Welcome back! Today, I will talk about film title design!
TITLE SEQUENCE
A title sequence is a method in which films present their titles, with key production and cast members. This typically used text of the opening credits and helps establish the setting of the film. Live action, animation, music, still images or graphics could be included in a title sequence. First of all, lets look at a video showing the brief history of title design!
Let's look at a few title sequences!
CASINO ROYALE
CASINO ROYALE
Casino Royale's opening sequence starts with the stereo typical gun barrel and the main actor in the middle. He is wearing a suit whilst pointing a gun towards us, this tells the audience that we may be pointing a gun back which suggests that a confrontation is happening. This is portrays to the audience that this movie is going to have a lot of confrontations like this, which obviously contrasts to all the James Bond movies, as they are intense action movies.
Within this title sequence, we see main actors/actresses, producers, directors and other key roles being mentioned on screen as graphics are displayed. These graphics relate to the movie title and its plot, which are obviously different vectors which relate to casinos and gambling.
We then see the same character confronting more enemies portraying to the audience that it might be one man on a mission, This tells the audience further that this will involve some action moments in the film.
The last thing we see is a piece of iconography in which a 7 of hearts is flipped around the screen. In this particular moment, two bullets are shot into the card to make the reference '007'. This is a piece of iconography because James Bond is agent 007 in MI6. When the audience see this they know they're watching a James Bond film as it is a popular piece of iconography in the world of film.
ALIEN
Alien is a dated film meaning that the title sequence is not graphically advanced as Casino Royale due to time periods. This means that the title sequence is very short but simple which introduces the film well.
In the opening, we see nothing but the night sky? This portrays to the audience that the film maybe set in space. Low key lighting is also present with a rays of dull light entering the shot. This tells the audience that a sense of emptiness, like there is nothing in space. Which is obviously contradictory to the plot of the film as there is something out in space.... wink wink.
Then, we see what looks like a planet in which then confirms the setting in which is space. This portrays to the audience that there is a dark presence within this section of space, as is it a singular planet. This portrays to the audience that there is an evil entity that may represent this planet, in which could be the alien?
Next time: I will go through film idents! See you then!
