Opening Credits Timeline

Lemony Snicket's A Series Of Unfortunate Events

AS Media Opening Sequence Research

For my research, I have decided to look at films around the genre of action and drama as I am interested to create my own project inspired by the directors of great classic action / drama movies. I will also be looking at movies which use imaginative and useful after effects I can relate to in my film sequence, such as kinetic text and focus effects. I hope to find films which I am inspired by to re-create in my project. 

Opening Sequence Research 10

Se7en
Thriller

 I believe that the first shot should be interesting and mysterious, so that the audience should have to think about what is going on in the film. Here this shot shows this as a book could contain anything inside.

With the scary image in the background, I like how the credits have been edited to show the closer to the image the more distorted it becomes.

 This close up shot of these finger handling a small object makes the audience curious as to what the object is for and why it is being handled.

 Interesting shapes and figures also adds to the mystery of the sequence keeping the viewers on their toes at all times.

 In this shot, it began with only one hand writing, until it is doubled up with more transparent footage of the same clip. I find it very effective how this happens.

Opening Sequence Research 9

Bullitt
Action, Drama
1968 film

 This first shot of this opening is really captivating because of the lighting and camera angle. This close up is shot from down low which could show the importance of the characters. The lighting could also mean that there is something creepy or horrible people. However, it does make the shot creative and powerful.

 What I didn't like about this shot is that even though you can see the actor is hiding from some people, possibly the characters shown in the previous shot, the credits are just positioned right in the middle of the screen which distracted my view away from the footage to the bright writing.

 Similarly, to the first shot, the close up camera angle is again low, which could mean that this character is also important and powerful.

 I liked the setting of here, instead of being a simple long establishing shot of a car park, the layers of each floor creates interesting composition.

Opening Sequence Research 8

Control
Drama

 This opening scene has been the most powerful, yet simplest I have ever seen. Sometimes the basic ideas can be the most effective. What I like about this short clip is how it portrays this simpleness into an extremely powerful opening. 

 It starts with a closeup shot of this young man, in a dark room with only natural light, possibly shining from a window behind, creating a bright outline of the characters face. No music is playing in the background, until a voice talks over this slowly rotating footage of the actor. The voice, like the opening, is simple and not very dramatic, but very strong. 

 His head is slowly lowered creating mystery for the audience of what emotions he is portraying or situations he could have been in.

From the close up shots, only one clip follows in this opening. This still medium shot of the character in a dark room shows emotion and mystery. The voice says a statement and the opening ends to lead onto the beginning of this young mans story.

I would like to film some shots inspired by this director, Ian Curtis, as I like how strong they are. I think I could try to make them as powerful like he has. 

Opening Sequence Research 7

Spooks
Action, Drama, Thriller (Series)

 The first shot shown in the opening credits of hit television series Spooks grabbed my attention straight away from the editing and after effects it has. What I like about the series credits is that each character is introduced by showing a short action closeup layered with other characters. The bigger the clip of each character shows the importance of each character.

 Here, shown in many opening sequences, this tracking effect starts to introduce the audience to the level of activity going on in the program. It is clearly show here on this landscape shot that people are being watched.

 This layering effect used could definitely be used in my film when showing movement or close up shots as it just keeps the audience interested. I could also change one of the layers to an object or macro shot to make the viewers think about the link of the two shots.

 I also like this effect used as the main square of footage in the middle is showing the same clip as the rotating smaller squares on the left hand side. Another idea for my project would be to show different footage in the smaller squares.

 This is a good example of the layering effect talked about above when footage of a character is layered over an object, such as the fact sheet, which makes the audience wonder about the link between the two.

This long establishing shot is really powerful to the audience as it is so different compared to all the close up shots when introducing the characters. It is also a good way to show the location (London) as well as providing variety to the sequence.

 Here the title of the series is being introduced in front of the main character shown in the background. The effects here are also interesting as each shape could represent symbols and shapes used in the program. For example, The circle which has been used throughout the sequence could relate to the tracking symbol.

I think this end to the title sequence is simple and effective with not being too busy and directs the viewers attention to the bottom right hand corner of the screen.

Opening Sequence Research 6

Limitless
Action, Drama

What I find really interesting about this opening is how it was made. Starting from a high shot and lowering down to a street taxi where zooming effect continues through cars and street walks automatically tells the audience that it is an almost impossible effect, which relates to the following storyline of an impossible effect you can get off a drug. Also, each flowing movement starts from a long establishing shot, to a medium to a closeup and continues this cycle till the end credit which is extremely effective to the audience.

