Analyse multiple title sequences (Stretch and Challenge)
1. Analyse multiple title sequences
then create your own title list
(stretch and challenge)
By Kirsty Steward
2. A Nightmare on Elm Street title
sequence timeline
I watched the opening sequence of the horror film ‘ A Nightmare
on Elm Street’ and recorded every title that appeared in the first
few minutes of the film. Underneath is a picture of the timeline I
completed which has the recordings of these titles.
3. Like the previous film opening, there is a separate title to
display what company helped to produce the film (New Line
Cinema) which is mandatory as they want to be well
known. However the company's name is displayed again in
a different credit which I will not take inspiration from for
my opening sequence as I believe it's repetitive and
wouldn't be as aesthetically pleasing for my adolescent
audience.
4. The film's name, A Nightmare on Elm Street, is displayed
on a separate title yet it has a 'panning-up' transition that
starts within another frame. This idea is effective as it
makes the title stand out more and is eye-pleasing but I
don't think I'll use this idea in my opening sequence as
horror films tend to be more dramatic than thrillers and I
want my film opening titles to be more subtle.
5. I will take inspiration from the acting credits as they appear
at the side of the screen in each title in simple white writing
which would fit the more subtle title theme I will try to
portray in my opening sequence.
6. 21 Jump Street title sequence
timeline
I watched the opening sequence of the comedy film ‘2 Jump
Street’ and recorded every title that appeared in the first
few minutes of the film. Underneath is a picture of the
timeline I completed which has the recordings of these
titles.
7. Again with every film, each film company that has helped
produce and distribute the film has a separate title for their
credit. However with this film there are three companies
which makes the title sequence far longer and my opening
sequence needs to emphasis the beginning of the analysis
so I don’t think I’ll use more than two of my own
companies to save sequence time.
8. The title after the production company credits reads ‘THE
YEAR 2005’ which shows the relevance that there will be
time change within the film and lets the audience know
about this straight away. This won’t be necessary for my
film title as there is no big time jump that they will be
notified about and it will be set in the year it’s released in.
9. The next sequence of credit titles have the consistent
theme of red white and blue which is paired with a red and
blue flashing light. As the film revolves around two men
being in the police force this is creative and relative to the
film and there is a police detective in my film also. Yet the
film revolves more around the detective’s son’s death more
than his job itself so I don’t think I’ll use the same effect.
10. I think I will take inspiration from the title credit as it is on
its own separate title which makes the name of the film
stand out more. Moreover there is a slight zooming out
effect on the text which makes the title more eye catching
for the audience.
11. The Notebook title sequence timeline
I watched the opening sequence of the romance film ‘The
Notebook’ and recorded every title that appeared in the
first few minutes of the film. Underneath is a picture of the
timeline I completed which has the recordings of these
titles.
12. The film companies’ names are again shown at the start of
the sequence however the New Line Cinema Company is
mentioned in two different titles one after the other which I
think looks repetitive even though it’s trying to emphasise
its effect. I do like the simplicity of how the second ‘New
Line Cinema’ Company and the ‘Gran Via’ title are displayed
and may take inspiration of that into my own opening
sequence.
13. The fact that the acting title credits are placed to the side
of the screen means that the overall main image of the
frame is focussed on as the titles are not too distracting. I
intend to use this method in my opening sequence so my
audience is focussed on the main elements of image and
dialogue.
14. The title that displays the title of the film is again placed to
the sign however I don’t think I’ll copy this technique as
even though I want most of the other titles to be more
subtle; the title, I think, should stand out. However
because The Notebook is a romance, being soft with
smooth and subtle transitions within the titles fits the genre
more which isn’t the case in the Thriller genre.
15. I think I’m going to take inspiration from having the
director’s title credit last and having it placed in the middle
as it shows the importance of the role. But as this is a
romance film, the text font is quite pleasant looking with a
baby yellow to make the text not too bold. In my sequence
I’ll try to make the text fit the genre by using red a strange
looking font and by using the colours red and white (red to
present the connotation of danger within the film and white
to contrast with the red and show the connotation of good
that comes from the danger).