Purpose of a title sequence

What is the purpose of an opening title

sequence?

Connect

Crediting

Titles are often used to showcase the cast and crew involved in the production.

Discover

Q: Why do you think this is incorporated into titles?

Crediting• Positive form of promotion

– Promotes an actor.-Actor can develop a positive association with a particular

format/genre/production company as a result.-Helps to draw in the artist’s fanbase (target or secondary

audience)• Recognition of the production role (status/importance/helps to develop

career. Sometimes an actor is credited with a production role)• A sign of status/importance (the most important roles are strategically

placed)

Discover

Q: Why do you think this is incorporated into titles?

Paul Newman's and Steve McQueen's names are staggered in the opening credits, closing credits, and on the posters so that, depending on which way you read it (top to bottom or left to right), both appear to get top billing. This is known as "diagonal billing", This strategy was being worked on when Newman and McQueen almost co-starred together in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, but McQueen eventually dropped out of the project and was replaced by the lesser known Robert Redford.

CreditingDiscover

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4YTrsAKg-rU

‘With...’? ‘And...’?

Q: Is there a difference?

Discover

http://www.newenglandfilm.com/magazine/2012/08/credits

THE “WITH” ACTORAn actor or actress of some renown may have a small part in the movie. He or she might get a “with” credit here, such as “with Margot Thespian.”Often these credits go to actors who “used to be” somebody years ago, still have a recognizable name, but are no longer box office draws.

THE “AND” ACTORA step up from the “with” acting credit, the final title card for the cast is reserved for the actor who has a meaty part in the movie, but not a leading role. It’s like, wow, isn’t it amazing that Big Actor blessed this movie with his presence, and I bet he’s gonna be great!It’s where the elder statesman is listed, the uber-star. Many times the character’s name is listed here as well, such as “And Sam Elliott as The Stranger” from The Big Lebowski

Billing orderDiscover

http://www.newenglandfilm.com/magazine/2012/08/credits

THE MOVIE STARSAnywhere from one to three lead actors are often listed just before the title. It’s a similar position to the auteur, as the presence of these star actors is the reason many people came to see the movie.True movie stars transcend their producers and directors. One may think of a Tarantino film, or a Spielberg movie or Coen Brothers picture. But more likely, people are there to see a Brad Pitt, George Clooney, Meryl Streep or Robert DeNiro movie, regardless of who produced and directed it.Their names are listed before the movie’s title, which is equivalent to having their names above the title in the movie poster. This is where the term “top billing” originated.

Institution

Titles often incorporate the logo of the institutions involved in the production, finance and distribution of the film.

This:-advertises the company (favourable light?)-establishes expectations in an audience (Seeing and hearing the titles in association with Warner Bros etc implies that it is a big budget production, we have an expectation surrounding budget, actors, Special FX etc)-can be used as a symbolic code for the genre…

Discover

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IpUt4jgwKsM

InstitutionsDiscover

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IpUt4jgwKsM

http://www.artofthetitle.com/title/scott-pilgrim-vs-the-world/

Q: What genre film do you expect from the institutional logo? Can you explain this using ‘denote’ and ‘connote’?

Genre

Watch the title sequence to this TV drama.

What genre is it?

How can you tell? Be prepared to discuss it and identify examples to support your thoughts.

Target – in the discussion, try to use as much media language as possible.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2c3VVJb562Y

Develop

GenreThe TV drama is called ‘American Horror Show’.The genre is obviously thriller/horror as identified in the use of:• symbolic codes• colour scheme• technical codes (lighting, camera angles, pace of editing)• font style• editing effects (flickering, distressed effect)

Each series has a different time period, characters and set however, a connection remains throughout.Q: What similarities can you identify between the three titles that suggest that they are from the same TV show?

Q: What differences can you identify? What does this suggest about the themes, narrative, set and characters in each series?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E00BPNKubKs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mmRXT7w2C1s

Develop

Set the tone/theme

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fBITGyJynfA

Develop

Your task

Create a presentation using Prezi exploring the purpose of a title sequence.

Include screen grabs and embed videos illustrating examples.

Make connections to the key concepts by analysing the effect of these techniques on:• Genre• Audience• Institution

This must be completed for homework

Develop