Title Sequence Coursework - Analysis 5

The Silence of the Lambs

At the beginning of this title sequence we see a women running. We assume she is running away from something, but we don't know what. We soon find out she is running an assault course because of all the  obstacles, but it created a sense of mystery and suspense untill we find out. This scene is shot in the woods, which makes it seem scary because of the low key lighting and the mist. 
We can see that the film is thriller by the title sequence on account of the eeriness in the first scene. The mist and the darkness in the woods sets the creepy mood and atmosphere, which pulls the audience in to find out more. 

The iconography in the title sequence portrays masculinity. This is shown by the guns and other machinery in the title sequence. The masculinity suggests that this will not be a feminine film and will have many conventions of a stereotypical masculine film, for example: an action, an adventure or in this case a thriller film. 

The narrative of the film is shown in the title sequence as we see a masculine women who makes her way through something that seems to be a F.B.I building. We can assume this as we are shown agents as she walks through. When she enters the room we see her looking at some documents about a killer named 'Buffalo Bill' and then being assigned the case. This shows that the narrative would be something about an investigation into the murder. 

In the opening sequence for this film, we are introduced to the main character, which is Clarice Starling. We assume she is the main character because she is the main focus in most of the shots in the title sequence. 

In the F.B.I building we establish she is an agent as she is assigned a case and is around other F.B.I agents. As the other agents are male she stands out from them and it seems like she is the only female. Which shows the ability to fill a masculine role. 

She is respected in her job as her boss speaks to her with respect and it seems like she is successful in what she does. She does not seem like a typical female role in an film as she is sweaty, unglamorous and seems masculine. Where as a stereotypical female in film would be conveyed as very feminine, glamorous and would be ostracised. 

The non-diegetic sound is orchestral and builds tension with the bass being repeated. The track adds suspense and builds up the title sequence, which engages the audience in. The track fades and lingers for the dialogue in the title sequence. By quietening the track,the focus moves to the dialogue, which suggests the importance of it and it's contents. 

As Clarice is making her way through the building the tracks chances to become more deep and serious. This suggests the seriousness of the situation. 

As the titles on the title sequence are the colour black and in the centre of the screen, it grabs the audiences' attention and makes it the focus point of that shot. This is because it is the centre of attention. The bold font and large letters also grabs the audiences' attention and it sticks out and is hard to miss. 

Title Sequence Coursework - Analysis 4

The Game

We comprehend that the time this is filmed is in the 1950s. We can assume this because the kitchen is designed in a 1950’s style. Also most of the features in the title sequence suggest the setting was 1950s, such as: the costumes, the colours, lighting, etc. We assume the costumes and colours are from the 50s because they are quite old fashioned and dull. Dull shades of white and cream are used to get across the period of time it is set. The effect on the camera also makes us believe that it is set in the 1950s because the qualities of videos at that time were not so good.

Furthermore, only the middle or upper class could afford camera at that time, it was rare for people to have them because they were expensive. The setting of the title sequence is that garden of a big mansion. This suggests, the family that owns the mansion, are rich and have a middle or upper class status. We also see this when the camera has a mid-shot of the father wearing a suit suggesting he has an important job, and the boy is also wearing a suit, showing again that they are a middle or upper class family. In addition, when we are shown the large kitchen filled with staff, we assume that they are middle or upper class because not many people can afford staff to work in The shot of the women arranging the white flowers connotes senses of purity. The flower signifies the purity at that time, as they are home videos. We know that these are home videos because the camera is hand held and the quality of the picture is poor.

As a group of people walk down a long path in the garden, we see their purity and innocence in the title sequence. We see this because they are wearing white and the colour white is normally associated with being pure. This implies that these people are unaware to any troubling elements in the sequence.

The themes that are being expressed through the title sequence are mystery and drama. We assume this because on the mid-shot of the father and son posing for the picture, the father turns and walks into the dark, leaving the son standing by him self. As the father walks into the dark and leaves the son, the low-key lighting makes it look like the father is disappearing from the boy’s life. The shot of the group of children watching the puppet show could suggest mystery. This is because there is always someone, the puppetmaster, control puppets. This could suggest elements of crime and corruption.

When we see the man in the shots, his body language is reserved and distant. We see this when he has his hand on his son, it looks false and it suggests that he is disconnected from his son. We also see this when the shot of the man is walking towards the camera is cut. His angry facial expression shows that he doesn’t want to be seen doing something. The shot adds a layer of nostalgic and the colours look washed out on this shot.

When we see three people, including the father and what seems like the wife, having a conversation, they are shown to be smiling except from the father. The father is looking around and is taking out a cigarette as the other two look in to the camera and smile, showing he is unaware of what is happening and maybe his unawareness will affect others in the rest of the film.

