A title sequence is how films or television programs present their title, characters and cast, directors and producers. Depending on the genre of the film, if it's a comedy for example the title may be quite joyful, colourful and eye-catching.
The function of a title sequence is to get the audiences' attention and give out information to them, for example which actors/actresses are in the film, who directed it, the title of the film, etc.
Three of the films I chose out of A Brief History of the Art of the Title Sequence are Saturday Night Fever, Forrest Gump and The Pink Panther.
The typography in the Saturday Night Fever title sequence is in the form of luminous red tube lighting, the type of lighting that you'd see outside some nightclubs in the seventies. It has John Travolta's face before the title, who looks quite young, handsome but looks quite troublesome at the same time. He's wearing a leather jacket which is well-known fashion for men in the seventies which also gives an idea of the time period it is set in to any audience, his hairstyle is very seventies as well. In the sequence there is a camera shot of his feet whilst he is walking after a camera shot of his face. His shoes look smart, possibly dancing shoes. Dancing involves the feet, so for the title sequence to show a camera shot of feet gives the impression that there may be dancing involved in the film.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=okpCx87orOA
The Pink Panther opening sequence shows the cartoon character, which is the pink panther himself. The typography is very elegant looking, and pink. It is also surrounded by sparkles which makes it looks slightly classy even though its a cartoon. The title tells the audience exactly what the film will probably be about.
Brazil title sequence begins in the sky with a song playing of the same name as the film, the music is quite lively so you expect a funny, happy sort of film. The title of the film does not appear straight away, it says the time which is 8:49 pm and somewhere in the 20th century in simple mature writing, in black which may represent death. Then the camera focuses on an advert being displayed in a shop window on a tiny screen, by this you can tell it is in the late 20th Century. As the advert seems to draw to a close, the unexpected happens, as a man walks past dressed in winter clothes with Christmas presents wrapped in a shopping basket (you can now tell what time of year it is) the shop explodes. Then the music changes dramatically from being happy to serious, fast and furious and scary. The title is luminous red and blue tube lighting which looks like it belongs to a hotel either called Brazil, or in the country Brazil or both. Then after the camera zooms into the title, it shows the remains of the exploding, where there are leftover flames and TV's scattered everywhere, but there is one working TV, which shows news about terrorist bombings. Overall, Richard Morrison builds up an atmosphere and energy that you do not expect to happen once it has climaxed, watching the beginning you think it is a happy film because of the music but in the end you are surprised to find out what the film really is about.
The dreamers title sequence is my second chosen opening. The music is quite fast and shows a lot of blue, red and white scaffolding which are the colours of the French flag, the scaffolding could be a close up of the Eiffel tower. When the title appears "the dreamers" the "A" stands out more than the other words and is stretched out to look like the Eiffel tower, by this point you would have to be an idiot not to guess that this film is based in France.
Luna
