trust' is symbolic of the content of the murders.

Biblical reference in seven

Some opening sequences to films can be an insight into what will happen within the film. For example a scene will  be shown and the credits will appear during or after. The opening scene is vital in establishing the genre of the film and aims to intrigue from the beginning. However some films opt to have the credits rolling for the first two minutes of the film without any dialogue or characters. For example the opening of the film Grease is accompanied by drawings of the characters and the films popular soundtrack that is entertaining for the audience. As well as this the cast, director, producer, ect is incorporated into the fun and energetic cartoons. When compared to sequences in films from the 1930s to the 1960`s the energetic and playful opening to Grease is more visually satisfying as most films from the 30s, 40s and 50s have a similar opening, if not the same where the cast, producer, director, makeup, costume design, set design, ect are all listed. The change in cinematography and films themselves has allowed directors to be for more creative and as special effects have improved, audiences are no longer visually satisfied or excited by the bland opening credits of the early 1900s film openings. Grease demonstrates vibrant colours and catches the essence of the 1950s by displaying various iconography of the 1950s. Icons such as James Dean, a 1950s telephone, ect, despite the film being made in the late 1970s.