Title Sequence Coursework - Designer Analysis 2

Paul Donnellon

Paul Donnellon studied animation and graphic design at Dun Laoighaire College of Art and Design. Paul moved to London to work with TVC. Paul Donnellon's first animation work was`When the Wind Blows' in 1986, as an assistant animator. From 2000 to 2002 Paul moved to the Oscar winning company The Mill as the consultant director of 3D animation. Paul Donnellon has now established his own company Voodoodog with David Obadiah. He is also makes an occasional visit to Beaconsfield to give a lecture for the National Film and Television School's animation course. He was nominated for an Emmy for his title sequence for the HBO film 'The Life and Death of Peter Sellers' and has made title sequences for films such as 'Smokin' Aces', 'Love in the Time of Cholera', and the 'Nanny McPhee' movies.

Some of Paul Donnellon's work:

• Smokin' Aces
• Scott Pilgrim vs. The World
• Nanny McPhee Returns
• Made of Honor 
• St Tranian's
• Love in the Time of Cholera
• Nanny McPhee
• The Life and Death of Peter Sellers
• When the Wind Blows
• The River King

The Life and Death of Peter Sellers

'The Life and Death of Peter Sellers' title sequence.

Paul Donnellon uses Graphic Design and Animation to make this title sequence. The title sequence shows the audience the genre of the film, which is comedy.Once the title sequence begins we see that it is very bright and colourful. Donnellon made it bright and used vivid colours to make the sequence look fun and exciting, almost comic like. The sequence sticks out and grabs the attention of the audience, pulling them in and engaging them. The typography also shows that the film will be fun and comical because it is made out of flowers that grow to cover the screen. 

Title Sequence Coursework - Designer Analysis 1

Saul Bass

Saul Bass is an American motion-picture designer-director. He is known for his imaginative, animated titles, prologues, and epilogues. He became commonly known after creating the title sequence for Otto Preminger’s film, The Man with the Golden Arm (1955).

Bass was from the Bronx, New York. He graduated James Monroe High School and studied at the Art Students League and attended night classes with György Kepes at Brooklyn College. He began his time in Hollywood in the 1940s, designing print advertisements for films, such as: Champion (1949), Death of a Salesman (1951) and The Moon is Blue (1953). Bass then collaborated with Otto Preminger, who also directed The Moon is Blue. Preminger was impressed with Bass’s work and asked him to produce a title sequence. Bass was one of the first to realise the creative potential of the opening and closing credits to a movie and enhanced the experience of the audience and contributed to the mood and the theme of the movie.

Some of Saul Bass’s work:

• Psycho
• Goodfellas
• Cape Fear
• The Age of Innocence
• Casino

Saul Bass was best known for his use of simple, geometry shapes and their symbolism. His posters had an strange ability to capture the mood of a film with simple shapes and images. This was his preferred method as opposed to using pictures of the film star. Bass often hand drew the images to create a casual appearance.

Title Sequence Coursework - Analysis 3

Splice

At the beginning of the Splice title sequence the audience are shown flickering x-rays of small animals, which are changing into the production company’s logo. This creates a dark, scary tone and atmosphere, and makes the audience feel uncomfortable. This suggests that the film is horror, as it makes you turn in your seat. Throughout the title sequence the camera seems to be being pushed through misty water in, which looks like the inside of a body. The pale, vain filled skin that the audience is shown will make their skin crawl. Being inside a body will make the audience feel uncomfortable and restricted. This connotes that the film is in the si-fi/body horror genre.

When the audience is show the inside of the pale skin, inside the body, they are shown scales soon after. This suggests that the person is not normal and is some type of creature.

The soundtrack in the title sequence is a eerie piano track, which continues the feeling of it being unnerving. As the title sequence continues the pace fastens as the audience are taken through the misty water faster. The track goes faster, which is parallel to what is happening on screen.

 As the music goes faster and travelling up through the body goes quickens, bubbles start to appear, we get the feeling of something exciting about to happen. However once everything slows down the audience sees that they were given false hope and suggests towards the end of the film, there will be no escape.

We see the typography that they have used to show the credits are formed from the creature’s veins. Around the name we see scales. This makes the audience feel uncomfortable again. This continues to suggest that the film is in the genre si-fi/body horror and shows it by the typography they use.
From the title sequence we see the character isn’t a person, but a creature. We understand this from all the features in the body that are not normal. For example the scales on her skin, the popping out veins, and the dark greenness of the skin.

Title Sequence Coursework - Analysis 2

Zombieland

In the Zombieland title sequence there are many indicators that display the film is set in America. For example we are shown a prison that clearly has American features, like the orange jumpsuits. Also we are shown the American currency, which are dollars, and we are also shown American firemen and their trucks. In addition, we are shown cars and highways, which are also connoted, as American.

