Title Sequence Clip Review

  I never used to pay attention to the opening titles sequences of films until now; or about the amount of work that goes into producing them. An impactful opening scene has many components such as, typography, audio, and visual effects. After viewing various title sequence clips, I have come to realize the importance of properly introducing a film. 

  For example, in the film Apocalypse Now, destruction and fire are occurring all the while the song The End is playing in the background along with the sound of pounding helicopters. The scene moves back and forth from close ups of Willard to shots of the ceiling fan blending into helicopter blades. This depicts his ptsd  flashbacks from the war. The opening scene of Apocalypse Now works exceptionally well to “set up the expectation of an audience”, as quoted by Miles Merrill. Another title sequence I found impressive was from the movie Pulp Fiction. In this scene the seemingly normal couple are having breakfast together at a diner. The two characters have clashing characterizations; the man displays defiant behavior and the woman in contrast acts very polite and positive. It seems that they are having a regular conversation at first and then they begin to discuss criminal activity. This scene soon turns into a chaotic robbery and quickly changes the expectations of the film. I believe this was a great way to portray the concept of the rest of the film. As the author Miles Merrill stated, “An opening titles sequence generally engages with the big themes of the film and looks at overarching themes and metaphors of the film,” (First Frames: titles in the digital realm). 

   In the scary movie Scream, the designers perfectly set the tone for the rest of the movie. They use references of other common horror films to foreshadow what is to come. Sound effects of a knife slash and faint screaming are incorporated to develop an ominous feeling for the audience. This reminds me of how in the beginning scene of 2001: A Space Odyssey, the designers made the viewers feel as if they were floating through space. They accomplished this by starting off with a completely black screen (how it might look in space) and added anticipating music. The sun then rose over the screen and the title appeared strikingly. Additionally, the film Dazed and Confused had an opening that immediately lets the audience know what kind of genre it will be. The 70’s high school experience is depicted by showing carefree students smoking and celebrating the last day before summer break. The song Sweet Emotion and the fun credits displayed indicated a comedy movie. 

  Taking everything into consideration it can be deducted that opening titles sequences are just as important as the plot.  After learning more about this topic, I am more confident in choosing film as my portfolio project. The viewings in class and the discussions really convinced and taught me that openings are an acclaimed aspect of film.