Research on how to use titles in opening sequences

A title sequence can be considered one of the main aspects in a film or television programme. It shows the audience the title, key cast and production, through picture and sound.

This should not be confused with opening credits, as opening credits are typically shown on a black screen, using with or without sound and normally shows the main cast and production team. The end credits is when the extensive list of players that may have been in the film or had a significant role in making the film is shown then. Methods, such as ‘Cold Open’ can be used too.

A ‘Cold Open’ is when the film jumps straight into the story, without a title sequence or opening credits, giving the audience a somewhat of a teaser or maybe even a prelude to what to expect in the feature film/television programme. An example of this could be Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight (2008)

When discussing films, title sequences are played around with, meaning you won’t normally find similar title sequences in different films, as film makers tend to find new and creative methods to show this. Films such as David Fincher’s Se7en inspired a lot of designers to impose something different, whilst still using text over a black background.

For designers, a title sequence has become a trend, to a point where the more creative and the more ‘tease factor’ it can provide, the better and the more inspiration others receive too. Designers such as Saul Bass and Maurice Binder are good examples of this.

However, not all films use title sequences. Films such as Kenneth Branagh’s ‘Hamlet’ only showed the production company and then the title, as the camera panned past Hamlet. Another film to note, is ‘The Mummy Returns’ as the only thing shown is the Production/Distribution Company ‘Universal’. The film also did not have any opening credits either, except end credits.

In our 2min opening sequence, I think we will have be using a title sequence, which will be used in the traditional method of just showing text behind a black background, but maybe using continuity edit, as we go back and fourth, showing multiple shots of the scene and then the black screen, then the multiple shots, revealing a little more and then eventually fade out using the title shot.




Bilaal