Analyse multiple title sequences then create your own title list (stretch and challenge)

By Kirsty Steward

A Nightmare on Elm Street title sequence timeline

I watched the opening sequence of the horror film ‘ A Nightmare on Elm Street’ and recorded every title that appeared in the first few minutes of the film. Underneath is a picture of the timeline I completed which has the recordings of these titles.

Like the previous film opening, there is a separate title to display what company helped to produce the film (New Line Cinema) which is mandatory as they want to be well known. However the company's name is displayed again in a different credit which I will not take inspiration from for my opening sequence as I believe it's repetitive and wouldn't be as aesthetically pleasing for my adolescent audience.

The film's name, A Nightmare on Elm Street, is displayed on a separate title yet it has a 'panning-up' transition that starts within another frame. This idea is effective as it makes the title stand out more and is eye-pleasing but I don't think I'll use this idea in my opening sequence as horror films tend to be more dramatic than thrillers and I want my film opening titles to be more subtle.

I will take inspiration from the acting credits as they appear at the side of the screen in each title in simple white writing which would fit the more subtle title theme I will try to portray in my opening sequence.

21 Jump Street title sequence timeline

I watched the opening sequence of the comedy film ‘2 Jump Street’ and recorded every title that appeared in the first few minutes of the film. Underneath is a picture of the timeline I completed which has the recordings of these titles.

Again with every film, each film company that has helped produce and distribute the film has a separate title for their credit. However with this film there are three companies which makes the title sequence far longer and my opening sequence needs to emphasis the beginning of the analysis so I don’t think I’ll use more than two of my own companies to save sequence time.

The title after the production company credits reads ‘THE YEAR 2005’ which shows the relevance that there will be time change within the film and lets the audience know about this straight away. This won’t be necessary for my film title as there is no big time jump that they will be notified about and it will be set in the year it’s released in.

The next sequence of credit titles have the consistent theme of red white and blue which is paired with a red and blue flashing light. As the film revolves around two men being in the police force this is creative and relative to the film and there is a police detective in my film also. Yet the film revolves more around the detective’s son’s death more than his job itself so I don’t think I’ll use the same effect.

I think I will take inspiration from the title credit as it is on its own separate title which makes the name of the film stand out more. Moreover there is a slight zooming out effect on the text which makes the title more eye catching for the audience.

The Notebook title sequence timeline

I watched the opening sequence of the romance film ‘The Notebook’ and recorded every title that appeared in the first few minutes of the film. Underneath is a picture of the timeline I completed which has the recordings of these titles.

The film companies’ names are again shown at the start of the sequence however the New Line Cinema Company is mentioned in two different titles one after the other which I think looks repetitive even though it’s trying to emphasise its effect. I do like the simplicity of how the second ‘New Line Cinema’ Company and the ‘Gran Via’ title are displayed and may take inspiration of that into my own opening sequence.

The fact that the acting title credits are placed to the side of the screen means that the overall main image of the frame is focussed on as the titles are not too distracting. I intend to use this method in my opening sequence so my audience is focussed on the main elements of image and dialogue.

The title that displays the title of the film is again placed to the sign however I don’t think I’ll copy this technique as even though I want most of the other titles to be more subtle; the title, I think, should stand out. However because The Notebook is a romance, being soft with smooth and subtle transitions within the titles fits the genre more which isn’t the case in the Thriller genre.

I think I’m going to take inspiration from having the director’s title credit last and having it placed in the middle as it shows the importance of the role. But as this is a romance film, the text font is quite pleasant looking with a baby yellow to make the text not too bold. In my sequence I’ll try to make the text fit the genre by using red a strange looking font and by using the colours red and white (red to present the connotation of danger within the film and white to contrast with the red and show the connotation of good that comes from the danger).