Different Structures of Title Sequences

We looked at different title sequences and examples of them to see if we could incorporate them into our work.
We looked at when the titles are superimposed on top of the action as soon as the film begins. I like this affect as it is simple and affective. In 'The Stepfather' they considered the places that the titles were on the screen, aswell as when they came in. This was one of my favourite ways of showing the titles.

This is an example of the placing of the title sequence. It has been places inside the cupboard door where it can be seen easily and so is not a destraction for the audience.

We also looked at discreet titles sequences which is when the titles are completely seperated from the rest of the film. This is how 'Se7en' title sequence was created. I think this looks very good and shows you the atmosphere of the film. For example in 'Se7en' it lets the audience know a bit about the film before they get into it. It can make the audience want to watch the film more as it could make them feel more tense, as it does in 'Se7en'.

Another way of entering the titles could be Old School. This is where the titles are layed over the top of a black screen before the film starts. This has been done at the begining of 'The Mothman Profecies'.

http://www.artofthetitle.com/2008/04/11/the-mothman-prophecies/

This way of placing the titles emphasises the soundtrack to build suspence before a thriller movie. However i think this doesnt look as affective or interesting as the other ways.

Stylised editing is when the film begins but the titles enter in an elaborative way, infront of the action. The editing is often deliberately drawn attention to in these title sequences

Opening Title Sequence (Kyle Cooper - SE7EN)

Kyle Coopers opening title sequence of  'Se7en' is positioned against the character. Everything that the character makes me think of him more negatively. Kyle Cooper does this by showing the audience things that would make them feel suspicion towards the character. For example there is a shot of the character shaving the tips of his fingers off. This would mean he would have no finger print and would instantly make the audience feel he was up to something bad. The broken hands, the crossing out of peoples eyes in pictures, and the note taking he is making in his note book would all be seen as creepy and unusual behaviour. The shots change quickly all showing obsessive behaviour, this makes the audience feel uneasy whilst watching the sequence. The font used is almost like hand writing (like in his note book), the font is reversed at some point, and off centre. This shows the character is unbalanced. The font also beats to the music, and to the different noises taking place in the background, like people screaming. The music is building up throughout the clip, at the end the music is fast and intense which could mean the man has done his preparation and is finished and ready. The music speeding up could also be linked to obsessive behaviour. Pathetic fallacy is used as there is thunder in the background, this reiterates the fact that the character is doing something he shouldnt be. The title sequence in general is fast and the clips keep changing, this would keep that audience engaged aswell as gives them a lot of information about the film already.

Opening Title Sequence (Strangers On A Train)

'Strangers On A Train' opening title sequence is definitely inspired by Saul Bass. He is a huge influence in this work. The men, the window shutters, the ciggarettes. Lines form objects a lot in this title sequence which refers a lot to Bass' work. The title and the names are shown like the ones in 'The Man With The Golden Arm'. They come into the shot from different positions, gliding in, with text in between the lines. This title sequence also looks very similar to Danny Youts 'Kiss Kiss Bang Bang'

Opening Title Sequence (Danny Yount- Kiss Kiss Bang Bang)

This opening title sequence was produced by Danny Yount. The design deffinitely could be recognised as very similar to Saul Bass and Kyle Cooper, however, Kyle Cooper was the executive producer. The Title sequence has letters which are layed out oddly onto the page, the words 'Kiss Kiss Bang Bang' appear on an orange/red background. They words are placed one by one onto the page along with dramatic gun shots. The background colour and the gun shots already tell you a bit about the film - that it could be an action or crime film. The black and white suits of the people in the animation could tell the audience more about the character. The audience could gather from that, that the characters are wealthy or well off. The contrast of this with the gun shots, could lead the audience to think that the money is not actually theres and that they could be thieves. The way the characters in the black suits have been designed is very similar to that in 'Catch Me If You Can' opening title sequence. They could have both been inspired by Saul Bass, or maybe 'Catch Me If You Can' was inspired by the modernised version Danny Yount. The girl falling past the moon is very similar to that in 'Mad Men', which is has been influenced also by Saul Bass' work. The lines across the page when the lady falls, and the stack of books which fall have also been inspired by Bass' work. It is very alike the lines in 'The Man With The Golden Arm' which represent joints and injections.

Opening Title Sequence (Kyle Cooper - Demo Reel)

Kyle Cooper is also hugely influenced by Saul Bass. He is an extremely succesful, more modern example of Bass. The demo reel shows a variety of different work that he has done varying from adverts to films. You can see the influence Saul Bass has had on him in his work. Kyle Cooper uses simplistic lines in his work aswell just like Saul Bass.

Opening Title Sequence (Mad Men) (Catch Me If You Can)

Mad Men Opening Title Sequence

This opening title sequence is extremely similar to Saul Bass' work as the work is simplicitic. Saul Bass has such a huge influence on people. The man in a black suit suggests that he has wealth, but his office begins to fall which could show that he is not in controll and that his job is all falling apart. The man begins to fall past advertisements which shows the audience which industry the man is in. At the end of the sequence the man looks more controlled with a ciggarette in his hand which in the 50's would be stylish and sophisticated as they did not know they were dangerous to health yet. The ciggarette that the man at the end is holding is also similar to that in 'The Man With The Golden Arm'.

Catch Me If You Can Opening Title Sequence

Catch me if you can is also very similar to Saul Bass' work as it includes the lines that was shown in 'Man With The Golden Arm' and in 'Psycho'. The lines come in and out of each other, off the ends of the words, and are also used to block people from getting to others. This links to the title that someone is catch someone. This is also shown through the use of transport, airoplanes flying around, airhostesses and piolets, exit signs, and cars being chased by policemen. Whilst this is happening the music is quite mysterious but lively, repeating itself. It then changes to more relaxed and sophisticated when the scene changes to people relaxing around a pool sitting and drinking. This could show wealth and glamorous lifestyle. Throughout the whole sequence the man is being chased through his life. This opening title sequence lets you into alot about the film before it actually starts. The design of this opening title sequence is similar to Saul Bass', but it seems more complicated and tells you more about the film then Saul Bass does. However you can still see the huge influence that Bass had on this work.

Opening Title Sequence (Saul Bass - Psycho)

Saul Bass' work all has a similar look to it. In the opening title sequence to the film Psycho, Saul Bass has set it out like The Man With The Golden Arm. His work is all mainly line based. The dijointed text which races apart and together could represent the abnormality confusion that a psycho would have. The lines coming from all directions could also show that there is no formality and adds to the confused and strange mind of the pyscho.The music is fast and tense and makes you feel on edge.

Opening Title Sequence (Saul Bass -The Man With The Golden Arm)

This is an opening title sequence by Saul Bass. Saul Bass was a graphic designer and film maker, but he is  best known for his opening title sequences. He worked for some of Hollywood's greatest filmmakers during his career, including most notably Alfred Hitchcock, Otto Preminger, Stanley Kubrick and Martin Scorsese. Amongst his most famous title sequences is The Man With The Golden Arm. It is so simple but effective, it tells the audience already that the film may has some connection to drugs. The lines across the screen could be similar to injections, because of the motion that they enter the screen. The lines could also symbolise a joint which also gives the idea of a drug sort of lifestyle. The arm was the central image in the sequence because it is where people inject drugs, and is also in the title of the film.