Using LiveType for titles

In today's lesson Libby and I began to plan the art of the titles for our sequence. We decided that we wanted to use two separate fonts, a typewriter style for the explanation, so it looks like military and planning E.G Date: 4/1/13 Time: 5.11pm Location: Betchworth Coordinates: 51.239566, -0.276031
We will also use a simple, neat font for the additional titles which will include our production company, our roles and our actresses names.

Horror film titles and credits examples

‘28 days later’ (2002)

Plot Four weeks after a mysterious, incurable virus spreads throughout the UK, a handful of survivors try to find sanctuary.

Titles/ credits: done through intercutting the film with a separate title sequence. This can indicate towards the premise of the film; the titles are separate and so are the survivors. The font and colour also indicates towards the horror genre as it is abstract and erratic.

‘Panic room’ (2002)

Plot: A woman and her teenage daughter become imprisoned in the panic room of their own house by 3 criminals.

Titles/ credits: done throughout the opening sequence by the titles and name of the film written on the side of buildings. This integrated approach may convey aspects of the film, for example the fact that the homeowners are not alone and that the intruders become integrated within their home. The font of the titles are very serious and formed, this shows that the film will follow in the same light.

'What lies beneath' (2000)

Plot: The wife of a university research scientist believes that her lakeside Vermont home is haunted by a ghost - or that she's losing her mind.

Titles/ credits: does not come until the end of the sequence and when it does it’s on a blank screen with simple writing to create suspense.

'Dracula' (1931)

Plot: The ancient vampire Count Dracula arrives in England and begins to prey upon the virtuous young Mina.

Titles/ credits: The titles are presented over the opening sequence. The titles swoop over the screen and swiftly move onto the next title. The font is made to look like blood dripping and ghostly, this links with the genre of horror.

From this research I will take on board the idea of putting the titles on animate objects, for example under cups or on the side of the sofa. I like this idea as it does not break up the sequence like intercutting, and will help it flow more smoothly. 

Order of titles and credits

Name of the production company: The company that made the film, or the name of investment groups that financially contributed to the film. For example Lions Gate or Warner Bros.

Name of producer and director: Written commonly as 'a film by'. For example Quentin Tarantino or John Hughes. 

Staring: The main actors and actresses of the film (sometimes these names will come before the director/producer depending on their contract). For example Jennifer Lawrence or Bradley Cooper in 'Silver Linings Playbook'. 

Films title: This is the name of the film, for example 'Winters Bone'.

Featuring: These are the featured actors and actresses, sometimes known as supporting roles. For example Christoph Waltz in 'Django Unchained'. 

Casting: This is the names of the people who cast the film. 

Music: Also known as 'music composed by' or 'Original score' (composed specifically for the movie) For example, 'Life of Pi' by Mychael Danna or 'Indiana Jones' by John Williams. 

Production design/ designer: This is the person who is responsible for the overall look and set of the film, for example William Cameron Menzies. 

There are many variations of this order, but most stick along these lines. Other common credits include: set design, costumes, make-up artists, sound recordings, visual effects, photography and writers. 

Titles and credits

Opening titles can tell the audience a lot about the film. They may indicate to genre, themes or even set the premise for the film. Some opening credits are presented over the opening sequence of a film, however some are in a separate title sequence. Different types of fonts are used and created in typography in order to convey different tones and moods for titles. For example, a typewriter font is typically used in a military film in order to convey a strict and structured tone; whereas a bubbled font may convey a soft, playful atmosphere of a child's film. Colour can be also a strong indicator of genre as it sets the mood and premise of the film. Many colours are symbolic of emotion, for example, red- danger, pink-girly; this links together the type of film with the mood which is to come. The graphics also play a large role in setting the premise of the film, for example titles which are very passive may indicate towards a serious film, whereas titles which move frantically would indicate towards a comedy or action.

In the opening credits for 'Scott Pilgrim Vs. the world' the titles are hand drawn and overlaid in a quick motion. It indicates to a comedy or teen movie as it is not too serious and involves lots of colour and 'childlike' drawings. The fast paced credits also indicate towards the film being quick paced and energetic too- which is also a theme of comedy.




 An example of when opening titles set the premise for a film is Breaking Dawn Part 2. Followers and fans of the saga would already understand that protagonist Bella has been turned into a vampire by Edward in the previous film (Breaking Dawn part 1). The titles are symbolic of this as they show the actors and actresses names changing from red- symbolising human blood, to white- ice cold like a vampire. As the text changes from red to white, icicles fall down from some of the letters, also adding to the cold nature of vampires, further setting the premise of the film. This sets the premise showing that in this movie, Bella continues her life as a vampire. The fact that all the actors and actresses are credited in the opening of the movie also indicates that it is the final movie in the saga. In Saga's or series such as Breaking Dawn, or Harry Potter use similar or the same font in order to create recognition with the franchise.