There are many contrasting themes that are portrayed in the Zombieland title sequence. Such as we can see the film could be a comedy as we see the zombie bride killing her groom. However, the title sequence also shoes conventions of the genre horror. We get this as we are shown gory seems with zombies covered in blood and one throwing up blood. The title sequence clearly states that, in the film, the zombie population will become superior and will kill everyone. I get this because we see all class of society being overturned, such as: businessmen, the homeless, commoners and also criminals. 

The iconography proves that the genre of the film will be comedy/horror as we see an overweight businessman running away from a zombie, who is shown to be a stripper. In the title sequence we see a lot of blood and gore, which are conventions of horror. The use of the colours red and black also signifies the genre horror as red is normally associated with danger and blood, whilst black is associated with darkness and mystery. 

We also see the comical aspect of the film when we are shown an overweight man running away from what seems like a zombie coach on an American football field. This would be amusing to the audience because the words ‘RULE #1 CARDIO’ are shown on the screen, suggesting the first rule of not being eaten by a zombie is cardio, which not something overweight people are associated with.

From watching the title sequence we can see the film will be funny, but gruesome and ghastly. We can suggest this because what we understood about the themes of the film. The themes will give the audience expectation on what they are about to watch. Although we cannot clearly see what the narrative is going to be, which leaves the audience wondering what is going to happen. This engages them in the film and leaves them wanting to watch the rest of the film. 

In the title sequence we are not shown any main character, we just see the chaos that is happening that prepares us for the rest of the film. However we are introduced to the zombies, which is shown clearly that they are the antagonists of the film. 

The whole Zombieland title sequence are shown in slow motion, which makes is funny, showing the comical side of the film. On the other hand, it counters acts with the gruesome images shown, which changes the perspective of it. This changes the way it is presented as 'funny'. The non-diegetic track that is being played over the title sequence is parallel to the events happening in the title sequence. The pace of the track corresponds with the pace of the cuts and works well together. 

In the background of the title sequence the non-diegetic track is a metallic version of the American national anthem is being played. This suggests that there is danger looming in America. We can assume this, as the normal American anthem would just connote the nation, and with the metallic element it suggests something is wrong, which creates a sense of mystery and suspense for the audience.

Title Sequence Coursework - Analysis 1

Seven

As the opening sequence of the title sequence does not include any long shots for us to recognize a certain type of setting. Although from the fast cuts we still see that the setting is indoors – could be someone’s warehouse. We can assume this because the props that the person is using, does not look like they belong in someone’s home or office. However, we are not shown this, which leaves the audience assuming it is a warehouse, therefore creating tension for the audience.

The title sequence of Seven clearly shows the themes, of the film, are mystery and suspense. We see this because the low-key lighting definitely shows the mysterious information in the sequence. The soundtrack of the title sequence is eerie, which shows the suspense, as it makes the audience feel tense and suspicious.

The close-up shot of the drawing of the hands creates a sense of mystery to the title sequence. This is because we do not see whom the hands belong to or what they have to do with the storyline. This is the first shot the audience is shown and this sets the mod of the film and creates tension and suspense.

One of the last shots n the title sequence is a picture of the words ‘No Key’, which again leaves the audience clueless and having no idea what the meaning of this is. This creates mystery and suspense because they want to find out what it means.

The low-key lighting is presents like a spotlight as its only light we are shown and it’s like the investigation light they use to intimidate the suspect. This suggests that this person is investigation someone and criminal activity will be involved.

The iconography of the title sequence clearly shows the person not waning anyone to know his identity. We see this as we see the person scrapping their fingerprint off, which holds their identity. This shows them preventing being caught for the crimes, they have committed.

We see the narrative of the film will be an investigation case as we see the person investigating in whom they will kill next. The investigation case will be on the murder that is killing these certain type of people. We can assume this as we see the person crossing out the words ‘homosexual’ and ‘transsexual’. This shows them trying to eliminate any kinds of people that go against God. We know it is about God as we see the person cutting out the word ‘GOD’ from the dollar bill at the end.

We are unable to see the identity of the character, as they do not want to be shown. We are only able to see the hands of the character, which are scrapping their fingerprints off. From this, we can assume that the person is trying to hide their identity and preventing themself from getting caught.

In the sequence only close-up or extreme close-ups are being used. This is so the identity of the person and their location is not shown in order to create tension and mystery.

The typography, on the title sequence, looks like someone’s handwriting. This fits in with the idea that someone is investigating and making a file. The text is the center of attention because it appears in white on a black background, making it stand out.

Throughout the sequence there are cuts and cross fading to the next shot. Cross fading shows the clips linking together and creates a discomforting feeling.

The first shot of the title sequence is the production company's name. The typography and the colouring of the shot set the tone and atmosphere of the film; as the colours are black and white, this creates a sense of mystery and danger looming.