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1. Title Sequence Conventions: Thrillers
Film: Hostage (2005)
Genre: Thriller
Director: Florent Emilio Siri
Screenplay: Doug Richardson
Producers: Bruce Willis, Bob Yari, Arnold Rifkin, Mark Gordon
The movie Hostage features an incredibly crafted title sequence which for me is one of the
most memorable parts. This title sequence was created by just one man: Laurent Brett and
his initial inspiration came from Frank Miller’s Sin City comics. It immediately places the
viewer right in the centre of a crime scene taking place in one of LA’s suburbs. The scene is
rendered in black and white contrasting colours, with deep blood red as the only supporting
colour. Dark colours such as black and red are very conventional within the thriller genre;
they both create feels of danger. Red is the colour of blood, so can be associated with
energy, war, danger, rage and anger, whilst black can be associated with death, evil and
mystery. The camera pans across the scene, alternating between wide and close shots
which builds the tension. This tension is further created by the haunting instrumental that
plays throughout the titles, accompanied by the occasional sound of faint sirens which can
suggest the scene we are in. Below are a selection of screenshots from the title sequence,
where there is a clear theme amongst colour (red/black/white) and font (large/bold).
Use of
shadows
to create
mystery
and
tension,
essential
ina thriller
Followsatheme of red,blackand white
whichare darkand contrastingcolours-
conventional withinthe genre
Boldfontwhichcontrastsfrom
backgroundto standout
Scenesof the
cityto establish
location
Features
weapons- a
convention
withinthe
genre and
suggest
something
violentwill
take place
Titleswrittenon
police tape:givesidea
on the scenarioand
type of filmitwill be

2. EXAMPLE 2:
Film: Sherlock Holmes (2009)
Director: Guy Ritchie
Producers: Susan Downey, Lionel Wigram, Dan Lin, Joel Silver
Screenplay: Anthony Peckham
During the title sequence of Sherlock Holmes we can spot many conventions of a thriller.
This is important within a movie so it suggests the genre to the audience which will
determine if it is the type of film for them. Here are some aspects I noted:
DIRECTOR
 Guy Ritchie is known for high speed photography action sequences
 Good for fast moving thrillers
LIGHTING/COLOUR
 Low key lighting and greyscale colouring is reminiscent of thrillers
KEY CHARACTERS
 The key characters are introduced as partners
 They are wearing suits and suits are considered a convention of thrillers
ACTION
 The action shown in the title sequence is common in thrillers
 It is action that isn’t as aggressive as huge gun fights
 There are blood stains seen in parts of the title sequence, but these are made with
ink and this suggests the movie is set in the past (this is common in thrillers)
MAIN MOVIE TITLE
 The movie title is written in calligraphy style
 When linked with the characters suit (seen earlier) connotes that the character is a
detective
 Detectives are characters commonly seen in thrillers

3. EXAMPLE 3
Film: I, Robot (2004)
Director: Alex Proyas
Screenplay: Akiva Goldsman
Writer: Jeff Vintar
FORESHADOWING
 The titles burst into bubbles, along with water sound effects
 This foreshadows later events that are pivotal to the main characters motives
 This is frequent in thrillers
DEATH
 There is often some form of death in thrillers
 During the sequence we pan to a drowning girl which suggests such an event
COSTUMES
 We see a character wearing a suit within the title sequence
 Suits are conventional costumes in thrillers and suggest that the character is a
professional at something
MUSIC
 An uncomfortable and sharp instrumental plays throughout
 The audience are alerted that its meaning is important
 The music has helped to tell the viewer that there is a threat
LIGHTING
 The low key lighting of the sequence is a convention of thrillers