This document compares the title sequences of three films - Lucy, Pitch Perfect, and The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey. It finds that Lucy, a thriller, includes the most credits like production companies and actors' names. Pitch Perfect and The Hobbit include fewer credits to avoid boring younger audiences. Font styles also differ between films - Lucy uses plain white font on black, Pitch Perfect uses imagery, and The Hobbit uses a style reflecting the film. The document concludes different genres target audiences differently in their title sequences.

1. TITLE SEQUENCE COMPARISON
By Danielle Duffy

2. INTRODUCTION
After creating several title sequence timelines, I will now
be comparing them to look for contrasting conventions.
This will help me discover how different genres have
different title designs, which will influence the style and
other important features such as order and timings of
our titles within our own production.

3. TITLE SEQUENCES
Lucy (2014) Pitch Perfect (2012) The Hobbit: An
Unexpected Journey
(2012)

4. COMPARISON: INFORMATION INCLUDED
Lucy Pitch Perfect The Hobbit
1) Production company
logo
2) Production company
names
3) Actors names
4) Film title
1) Production company
logo
2) Production company
names
3) Film title
1) Production company
logo
2) Production company
names
3) Film title
Out of the sequences I looked at, thriller film Lucy had the most titles
including credit for several of the actors unlike the other films. I believe
this is because it is targeted towards a more mature audience who are
able to appreciate and understand that credit should be given to those
who partake in the production of a film. Pitch Perfect was much more
visual and had the bare minimum of titles in order to avoid boring their
fairly young teenage audience (ages 13-18 I would assume). The Hobbit
also avoided having lengthy titles and delved straight in to its adventure-
filled narrative.

5. COMPARISON: ACTOR CREDITS
The order of the actor’s names which are credited in the opening
correspond to their character's importance. First; Johansson who
plays Lucy; the main protagonist in Lucy. Four actors’ names are
mentioned and they all assume key roles in the film in including the
protagonist’s ‘side kick’ (relating to Propp’s character theory) In the
title sequence, usually only the most significant / main characters are
mentioned as they would not want to bore the viewer with endless
titles.
I will take this into account when producing my thriller opening, for
example I will include the names of the main characters, whilst for
example the protagonist’s parent who could be a minor character
might not be mentioned. However as I can only produce an opening
sequence, I think we would include all characters’ names as there will
not be too many of them anyway.

6. COMPARISON: ARRANGEMENT OF TITLES
All of the title sequences began with introducing the production company by
featuring their logo. They are all animated in order to capture the viewer’s
attention and inform them of who made the movies. This is (to the institution), the
most important title to include as it promotes their production company in order to
get their name known if their movie is successful. Secondly, we would expect the
actor’s names, as seen in Lucy (2014). However in the other two I studied there
was no mention of any names. I believe this is because The Hobbit (2012) and
Pitch Perfect (2012) are targeted towards younger audiences (PG-13) and so the
viewers do not take much notice in the text and they are likely to have no interest
in names. They do not want to bore the audience and so leave the heavier
information until the end. Lucy which is targeted towards young adults includes
the names of the main actors who in this case are well-known and probably
recognisable to most viewers. Seeing the name of an actor we know is
successful is likely to raise our expectations of the film and make us want to
watch it. As older viewers understand the text it is relevant to have more credits
in an opening of a film like Lucy. Finally, the last title shown in all of the
sequences is the name of the movie. The purpose of this title is to remind the
viewer of what the production is called, and often relates to the narrative or the
main character – as seen in Lucy.

7. COMPARISON: FONT STYLE
As seen in Lucy, titles in thriller are often displayed plainly in basic
white font against a black background. I think this is effective as it
draws attention to the information on screen which is likely to be the
name of a significant actor etc. to give them recognition for their
love.
Pitch Perfect also uses the black background for its titles but makes
uses of imagery in the form of bright blue beats (like a music
system)., appealing to its younger audience with something visually
interesting.
In The Hobbit, the text is against a black background and is styled in
a golden/brown colour and font which reflects the themes of the film.

8. CONCLUSION
 I have learnt from this task that different genres have
different styles for their title sequence to appeal to their
target audience and reflect the narrative and ultimately
genre of the film
 I realised that only mature viewers would take notice
of information such as actors names and producers
etc.
 I will be able to use this knowledge when creating my
title sequence

9. TITLES I WILL BE INCLUDING IN MY OPENING
SEQUENCE
 Production company name (made up): to make it
look professional
 Actors names
 Our names as the producers: for credit and to
inform the viewer
 Title of the film: so that the viewer is reminded – we
want our film to be memorable
I think that these titles would be most relevant considering our audience of
ages 15 and up. At this age they are mature enough to understand textual
information such as producers and actors names, and this may be relevant
to some viewers with an interest in the industry. Having the title is essential
in any opening to inform and remind the viewer of what they are watching.
An active audience may then share the name of the film with their friends if
they enjoy it.