1. AS MEDIA STUDIES
Unit 321: Foundation Portfolio for Media
Fiction Film Opening Sequence
WORKSHEET FOR ANALYSING TITLE SEQUENCES
It is always useful to have any moving image that you want to analyse
available on a digital format so you can watch it as many times as
you wish. You can pause it to consider the framing of individual
shots.
The following ideas may help you when you get started in your
analysis of a title sequence:
 What sort of text is the sequence introducing? For example, a
fictional/factual text?
 What tone is being set? Serious, light-hearted, flippant, or
comic?
 What is the function of the text? Information; entertainment?
 What type of audience is being addressed? You might like to
think in terms of age, gender, background, cultural experience.
Some further points to consider:
1. Is the sequence live action or an animation? If the latter, why
do you think this medium has been chosen?
2. How has the sequence been edited? Short fast-moving edits or
long sequences? What is the effect of this?
3. What does the soundtrack contribute to the sequence? You
should consider use of music, voice-over and sound effects for
example.
4. How long is the sequence? Is there a clear division between
the end of the title sequence and the beginning of the text?
5. What links does the sequence have to the text itself? How
does it work as an introduction to the text? Is it, for example, an
opening scene from the film or TV programme?
6. Is any iconography used that will be significant in the text to
follow?
7. How does the sequence link to other sequences introducing
texts of the same genre?