Title Sequence Deisgn

A Title Sequence should establish the Genre, the style/mood, the possible narratives, the production values and the themes.

This order was based on the 'Catch Me If You Can' title sequence (designed by Olivier Kuntzel and Florence Deygas):

1. Main Production Company 
2. Main Star 1
3. Title
4. Main Star 2
5. Secondary Cast 
6. Casting Directors 
7. Co Producer
8. Music
9. Costume Designer
10. Film Editor
11. Director of Photography 
12. Executive Producers
13. Screen Play
14. Last Lead Directer 

Typography in 'Catch Me If You Can'

The 'Catch Me If You Can' title sequence designed by Olivier Kuntzel and Florence Deygas was inspired by Saul Bass. The animated title sequence is rather unconventional as it tells the whole story of the film, and seems to have a 60's theme which could connote that the film is set in the 60's.
The typography in the animated title sequence 'Catch Me If You Can' is incorporated into the narrative by interacting with the visuals. The narrative of the title sequence is about a chase this is shown through the theme of travel and the constant movement of the animation.
The chase taking place is between a character played by Leonardo DiCaprio and another played by Tom Hanks. The audience knows this as the animated airport signs used for the narrative are also used to point at the character when the actor is introduced.

The orchestral soundtrack used with the animation seems to have a kind of blues vibe and it also builds to a climax part way through the sequence suggesting that that particular part of the narrative could be the climax of the film seen as the narrative of the title sequence is the complete narrative of the film. 

Kyle Cooper

Kyle Cooper is an American title sequence designer and director. with a MFA in Graphic Design as well as a BFA from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. 

His work has been used for many films and television series as well as games. Some of these include:

Film: SE7EN, Minority Report, Might Joe Young, The Avengers, The American President, Rising Sun, Sister Act 2, Iron Man, Sherlock Holmes, Spider Man, Orphan, Godzilla: Final Wars, Limitless, Men in Black.

Television: American Horror Story, Scream Queens, The Walking Dead.  

Kyle cooper is known for his hectic and brisk title sequences such as David Fincher’s Se7en (1995), which includes various overlapped extreme close ups that entails of rather disturbing and sinister images, such as mutilated bodies in a notebook and extreme close ups of sharp objects and strange instruments. Throughout the sequence there is eerie scratching sounds and clicking that appears, which connotes the character being introduced to the audience is rather unstable. This title sequence also changed the way that title sequences made. 

Kyle Cooper's 'SE7EN' title sequence was revolutionary and changed the way in which title sequences were designed after.

- By Laine and I.

Title Sequence Analysis - SE7EN

SE7EN (1995) - Directed by David Fincher

Designed by Kyle Cooper, the title sequence for 1995's David Fincher's film 'SE7EN' is frequently recognised as the start of a regeneration in title design. The title sequence is mainly made up of a series of overlapped extreme close-ups consisting of quite sinister images, such as the character is seen defacing images of people as well as having images of a mutilated person in what seemed like a handmade notebook.
The title sequence has its main focus of the notebook and the hands of the character that is introduced to the audience as visibly, mentally unstable character.

The typography throughout the sequence seems to keep relatively the same consisting of quite scratchy and child like lettering. At the beginning when the film studio is introduced: 'NEW LINE CINEMA' the typography is quite chaotic and scratchy and is hand written in block capitals.
The typography is also used to add effect into the title sequence which is shown when cuts to a black screen introducing 'Arnold Kopelson' as the name is placed backwards, emphasizing a lack of clarity, however this shot is only seen for a split second before it jumps cuts to the writing the correct way around, creating a glitch effect.
The way in which the information and typography is presented changes when the title of the film is introduced to the sequence, glitches and numerous flickers begin to appear and then proceed to appear more frequently throughout. Scratches across the shot disappear and reappear in a flickering motion, performing as glitches that correspond with dated hand developed film. Which also unites with extreme close ups of hand developed photo film, which reoccur throughout the sequence.
The sound at the start of the sequence begins with a bit like a crack of thunder grabbing the audiences attention and then overlaid are sounds that are almost electronic scratching sound which creates confusion. Throughout the sequence the soundtrack tends to be quite unnatural scratching sounds, that accentuated the sinister themes and thriller genre, as well as creating an unsteady atmosphere that emphasizes the unstableness of the character that the audience is being introduced to. Every now and again adding a sound of impact to keep the attention of the audience and to draw them into the images on screen. 

Analysis of Genre in 'American Psycho' Title Sequence

American Psycho: Thriller/Crime film
The American Psycho title sequence begins with parallel music to drops of a red substance that the audience would assume is blood. At this point the soundtrack is quite slow, and seemingly lacks any kind of emotion so it is difficult to establish at this point what the mood and atmosphere of the sequence is. However not knowing also creates suspense which is conventional of a thriller film and it also becomes a little unnerving for the audience. As the sequence progresses the soundtrack begins to hasten and transitions into a classical melody associated with quite high class citizens and posh restaurants. At this point the sequence has cut to a shot of the red substance running onto a plate of food which creates narrative enigma as the dripping of the red substance originally gave the impression of blood especially when the audience saw a shot of them landing in little splats whilst they were introduced to the title of the film 'American Psycho'.
The movements of the knife when the meat is being cut are quite rapid and tough. Being so hard-hitting the knife almost becomes quite murderous which connotes, quite visually, the idea of something or someone being stabbed or murdered, which is conventional of a crime film. The Mise-en-scene emphasizes this further by having a continuous use of the colour red from beginning to end starting with the red drops and continuing when there is the red sauce on the plate with the red raspberries.       

Analysis of Genre in 'Skyfall' Title Sequence

Skyfall:Spy/Action

The Skyfall title sequence includes various conventential traits of a spy film such as the use of shadows and silhouettes which not only create narrative enigma but also indicate to the audience that secret identities are going to be involved in the film, also adding a level of mystery which is emphasized by the dark colour scheme. Furthermore the orchestral soundtrack is very conventional of the spy genre.
From the title sequence the action genre is also made apparent, and narrative points revealed, due to the appearance of guns and knives, connoting conflict which indicates the use of protagonists and antagonists. As well as tomb stones which connotes death. The colour scheme has also been used to emphasize the theme of conflict and death as the colour scheme is quite dark with the only bright colour being the red which connotes death and bloodshed.
However the emphasis on the red colour could also connote the theme of love indicating that the film might include some form of romance. 

Codes and Conventions of a Title Sequence

The title sequence is initially the opening credits. An archetypal convention would be the use of a variety of sound and visuals to establish the genre, and or characters as well as other aspects, such as: the setting and the mood and atmosphere of the film. On top of, enticing the audience into watching it.

The opening title sequence tends to include the most important members of the production such as: the production company, the director, the producer, the executive producer as well as the top grossing actors who have a tendency to possess star power.

Continuity Sequence

The continuity sequence had to include three thing:

•   180 degrees
•    Shot reverse shot to show a conversation
•   Match-on action 

   We had to make the sequence in groups of four. I worked with Laine Mantell, Lilly Bolton and Oliver Pickett. The sequence was filmed using a steadicam and a DSLR Camera. After watching our sequence back we realised that a lot of the shots were shaky and some were out of focus. In future we will use a tripod when we aren't using a steadicam and we'll make sure the camera I focused before filming.

OCR Specification

"Preliminary exercise: Continuity task involving filming and editing a character opening a door, crossing a room and sitting down in a chair opposite another character, with whom she/he then exchanges a couple of lines of dialogue. This task should demonstrate match on action, shot/reverse shot and the 180-degree rule.

Main task: the titles and opening of a new fiction film, to last a maximum of two minutes. "