art of the title

2.  A title sequence is the method by
which films or television programs
present the movie title, main
actors, institution, director and
other important information.

3.  The function of the title sequence
is to present the audience a quick
overview of the movie genre and
clearly present the title.

4.  Three films featured in the A brief
history of the art of the title
sequence are:
 Psycho
 King kong
 Juno

5.  A film shown in ‘a 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 or clear actor to represent
the ‘mystery’ or the unknown
which is typical for the
‘action/crime’ genre. Also the
opening uses music which is very
similar to the music of Pink
Panther. Pink Panther is a crime
movie/programme, the music is
very well-known and is easily
known to be part of the crime
genre. The mood created by the
music makes us feel enigma of why
they are undercover and why they
are hiding their identity.

6.  The opening for Catch me if you
can uses sound elements of music
to clarify the genre to the
audience. The use of stickmen and
hiding their identity also hints to
the genre of crime and action as it
doesn’t show you the actor so you
cant make pre-asumptions on who
they are and what they might be
like! Also the way the shots fade to
black is typical of the action genre.

7.  The opening of ‘dawn of the dead’
is shown the art of the title
sequence. The opening uses
graphic pictures of ‘murders’ and
‘death’ this creates feelings of
being scared and worried. The title
sequence also uses scream folli
sounds which also create fear and
the enigma of what is going on?
And why is everyone dead or
screaming.

8.  the use of graphic murder/death
pictures suggest that the movie is
horror as it build up the typical
horror emotions and also things
which are typical of a horror
movie. The red font on black
background also suggets it’s a
horror as the red can be a
connotation for blood and the
black symbolises mystery and the
unknown.

9. Visit the following website: Art of the
Title watch the sequences and read the 6
Film Title Sequence interview with Richard
Morrison.
Select 2 of the 6 Morrison Title Sequences
and complete the following questions

10. Batman 1989
 the opening titles use a dark
background which implies there
will lots of mystery through out
and this suggests the movie will
come under the action genre. Also
the music is very slow yet still has a
‘creepy’ feeling which makes the
audience feel on edge and
awaiting something to happen

11. Batman 1989
 Morrison suggests that they used
techniques and styles which no
one had ever used before thus
creating a timeless opening.

12. Batman 1989
 Morrison feels this is a successful
sequence as no one had ever done
anything like this (before it was
made) and it has a timeless feel
and you cant forget it .

13. Sweeny todd: the demon barber of fleet street
 the opening sequence is low key
which suggests it will have lots of
mystery and enigma. The music is
very eerie. There is ‘blood’ in the
rain which suggests the movie will
be of the horror genre. The music
rapidly speeds up as the action
intensifies as you see the guts and
the blood travelling through the
london town and sewers.

14. Sweeny todd: the demon barber of fleet street
 Morrison feels this sequence was
successful as they brought new
elements to the opening style.
They used advanced animation for
the ‘blood’ and he said ‘that was a
dream project