A title sequence is the method in which films or television programs present their title, key production and cast members, or both, utilizing conceptual visuals and sound. It usually follows but should not be confused with the opening credits, which are generally nothing more than a series of superimposed text.

The prime function is to identify the text or the film. Without this initial identification we would not be able to talk about the film or the novel, sales promotion would be impossible, and researchers could not analyse the text! The title makes the unit. If the text has come to us without a title we must give it a title in order to talk about it.

The title is a sign to guide us through the television flow or the film pages of newspapers/magazines.

The title is a means for guiding our reception and our interpretation of a text, either by stressing a specific point of view or by giving us an abstract of the film.

Given the various roles the title may fulfil, the main function of the film title might seem to be the film's promotion, in which case the title should be easy to remember because it catches the audiences attention straight away.

1- King Kong

2- Make Way For Tomorrow

3- Lady In The Lake

A film shown in the Brief History of the Art of the Title Sequence is Catch me if you can. Catch me if you can uses stickmen with no faces to represent the mystery surrounding the opening title sequence, from this we can interpret that the genre for this film is action/crime. The music to this opening suggests crime as there are changes are in pitch which could suggest tension building up. The mood created as a result of this is mysterious as the enigma for the title sequence is why the people are being represented as stickmen.

The opening of catch me if you can uses media to clarify the genre of the film to the audience. We can interpret the crime genre better as by the stickmen being black and white it is easier to identify where they are, as we are drawn into the background more as a result of this. In this case the setting is at an airport. This links in well to the connotations of a crime film as perhaps the FBI secret agent is after someone who has just got off a plane at the airport.

The opening of ‘Sweeney Todd’ is also shown in the Art of the Title Sequence. This opening focuses in more on the background setting and the elements consisting of it, by doing this we are given a more visual image of the genre. By there being no actors in the title sequence, it appeals more to the audience as the enigma to people watching the film is: Why is there a river of blood? The sound supports this enigma as it is very eery and mysterious.

The use of visual elements in ‘Sweeney Todd’ lets the audience interpret more therefore the opening title sequence doesn’t give much away about the film. This is affective as the genre of the film can be interpreted differently by the blood, machinery and rats seen in the opening title sequence.

Richard Morrison

8) Visit the following website: Art of the Title watch the sequences and read the 6 Film Title Sequence interview with Richard Morrison.

Select 2 to write about:

1- Batman

2- Vantage Point

Batman - The background to this title sequence is very dark and mysterious. This suggests to the audience that the genre of this film is action. The music supports this as the slow pace enables the audience to feel on edge as they are awaiting something to happen.

Vantage Point - The opening to Vantage Point has lots of bits of film cut up so you cant see the whole of the picture. This is so that the audience are left guessing what is in the rest of the shot instead of them just being shown. When there is the image of the sniper rifle, you can only see the gun. You cannot see what it is pointing at which makes the audience question who is going to be shot. This makes the audience believe that it could be an attempt to assassinate someone.

Richard Morrison says 'As a creative, I find the idea is always the key and the means to do it is a secondary matter. Because of the nature of Vantage Point — its plot and setting — I wanted this sequence to look organic, just like in the old days. So I just started piecing visually abstract elements together, like in a puzzle, and decided to completely abandon any complex animation effects. It just did not fit in with the essence of the movie.'

Richard Morrison thought that the film opening was very successful as he said that you could not just press delete if you did not like something, it all had to be planned in advance. He had a strong belief that the film opening would work and in the end all of his hard work paid off.

Richard Morrison feels the title was successful as he describes it as 'an elegant piece'. It is successful as it gives very little away about the film which keeps the audience interested. He also says that it gives a clear message of the themes to the audience.