1. Purpose Genre Conventions Visuals Editing/Technique Sound Narrative Sources
‘A title sequence is
the method by
whichfilmsor
televisionprograms
present their title,
key productionand
cast members, or
both,utilizing
conceptual visuals
and sound.It usually
followsbutshould
not be confused
with the opening
credits, whichare
generallynothing
more than a series
of superimposed
text.’- Wikipedia
A title sequence
almostacts as the
equivalenttoa
booksfrontcover;it
signalsthe beginning
of a TV showor film
whilstalsoproviding
it witha
recognisable identity
and settingthe
mood.Both visuals
and soundare used
By lookingatthe genre
conventionsforJuno,
napoleondynamiteand
meangirls,it’ll allowme
to determine what
themestopresentinmy
owntitle sequence andto
distinguishingwhat’s
important.Comingof age
moviesare aboutvalues
and growthwhichiswhat
all three movies
mentionedexplore within
the sequenceshence why
thisisan importantfactor
inmy ownwork.
THEMES: ‘Napoleon
Dynamite’,likeall coming
of age moviesfocuseson
the growthof our
protagonistovera certain
time period;we see him
change both
psychologicallyand
morallymakingcharacter
transitionanimportant
conventionof the genre.
However,‘Meangirls’
and ‘Juno’ onthe other
Napoleon
dynamitestitle
sequence isvery
‘organic’interms
of the settingin
orderto match
the theme of the
movie. The
sequence
embodiesobjects
that are a part of
the protagonists
ownlife- hisid,
musicplayer,
favourite food
etc.by simply
placingthemin
frontof the
camera ina
back/forth
motion.
Producers
wantedthe
audience togeta
feel of himbefore
theyevenmet
him.Producersof
Junotook the
same approach to
theirowntitle
sequence- the
Althoughnapoleon
dynamite appears
to be shot inone
sequence,it’sa
multitude of shots
cut edited
together;thisisthe
style I’dlike touse
for myown
sequence.
Junowas filmedin
a much complex
wayin termsof the
amountof time it
tookto produce.
The settingforthe
sequence was
taken
photographically
whilstaPanasonic
HVX200 wasused
inorder to capture
footage of the
protagonistata
frame rate of 8
secondsinorderto
create the stop
motioneffect.
Everysingle frame
shotand
Justlike
everything
else ina
comingof age
movie,the
songusedin
the sequence
isa reflection
of the movie
and therefore
an important
factor. Whilst
the visual
aspectsfor
Junogive
providesus
witha window
intoherown
life,the song
reflectsthe
seriousnessof
hersituation.
Thisaspect
has inspired
my ownchoice
by allowing
me to choose
a song that
portraysthe
storymy
The narrative for
the sequencesare
a representationof
the movie or
protagonistsand
give inindicationas
to whatthe theme
or nature of
contentwill be.
AlthoughI’ll be
goingwitha more
wholesomefeelfor
my owncomingof
age sequence this
isan aspect that
I’ve keptinmind- I
wantit to reflect
the valuesof the
movie. The
sequence forJuno
givesusan insight
intothe worldas
she seesitwhichis
a major influence
behindmyown
work- it’sreflecting
everythingthat’s
importantto me at
thismomentin
time of my life.
en.wikipedia.org/
wiki/Title_sequen
ce
http://www.artoft
hetitle.com/title/j
uno/
http://en.wikipedi
a.org/wiki/Coming
-of-age_story
http://www.artoft
hetitle.com/title/n
apoleon-
dynamite/

2. inorder to create an
elaborate sequence
that will engage
audienceswhilstalso
providingcreditto
anybodyinvolvedin
production.
Gareth Smithof
Smith& Lee Design-
the creator of the
‘Juno’title sequence
explainedinarecent
article on‘art of the
title’thatthe
sequence isthe last
thingto me made.
Producerswill
provide the
designerswitha
copy of the script
duringpre-
production,
therefore giving
themtime to
developanideaand
explore different
stylisticmethods.
A title sequence can
eithermake orbreak
a movie- the
followingresearch
handlooksat the lossof
innocence,findingyour
identityandmaturity.
Thisis justan example of
twoparticularmovies;
virginity,home life,
pregnancyanddrugs are
all themesthatmay also
be explored- the keyto
comingof moviesisthe
abilitytoinformand
encourage audiencesina
waythat they’ll relate
too.
PLOT: the plotfor both
‘napoleondynamite’and
‘meangirls’incorporates
one or more of the above
themesina waythat is
viewedassocially
realistic.
CHARACTER: the
protagonistof the movie
isalmostalwaysa
teenagerascan be seen
inthe twoexample
movies.Whilstthe
directorof ‘napoleon
dynamite’ isanauteur
and wentagainstusing
the conventional generic
movie portraysa
younggirl living
withthe
consequence of
teenage
pregnancywhilst
inhighschool.
Thisbecame the
theme of the
sequence,they
wantedtoconvey
the fact she was
still ateenagerby
usinga doodle
style theme.The
lightingforboth
sequencesisvery
vibrantand
quirkyinorderto
provide light
heartinesstothe
movie andattract
audience.The
movie napoleon
dynamite hasa
verycomical feel
to it as a whole
hence whythis
elementhasbeen
appliedinall
aspectsinregards
to style,colouring
and lighting.
photographedwas
thenprintedand
handdrawn by an
artistbefore being
re-scannedand
stabilisedand
editedinadobe
aftereffects.This
effectiswhat
createdthe flip-
bookstyle
transition.
sequence is
telling.

3. looksat three
moviesof a similar
genre that influences
my ownwork.
character like ‘mean
girls’,it’sstill acorrect
representationof the
protagonistage bracket.
The characters of both
moviesdevelopasthe
storyline progresses
causingthemto improve
as individuals.