Title Sequence Analysis

Convention of Actual Title Sequence

Here is an actual timeline title sequence from the film ‘Stepfather’ that me and my group worked on in lesson. 

The title sequence timeline is:

1.  Screen Gems Logo (13 seconds) after transitions into film

2. Production presents ‘Screen Gems’ TEXT (22 seconds)

3.Productions – Maverick Films, Imprint Entertainment, Granada (29 seconds)

4.‘Stepfather’ title (52 seconds)

5.1st Actor ‘Dylan Walsh’ (56 seconds)

6. 2nd Actor (1min 1 sec)

7. 3rd Actor (1min 6sec)

8. 4th Actor (1min 13sec)

9. 5th Actor ‘91min 17sec)

10. 6th Actor (1min 29sec)

11. 7th Actor ((1min 55sec)

12. Less important actor (2min 55sec)

13. Other actors (2min 8sec)

14. (Technical) casting (2min 13sec)

15. Costume design (2min 25sec)

16. Music supervisor (2min 30sec)

17. Music (2min 36sec)

18. Editor (2min 42sec)

19. Production design (2min 48sec)

20. DOP Director of Photograph (3min 7sec)

21. Executive producers (3min 15sec)

22. Executive producers (4min 34sec)

The conventions of actual timeline sequence

Here is another title sequence analysis of the film opening of ‘Memento’ that I did in lesson.

From what I have learnt the conventions of an actual film opening timeline sequence (the conventions can both be seen in the timelines I have done from the films above) are:

 -The Producers name / logo are the first thing seen.

-The name of the film doesn’t have a fixed place in an opening title sequence. If the name of the film is shown at the end it could come across as a short film. But when unknown actors are used the title would come before the actors and if the actors are known the title will come after the actors. This is because the main actors towards the beginning / famous actors are used as a marketing tool.

-The Director is the most important so it is seen towards the end of the title sequence. It is probably the last things seen in the title sequence

-the middle of the title sequence is the casting of the technical side & the actors

·         Editing

·         Sound

·         Make-up

·         Costume

·         DOP – Director of Photography (screen play by, adaptive play by)