The Art of the Title Sequence

1. The Art of the Title Sequence
By James Gilmore

2. DiscreteExample: Cosmos – A SpaceTime Odyssey
A discrete opening sequence is like a mini-film before the film starts. It helps to get the
audience into the mood of the film without telling you what the film is about. It can
give you an idea of the tone and the genre of the movie. A ‘discrete’ opening sequence
is also often animated and includes a lot of editing work.
The opening sequence for
Cosmos: A SpaceTime
Odyssey is animated. The
edited sequence relates to
the programme but does
not reveal the narrative of
the piece.

3. Example: The Usual Suspects
A traditional opening sequence has a slightly stylised element but it is still relatively
simple. Titles are usually overlayed filmed footage with sound and font used to create
the mood of the film.
The opening sequence for
The Usual Suspects is
predictable and the genre
is immediately
recognisable. It seems like
it goes straight into the
film with the titles
overlayed.
Traditional

4. Example: Natural Born Killers
This type of opening sequence involves going straight into the story without an extra
title sequence. A good example of this is Wes Craven’s Scream – there are no titles at all
and the film starts directly into the action. This type of opening sequence is far less
commonplace nowadays and is more likely to be seen in action or horror.
The opening sequence for
Natural Born Killers is
almost non-existent. It
goes directly into the
action, revealing the genre
straight away with the
narrate and character
development starting
immediately.
Straight Into Film

5. Example: Skyfall
A stylised title sequence is a combination of ‘straight into film’ and ‘discrete’. The
opening of the film starts straight into the action and then it is followed by a discrete
title sequence. The best and most famous examples of this are the James Bond
openings.
The opening sequence
for Skyfall reveals
details about the
narrative, quite
intricately, but adopts
an artistic, discrete
way of doing this.
Stylised