GENERAL CONVENTIONS 2: Titles research

RESEARCH (SAM'S)

WHAT I DISCUSS IN THIS POST:
- initial research: what are the numbers?
- precise wording and order
    - companies
    - auteur
    - actors
    - technical roles
- design: font size, animation, case/s, (sans-)serif, colouring; connoting genre
- timing, animation, transitions (how long stay on screen; varies by role? straight cuts or transitions?
- main title: any difference or same design as other titles? duration different?


MAIN FINDINGS:
...

...

• a method where film credit production companies
• about 20 - 30 titles 
• there can be exception, in the Mexican or The Wicked Man there we only see under 10 titles
• at high end tentpole movies everything is pushed to the back so the titles start after the movie
• usually about 3 mins long 
• in title sequence you find a lot of signifiers
• exposition what the genre of the movie is going about
• different positioning
• different size font for titles

We started this process by individually researching a wide range of titles sequences, and analysing the basic numbers and trends behind these.

1: INITIAL RESEARCH - WHAT ARE THE NUMBERS??

SUMMARY:
How many titles do we usually see?

I looked at 10 film openings from different genres which are linked in this post. 

In film openings, we usually see between 25 - 30 titles

CONVENTIONAL EXAMPLES:
- Sleepers (1996)
- The Notebook (2004)
- Mean Girl (2004)
- Sherlock Holmes A Game Of Shadows (2011)
- Lord of War (2005)
- Spider-Man 3 (2007)


EXCEPTIONS:
However, there can be exceptions sometimes we only see a few titles (under 10). E.g. The Mexican (2001) or The Wicker Man (1973). 

In some modern tentpole movies, you find no titles at the beginning, everything is pushed to the end e.g. Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows. The first title to appear starts at 01:55:32 (ending 01:57:37).

Only 3 Titles

7 Titles

Titles are 5mins long!

How long is the title sequence?

The duration from the first to the last title is usually about 3 minutes long. 

In some cases, it can be considerably more or less, eg:

• The Mexican (2001) the duration of the title sequence is only 23 seconds
• Mean Girls (2004) the title sequence is almost 5 minutes long. 

Austin Powers International Man Of Mystery (1997)

• Budget: $18M
• Box Office: $54M (US) / $14M (Foreign) / $68M (Worldwide)
• Director: Jay Roach
• Ratings: 70% (Rotten Tomatoes) / 7/10 (IMDb)
• Production Companies: Capella International, Eric's Boy, Juno Pix, KC Medien, Moving Pictures, New Line Cinema

• Numbers of titles: 14
• Duration from first to the last title: 01:40 - 03:35

Sleepers (1996)

• Budget: $44M
• Box Office: $53M (US) / $112M (Foreign) / $166M (Worldwide)
• Director: Barry Levinson
• Ratings: 73% (Rotten Tomatoes) / 7.5 (IMDb)
• Production Companies: Astoria Films, Baltimore Pictures, Polygram Filmed Entertainment, Propaganda Films, Warner Bros.

• Numbers of titles: 31
• Duration from first to the last title: 00:12 - 02:42

The Notebook (2004)

• Budget: $29M
• Box Office: $81M (US) / $2M (UK) / $115M (Worldwide)
• Director: Nick Cassavetes
• Ratings: 52% (Rotten Tomatoes) / 7.9/10 (IMDb)
• Production Companies: New Line Cinema, Gran Via, Avery Pix

• Numbers of titles: 29
• Duration from first to the last title: 00:16 - 03:04

Apocalypse Now (1979)

• Budget: N/A
• Box Office: $79M (US)
• Director: Francis Ford Coppola
• Ratings: 96% (Rotten Tomatoes) / 8.5/10 (IMDb)
• Production Companies: Zoetrope Studios

• No Titles

The Wicker Man (1973)

• Budget: N/A
• Box Office: $61K (US) 
• Director: Robin Hardy
• Ratings: 90% (Rotten Tomatoes) / 7.6/10 (IMDb)
• Production Companies: British Lion Film Corporation

• Numbers of titles: 7
• Duration from first to the last title: 00:33 - 01:47

The Mexican (2001)

• Budget: $57M
• Box Office: $67M (US) / $5M (UK) / $148M (Worldwide)
• Director: Gore Verbinski
• Ratings: 55% (Rotten Tomatoes) / 6.1/10 (IMDb)
• Production Companies: Dream Works, Newmarket Capital Group, Lawrence Bender Productions, Pistolero Productions LLC

• Numbers of titles: 3
• Duration from first to the last title: 00:32 - 00:52

Mean Girls (2004)

• Budget: $17M
• Box Office: $86M (US) / $10M (UK) / $129M (Worldwide)
• Director: Mark Waters
• Ratings: 83% (Rotten Tomatoes) / 7/10 (IMDb)
• Production Companies: Paramount Pictures, M.G. Films, Broadway Video

