The document analyzes the opening titles of three thriller films to understand common codes and conventions. Possession uses wispy white titles over a night skyline to set a mysterious tone. The Cheap Detective has traditional white titles on a dark, smoky background, establishing a secretive mood. Panic Room features large angled titles reflecting off skyscrapers as it pans through New York City, implying distortion and uncertainty. Overall, the analysis found that thriller titles commonly use white text on a dark background, establish setting, are fast-paced, and aim to mysteriously set the scene and mood for the film.

1. TITLE ANALYSIS
To analyze the first 9 opening titles of 3 thrillers in order to
better understand the codes and conventions

2. POSSESSION

3. 1. What did you discover regarding the following; duration, speed and order of titles, the use of colour
and font style, the decision to use titles over images and/or the decision to use minimum titling.
- Intercut the action
- Black screen appears in between shots with titles in white
- Very fast
- First two are production names
- 3rd title is main actors name – Same style
- Large break before next title
- Action starts in between
- 4th titles is name of film – Possession
- White font on a skyline – Quite wispy, like smoke - Mysterious – Sets the scene (In a city)
- Next 3 titles appear in bottom left of screen over action - Actors names
- Behind the scenes, e.g. casting, make up on right of screen
- Smaller font, same colour and style of writing
- Quite fast intervals
2. Overall how did each film try to set for audiences, the mood, tone, and atmosphere
and possible storyline?
- With the use of smoky titles, it creates an element of mystery – Suggests it’s an important part of the film
- The white on black screen makes the titles stand out – Implies the film will be quite dark
- Titles over the skyline suggest the film’s set in the city and this will be a key element of the film
- Skyline at night, helps create a dark atmosphere
- Dark, eerie, mysterious
- Titles appear over house – Establishing shots, suggests it will be important
3. Overall, to what extent did you discover a strong relationship between titling and what you already
know to be the common codes and conventions of your chosen genre/sub genre?
- Black background just for titles
- Wispy effect, like smoke – Mysterious
- Dark background and filming
- Titles cut into action
- Shadows
- Low key lighting
- White titles
- Fast paced POSSESSION

4. THE CHEAP DETECTIVE

5. 1. What did you discover regarding the following; duration, speed and order of titles, the use of colour
and font style, the decision to use titles over images and/or the decision to use minimum titling.
- The first 9 titles appear in 1 minute – However, they felt quite slow
- Dedicated title sequence
- Titles appear on old, abandoned down an alley – Implies something quite secretive
- Gives time to examine the whole environment
- Not ordered in a conventional way
- Production titles are the first three to appear
- Followed by ‘co-starring’ and ‘starring’
- The next frame is more production titles and then again actors
- Traditional white titles to stand out on dark, moody background – Conventional
- Old fashioned, traditional font, that fits with the time (1978)
2. Overall how did each film try to set for audiences, the mood, tone, and atmosphere and possible
storyline?
- Dark, dreary, sleazy mood created
- Suggests man at the beginning will be important to the film
- Eyes through the fence, watching, implies there’s someone watching/someone to watch out for
- Smoke in the background throughout – Adds some mystery, helps to suggest plot
- Sense of mystery is created
- Confusion over what the various products mean, and if they’re related to the film
3. Overall, to what extent did you discover a strong relationship between titling and what you already
know to be the common codes and conventions of your chose genre/sub genre?
- Smoke – Helps to create a veil of mystery
- Dark background
- Dark places/setting
- Set somewhere abandoned and unused
- White titles
- Low key lighting
- Shadows THE CHEAP DETECTIVE

6. PANIC ROOM

7. PANIC ROOM
1. What did you discover regarding the following; duration, speed and order of titles, the use of colour
and font style, the decision to use titles over images and/or the decision to use minimum titling.
- The first nine titles take place in roughly 1 minute – Roughly 5 seconds per title
- Takes a trip up Manhattan, New York
- Through a series of quick shots
- Gives an idea of where the story takes place - sets the scene
- Establishing shots
- Big bold font over a series of buildings
- Production titles are the first titles to appear - conventional
- Actors are next 3 - in angle with the buildings - unusual
- Very large font and style
- Name of film is eight title
- Same font and style as other titles, more central of the screen
- Titles reflected in the windows of the buildings – Seems more realistic
- Spans for whole title to be shown on the screen
- Settles on names for a short time – Rests on film title for much longer
- Dedicated title sequence
2. Overall how did each film try to set for audiences, the mood, tone, and atmosphere and possible
storyline?
- Titles over the city suggest it’s where the film takes place
- Gives an idea of the mood ad setting
- Angled titles with the buildings suggests it’s not as it seems – Gives a sense of distortion
- Busy city – Posters, skyscrapers
- Buildings are going to be an important part – Focus on tall skyscraper buildings
3. Overall, to what extent did you discover a strong relationship between titling and what you already
know to be the common codes and conventions of your chose genre/sub genre?
- White titles
- Fast paced
- Mostly unconventional – Which in itself gives a sense of distortion

8. Codes and
Conventions of
Titles
White titles
Pure Contrasting
Stands out
Bold
Capital letters
Title of film bigger
then rest of titles
Intercut into
action Fast paced
Dedicated title
sequence
Sets the scene
In the background
Titles per screen
1 title per screen
Main actorsDirectors
All production titles
Dedicated title screen
Other titles – ‘Casting
by’, ‘make up’
Several items at once
Smoky/wispy effect
Mysterious
Black background
Initial titles
Production
Directed by
Red titles
DangerBlood Fear
Through my research on titles of 3
existing films in the thriller genre, I
have noticed a number of codes and
conventions that are specific to titles,
which can hopefully be adopted in my
final product.