Film Title Sequence Conventions

Formal Film Title Sequence

Conventions.

WHAT IS A FILM TITLE SEQUENCE?

A film title sequence happens at the beginning of a film. It is short clip usually 2 – 5 minutes long and introduces the audience to what may happen in the film, what actors/actresses are featured and who has helped create and produced the film. A film title sequence can be conceptual, meaning that the opening is abstract and differs to other film openings. It can also be narrative, this means that the title sequence opens up a plot line that will be followed through the rest of the movie. Finally, a film title sequence can also be a montage, this is a collection of photographs/illustrations that are put together to show the audience the key themes/ideas or characters in a film to give them some insight as to what the film is about.

CONVENTIONS

The formal conventions of an opening film title sequence are: 2 – 5 minutes long. Name/Logo of production companies

involved. Names of cast and crew members. Soundtrack. Name of film.

Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.

FILM TITLE SEQUENCE CONVENTIONS.The first thing the audience are presented

with at the beginning of the sequence is the company that has distributed/financed the film. We can see that the distributed/financed of ‘Ferris Bueller’s Day Off’ is ‘Paramount Pictures’ – one of ‘The Big 6’. As the film has been distributed by one of ‘The Big 6’, we may not expect to see anymore film studios involved in production or distribution due to the large budget and influential power Paramount Pictures has. After continuing watching the title sequence, we realise that this is the case as the sequence then moves onto the directors, actors and other crew members involved in creating the film.

This fits the conventions of most title sequences, as they usually begin with the companies who have financed/distributed the film.

FERRIS BUELLER’S DAY OFF.

FILM TITLE SEQUENCE CONVENTIONS.We are then introduced to the director,

writer and producer of the film, John Hughes. Again, his name appears in large bold, block capitals, because John Hughes is the creator of the film, therefore, is one of the most important people involved in the film. John Hughes was a hugely successful and influential screen writer, director and producer who has created many well known films such as ‘The Breakfast Club’, ‘Pretty in Pink’, ‘Sixteen Candles’, ‘Uncle Buck’, ‘Weird Science’ and ‘Home Alone’. Therefore, he is a very respected film creator, so his name will have been an important factor in the film’s success as some people may have watched the film specifically because it is a John Hughes film, another reason why it is important to introduce John Hughes’ name early on in the title sequence and to make it bold and noticeable. FERRIS BUELLER’S DAY

OFF.

FILM TITLE SEQUENCE CONVENTIONS.

The name of the lead actor then appears, again on a plain black screen with the text in blue bold, block text. This emphasises the importance of the actor, and from this, the audience can assume that Matthew Broderick is a main/important character. Underneath the actor’s name, we can see the word ‘in’ written in small, lower case font. This helps to reinforce the importance of the actor and his large role film. The word ‘in’ can lead the audience into assuming that the name of the film will be the next thing to appear in the title sequence.



The next thing to appear in the title sequence is the name of the film – ‘Ferris Bueller’s Day Off’. This again is shown on a plain black background with the text written in blue block capitals. This again causes the name of the film to stand out and is an important piece of text to show the audience.


FILM TITLE SEQUENCE CONVENTIONS.Next, we see one of the main locations for the film, the family home. This is used to show the audience that this is a key setting in the film, and will regularly show up in the film.

We are then shown the main character, Ferris. It is effective to show a picture of the lead character as it lets the audience know that this is an important character in the film.


FILM TITLE SEQUENCE CONVENTIONS. Ferris’ parents are then shown

to the audience. This again helps to show important characters or characters with bigger parts. It also helps the audience to discover who lives in the setting that was recently shown, a house. Ferris and his parents then go onto have a conversation, the film begins to start, action is shown and dialogue is heard.

Titles then begin to appear on the screen, informing the audience who is starring in the film.



We then continue to see the names of the acting cast appearing on the screen, with the film still playing.We are then again shown another main character, and another character who lives in the house shown, giving the audience more contextual information.



The continuation of titles informing the audience on the names of actors in the film. We can see that even though the names of these actors are still in bold block text, they are not on a plain black screen like the other titles, such as the distributer, director and lead actor. This makes the title slightly less noticeable. From this, we could infer that these characters are not playing the biggest part in the main storyline, they may, however, have their own plotline as their name is shown in the opening sequence, showing they do have an importance in the film. FERRIS BUELLER’S DAY

OFF.

Co – stars are then shown. Instead of one name being shown at a time, three are shown at once. This tells the audience that these actors have a smaller part in the film. They are not one of the main characters, however, are still of importance to the film.After the names of the actors are shown, we begin to see titles showing people that have been involved in the behind the scenes production. We are first shown the name of the person who produced the music for the film.


Titles continue to appear. The audience are told who casted the actors, the costume and production designer, director of photography, the executive producer, and the editor.


The final titles to appear are the names of who has written, produced and directed the play. We again see that this has all been done by John Hughes, hence, the title ‘A John Hughes Film’ appearing at the beginning on the sequence. Finishing the sequence with this title may help the audience to remember who has made the film.


The sequence finishes with Ferris, the main character, breaking the fourth wall and speaking to the audience. This lets the audience know that the film is about to start as the characters have come out of the original situation presented to the viewers, and the storyline is now able to develop. It also creates a relationship between the character and the audience, allowing them to know that they will be following this character’s story in the film.


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We are first shown a shot of the company who have distributed the film the film, ‘DreamWorks Pictures’.

Another credit then comes into the sequence. This is given to two companies who have produced the film, ‘Kemp Company’ and ‘Splendid Pictures’.CATCH ME IF YOU

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A final production credit, for ‘Parkes / Macdonald’. We can see that the font for all the production companies is in bold black writing, against a blue background. This makes it clear and noticeable. Next comes the name of the director, ‘Steven Spielberg’. A notable director known for directing films such as ‘Jaws’, ‘Jurassic Park, and ‘Schindler’s List’. The name of the director, unlike the production companies, is placed in the middle of the screen.

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We are then shown the names of the two lead actors in the film, Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Hanks. The audience may assume that Tom Hanks is a detective/agent in the film due to the stencil image of an inspector looking figure appearing net to his name.

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FILM TITLE SEQUENCE CONVENTIONS. The name of the

film then appears, again in black bold text on a black background, causing it to stand out and grab the eye of the viewer. The font has been enlarged compared to before. This lets the audience know that this is not a name of a company, but the name of the film.

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The names of more actors are shown. We could imply that these actors have less prominent roles compared to Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Hanks, due to their names being shown after the title of the film has appeared and the change in background colour.

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The names of actors continue to appear.

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More names of actors are seen as the sequence continues to play. This time, three names are sown at once, instead of the one name per shot that we have seen being used in the sequence. This suggests that these characters have smaller roles than the actors that have already been introduced.

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We are then shown the names of people involved with the behind the scenes production of the film, such as the casting.


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The names of people involved with behind the scenes production continue to appear. We can see that credits are given to the writer of the book, Frank Abagnale, which the film was based upon. Credits are also given to the creator of the titles.CATCH ME IF YOU CAN


Credits are given to more of the people involved in off screen production, including music, costumer designer, film editor and production designer. CATCH ME IF YOU

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More titles given to the names of people involved with production.

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We again see producer credits, we see Steven Spielberg’s name again, reinforcing his importance in the making of the film.


The sequence ends with the line ‘inspired by a true story’. This may have been left for last as it will stick in the viewer’s minds as it is the last piece of text seen.

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Education

Film Title Sequence Conventions