The document defines key terms related to film titles and credits and provides examples. It then summarizes the opening credits sequence of the film Juno in 3 sentences: The opening establishes the main character and setting through normal footage before transitioning to an animated title sequence. The distributing company receives the first credit at 12 seconds, followed by the production company at 17 seconds and the director at 21 seconds. The title of the film flashes animated at 28 seconds while the main actress Ellen Page is shown, and she receives the first cast credit at 35 seconds followed by the other principal actors.

1. Film Billing & Opening title
analysis

2. Key Terms
• Film title
• Film credit
• Billing
• Opening sequence
• Title sequence
• Opening credits
• Closing credits
• Possessory/possessive Credits
• Cold open / teaser
• Top billing
• Last billing

3. Key Terms DEFINITIONS
Film
Title
Film
Credit
Billing
(Top & Last)
Opening
Sequence
(Cold-open/
Teaser)
Title
Sequence
Opening
Credits
Closing
Credits
Title of film Name and/or
role of person
worked on film
The process
of placing
titles and
credits in a
film
The opening of a film
More modern films that
set a scene in the
opening which creates
enigma (like a trailer) is
called cold open or
teaser. Example = 4-3-2-
1 opening
The opening credits of
a film in which the
title and credits are
separate from the film
itself
Ex James Bond
The credits and the
beginning of the film
The credits
and the end
of the film
Top = most
important
Last = least
important
http://www.youtube.com/watch
?v=4uaYiWu7uZs&safe=active

4. Think of how titles and credits have
changed over time
-used to just be text on blank screen!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pwwxklLotJ8&
safe=active
http://www.artofthetitle.com/title/the-girl-with-
the-dragon-tattoo/
Now there are:
-music
-CGI
-text animation
-images/footage etc
-separate narratives from the film
-symbolism and enigma

5. Definition (wiki)
• In a motion picture, television program, or video game, the
opening credits are shown at the very beginning and list the most important
members of the production.
• They are now usually shown as text superimposed on a blank screen or static
pictures, or sometimes on top of action in the show.
• There may or may not be accompanying music.
• Where opening credits are built into a separate sequence of their own, the correct
term is title sequence (such as the familiar James Bond and Pink Panther title
sequences).

6. Title only billing
• Nevertheless, "title-only" billing became an established form for summer blockbusters in 1989:
– Ghostbusters II
– Lethal Weapon 2
– The Abyss following the practice.
– Clint Eastwood has omitted opening credits (except for the title) in every film that he has directed
since1980.
– Other films to only show title:
• 2001: The Mummy Returns
• 2004: Teacher's Pet
• 2005: Batman Begins
• 2006: Hostel
• 2007: Hostel: Part 2
• 2008: The Dark Knight
• 2009: Avatar
• 2010: How to Train Your Dragon
• 2010: Inception
• 2012: The Dark Knight Rises

7. Rules/REGULATIONS/exceptions
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billing_(filmmaking)
• There are MANY complicated rules but they must be followed. Read through the above website for understanding of these rules.
You must consider this when you make your opening sequence.
• There are considerations of fame, role, length of time in film etc.
• Basically the stars all want top billing!
• Sometimes actors have to fight/argue their way with studios (sometimes they want to be first and sometimes studios want the
more sellable and famous stars first)
Example 1:
• Miami vice = was supposed to be Colin Ferrell for top billing but after Jamie Foxx won academy award he wanted to be top (first
name). He got it even though his role is not as long as Colin’s! Colin received top bill in closing credits. (agreement made)
Example 2
• Seven = Kevin Spacey’s name not in opening credits as it would give away his identity as the killer…..he is in end credits of course
Example 3
• Hannibal = Gary Oldman had extensive make-up done for his role and didn’t want his name in credits!!! (He didn’t want the fame
like most stars)

8. Coursework
• A good portion of the task of making an opening
sequence is how you apply titles/credits
• You MUST show titles and credits
• Weaker pieces of C/W tend to just have the title
at the end on a black screen which is not even
common in contemporary films!

9. Genre
• Keep genre in mind when looking at film’s
titles and credits!
• (Remember the PURPOSE of the film/opening)

10. Film choice – in your genre!
• Any opening sequence or title sequence from a film
– DVD
– Netflix
– Artofthetitle
– Whatthetitles.com
– Youtube is limited!!!!
• MUST HAVE TITLES AND CREDITS!!!!!
RED = complete a title only sequence (example = signs)
YELLOW = complete a regular opening sequence with simple
background footage (example =
crash)
GREEN = complete a regular opening sequence with
narrative/story (example = juno)

11. Juno

12. Juno opening details
Style & purpose
of opening
-opening sequence
-title sequence
-teaser
Length of
opening
Type of font Colour of font Animation of
text
Placement of
text
Style:
-standard opening
sequence
&
-animated title
sequence
_______________
Purpose:
-establish indie style,
character and setting
2:26
_______________
Why?
Short and sweet
establishments.
Sans serif (like a
amateur drawing)
_______________
Why?
Teen theme
Multiple – yellow,
orange, pinks
_______________
Why?
Cheerful colours
Like an amateur
drawing (wiggling)
_______________
Why?
Not serious, comedy
appeal
All over the screen in
various places
(depending on the
visuals
_______________
Why?
No significance

13. Juno Full list of titles

14. Start of opening
The film starts as a standard opening sequence
which is normal footage which establishes:
• the main character
• and the setting

15. Style of opening
• The film then transitions into animation which
more is similar to a title sequence style.

16. CREDIT 1
• Time: .12
• Possessory
• Distributing company
Typical to have distribution company as first
credit as they invested the money have
ownership of film

17. CREDIT 2
• Time: .17
• Possessory
• Production company
Next it is the production company as they
have a large role as they produced the film,
they have
control over where film was filmed sets,
filming, editing etc.)

18. CREDIT 3
• Time: .21
• Crew
• Director
Director has 1st credit as their role is quite
important in this film (above the actors as they
come after)

19. TITLE 4
• Time: .28
• Title of the film
The title of film has the biggest size and the
animation flashes in order it gets the most
attention and is very noticeable.
The main actress
Ellen Page is
placed in the
shot as she is
quite important

20. Credit 4
• Time: .35
• Cast
• Main actor gets top
billing (first credit)

21. Credit 5, 6, 7, 8
CREDIT 5 CREDIT 6 CREDIT 7 CREDIT 8
Time: .40
Cast
Main Actor 2
Time: .44
Cast
Supporting Actor 1
Time: .52
Cast
Supporting Actor 2
Time: .58
Cast
Actor