Opening Sequence Research 5

Killers
Action, Drama, Thriller

This location effect is used in many openings and it not very original, whereas it does show the audience that someone is being watched and followed, giving the 'action, drama' genre away.

I like the idea here of tracking a fast moving object on a map, which I could try to use in my film. It can show the audience the location, where the object is headed and makes them curious as to why they are doing this.

I like how the screen has been split in an un even half, with tinted footage which creates an interesting contrast as well as composition.

I find this a creative but relevant image for the title credit, as the hole effect can represent bullet holes.

I think this low angled movement shot is perfect for showing a fast moving object, in this case a car. I would be quite interested in taking some footage of a car, so I am quite inspired in this directors techniques.

This footage would be quite hard to repeat as the camera is moving just as fast as the car, possibly from a helicopter or using a crane. However, it is effective as the audience feels as though they are moving with the car.

A close up shot of the driver is a good way to introduce a character, it also describes a lot about them. For example, here actor Ashton Kutcher is in a suit and driving a Ferrari, showing he is wealthy and potentially important.

This shot is showing the car slowing down. It is very focused as the object is not moving as fast and is telling the audience that they are about to be shown the location that the character is trying to get to.

Opening Sequence Research 4

Sherlock
Drama

 This first clip shown in the opening sequence is a long shot from a high angle showing the movement of busy London life.

 I think this landscape shot is great for showing the viewers the location of the film, whereas in some other films it is shown in text before the scene, furthermore I think this footage shows some originality.

 Even though this is a similar shot to the first, I think it looks more like someone is watching movement on the street, which is introducing the audience to what the film is about.

 Close up shots are then shown adding to the detective, spy feeling. It is also making the audience strive for the excitement the gun is portraying.

 I love this layering clip used here as the word 'Bomber' is standing out but still the landscape London shot is used which makes it more interesting. They could have just had the word in front of a plain background however the landscape is still showing the audience the mystery in a potential plot or action.

 This high shot is showing the power and status of the film looking down to the street action, which could also represent the watching of a certain car or person. I think a shot like this could be repeated in my sequence as it also relates to CCTV footage.

This layering effect again used here turns a plain clip of a woman/potential character walking into an interesting mystery making the audience think by showing the different symbols.

I feel this shot is really moving because of the contrast of the cream background with the red blood dripped onto it and the thought of who's blood it is and why it is being looked at so closely.

Opening Sequence Research 3

The 8 Rules of Fight Club

Effect: Kinetic Typography

This opening scene really caught my eye because of the creativity of how the dialogue of a character is portrayed to the audience. What I like about this effect is that there is endless ideas for how this can be used in my title sequence. However, if I re-created a similar version of this opening in a short space of my sequence, I will need to carefully think of the film behind the words and could possibly use this to introduce credits. I think this technique can be used in many different situations such as a funny scene, a dramatic scene or an action scene.

Opening Sequence Research 2

Angels and Demons

This film goes strait into the first scene so it was between a minute before the scene where I found an interesting introduction for the titles.

 Here the film begins with abstract un-focused clip of an object with light reflecting off it to create the circular shapes which are slowly growing into focus.

 The large unfocused shapes slightly start to fade when new smaller shapes dissolve onto screen getting brighter. This is clearly an after effect, and even though we have no idea of what it is coming into focus, the audience should be clear that it is not part of the original clip background.

As writing then starts to appear and the first title focuses effectively above the now very dis-shaped background, I really love the entrance and am really interested in using this entering effect in my sequence.

 This next screen grab shows the title disappearing but the background coming into focus where we can make out a shiny reflective surface giving the audience a few moments of mystery.

The title of the film then enters more dramatically because it stands out much more than the first credit with it still having the focus effect, however it has to its advantage a clear sharp image behind. At this point of the film the camera is circling this surface still leaving the audience in suspense.

The camera then slightly zooms out, but still circling clockwise, whilst the film title disappears to get the viewers ready for the clarity of the object.

This then leaves the audience with the macro clip of a gold ring in crisp detail which could mean that the director wants the audience to remember how important and dramatic this piece of gold is towards the rest of the film. 

Opening Sequence Research 1

Vantage Point
Action & Drama



What I like about this title sequence is that it links well to the rest of the film. It gives the audience an abstract idea that it's about the vantage point of many different characters, by showing each clip of film in different slices of the screen relates to the 8 character's eventful story.

I think it is effective how each part of the sequence is overlapped with transparent clips of less interesting but scene setting information with different dramatic sounds introducing each clip.