Title Sequence Analysis-Connor Hilton

Title Sequence Analysis-Connor Hilton

Pulp Fiction:

After an opening sequence of two characters having a discussion there is a freeze frame of the two characters holding up guns and the opening title sequence begins. This opens the sequence very well as it instantly shows that the film is a thriller due to the guns being iconic too the genre.  The music is loud and very intense which compliments the opening title style of a thriller film. 

We are then shown multiple production companies with short cuts to black in between to separate the text more clearly. The text is aligned to the centre of the screen which is the norm for the opening credits of a film. The text size also varies, the company name is much larger than the other text to emphasise certain words on the screen.

After the production companies have been shown the title of the thriller film (Pulp Fiction) wipes from the bottom of the screen up to the middle of the screen and begins to become smaller while other pieces of information about the production of the film is shown.

This creates an epic start to the film when accompanied by the very recognisable soundtrack in the background. The title text is orange with a red drop shadow, these colours are also iconic to the thriller genre. The actors names being shown over the top of the title is very effective and grabs our attention. 

Over time the title becomes smaller and smaller until it dissapears and the whole screen is black. This is a great way into the listing of the less reconisable actors (co-stars) who's names are listed and scroll up the screen like most credit sequences. 

Overall, I feel like the opening credits to Pulp Fiction are very effective and grasp the audiences attention very well by using iconic themes and relevant colours. These techniques are also accompanied by a very reconisable soundtrack that is fast and intense so that it matches the pace of the title sequence. 

Pulp Fiction Opening Credits:

Alien (1979):

The title sequence opens on a black screen and fades in to show what appears to be space as there are stars and some light coming from the bottom left-hand corner. 

The camera begins to pan and then the production companies names fade into the middle of the screen. They are super imposed over the background video of space. The text is white so that it can be seen when put on top of a dark background.

After the production companies have been shown we are shown what appears to be a small rectangle at first glance. It is in the centre of the screen so it can be assumed that is important. After the rectangle has appeared, the actors names start to fade in and then fade out. 

As the actors name appear, so do these mysterious shapes along the top of the screen. This intrigues the audience and already makes them asks questions about what is going on.

At this stage, the shapes still mean nothing to the audience and are just there to create enigma. 

There is also some very mysterious non-diegetic background music that is parallel to the sequence as it also encourages the asking of questions.

The mysterious shapes then begin to make sense as when a few more shapes are put with the others we begin to understand that it is the title being shown to us in a very slow manner.  

The camera then continues to pan while the other parts of the title are being revealed. We are also being shown the information about the film such as the producer and the actors underneath the title. This allows the film to drag out the reveal of the title for a long time while still showing the essential information. All of the text remains white to ensure that it easy for the audience to read.

Overall, I feel that the opening sequence to Alien is very mysterious and effective in creating the mood of the film. The slow pan ensures that the audience is constantly in anticipation while the manner in which the main title is revealed creates mystery. The reveal of the title is also complimented by a non-diegetic background music that is parallel to the sequence.

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011):

The sequence starts with a fade from black. The music also fades in and becomes very fast and sets the pace of the sequence. The first piece of institutional information we see is one of the production companies. In the background we can see what appears to be black feathers.  The text is white to ensure that it can be read by the audience.

The video shows many dark and creepy effects which add a very intense and in-you-face mood. The pace of editing is also very fast which adds to the intense mood. 

Quite shortly into the sequence we are shown the title, this is slightly unusual as it is quite sudden. It appears but is quickly covered up by what appears to be some black liquid. 

As the sequence continues, the black liquid is shown in every shot, which keeps the creepy theme. The titles are in small writing with a very

creepy font.

Throughout the start of the sequence we are not shown any bright colour, just black and white. This compliments the sequence and makes the whole thing dark and creepy. The titles fit in to the sequence well, as they are small but still big enough to read, but they don't take a lot of attention away from the background video.

We also see references to the title of the film throughout the opening sequence, for example, in this shot we see a girl with what looks like a dragon tattooed on her back. A few seconds after this, we are also shown what looks like wings spreading, but, not wings of a bird as they have

 scales so we assume it's a dragons wings.

Another thing that I have noticed is that the title's text isn't always aligned to the right, in fact, in some shots it aligned to the centre and in some it's aligned to the right. This is effective because it keeps the audiences eye's moving so that we also focus on the background as well as the titles.


                                               For example:












To conclude, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo has a very gripping and relevant title sequence that keeps the audience aware and included. Also, It uses very dark colours in the background video as well as the title text to keep a very creepy mood and atmosphere.