• Numbers of titles: 00:21 - 04:58
• Duration from first to the last title: 28

Sherlock Holmes A Game Of Shadows (2011)

• Budget: N/A
• Box Office: $187M (US) / $42M (UK) / $545M (Worldwide)
• Director: Guy Ritchie
• Ratings: 59% (Rotten Tomatoes) / 7.5 (IMDb)
• Production Companies: Warner Bros., Village Roadshow Pictures, Silver Pictures, Wigram Productions, Lin Pictures

• Numbers of titles: 29
• Duration from first to the last title: 01:55:32 - 01:57:37

Lord of war (2005)

• Budget: $50M
• Box Office: $24M (US) / $4M (UK) / $73M (Worldwide)
• Director: Andrew Niccol
• Ratings: 61% (Rotten Tomatoes) / 7.6/10 (IMDb)
• Production Companies: Entertainment Manufacturing Company, VIP 3 Medienfonds, Ascendant Pictures, Saturn Films, Rising Star, Copag V, Endgame Entertainment, Majority Entertainment

• Numbers of titles: 26
• Duration from first to the last title: 00:35 - 04:28

Spider-man 3 (2007)

• Budget: $258M
• Box Office: $337M (US) / $67M (UK) / $890M (Worldwide)
• Director: Sam Raimi
• Ratings: 63% (Rotten Tomatoes) / 6.2/10 (IMDb)
• Production Companies: Columbia Pictures Corporation, Marvel Studios, Laura Ziskin Productions

• Numbers of titles: 30
• Duration from first to the last title: 00:39 - 03:05

2: Precise wording and order

SUMMARY:

A title is a method where films credit production companies or Cast by visuals and sound (Stars, Editor, Director.....).

The opening credits for production companies are the most important members of the production which are often accompanying by non-diegetic music. The aim of an opening sequence is to establish the mise-en-scene.

Titles (Numbers):
- About 20-30 titles (However sometimes only the companies and the director is mentioned)
- The duration of titles is usually about 5 minutes long. (It can be shorter and a gap between them)
- +/- 5 companies are usually credited (But it can be less)

Main areas and order:
1. A ... production/presents/in association with
2. Film (Director)
3. Starring... / With... / Introducing... / Co-starring... (Actors)
4. Technical Roles (about 10):
          - Casting by...
          - Costume designed by...
          - Music composed by...
          - Editor...
          - Director of photography...
          - Lightning by...
          - Production designer...
          - Screenplay by...
          - Executive Producer... / Produced by...
          - Directed by...
5. Directed by... (Director)
(Director is the only one who always gets credited twice)


Spider-Man 3 (Sam Raimi), 2007
...

...

...

Spider-Man 3 from lau samuel

...


The wording of the titles:

1.  ... Presents
2.  A ... / ... Production
3.  " Working Title "
4.  " Actors name "
5.  " Actors name "
6.  " Actors name "
7.  " Actors name "
8.  " Actors name "
9.  " Actors name "
10.  " Actors name "
11.  " Actors name "
12.  " Actors name "
13.  " Actors name "
14.  " Actors name "
15.  " Actors name "
16.  Casting by ...
17.  Effects Supervisor ...
18.  Original Music Themes by ...
19.  Score by ...
20.  Costume Designer ...
21.  Film Editor ...
22.  Production Designer ... and ...
23.  Director of Photography ...
24.  Executive Producers ...
25.  Executive Producers ...
26.  Produced by ...
27.  Based on the Marvel Comic Book by ... and ...
28.  Screen Story ... & ...
29.  Screenplay by ...  & ... and ...
30.  Directed by ... 

Sleepers (Barry Levinson), 1996
...

...

...

Sleepers from lau samuel

...


The wording of the titles:

1.  ... Presents
2.  A ... Production
3.  A ...  Film
4.  " Actors name "
5.  " Actors name "
6.  " Actors name "
7.  " Actors name "
8.  " Actors name "
9.  " Actors name "
10.  " Working Title "
11.  " Actors name "
12.  " Actors name "
13.  " Actors name "
14.  " Actors name "
15.  " Actors name "
16.  " Actors name "
17.  " Actors name "
18.  and " Actors name "
19.  Casting by ...
20.  Co-Producer ...
21.  Music by ...
22.  Costume Designer ...
23.  Music by ...
24.  Costume Designer ...
25.  Editor ...
26.  Based upon the book by ...
27.  Executive Producer
28.  Produced by ... and ...
29.  Written for the Screenplay and Directed by ... 

Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows (Guy Ritchie), 2011
...

...

...

Sherlock Holmes from lau samuel

...


The wording of the titles:

1.  Directed by ...
2.  Written by ... & ...
3.  Produced by ...
4.  ... were credited by ...
5.  Executive Producer ...
6.  Co-Producers ...
7.  Director of Photography ... 
8.  Production Designer ...
9.  Editor ...
10.  " Actors name "
11.  " Actors name "
12.  " Working Title "
13.  " Actors name "
14.  " Actors name "
15.  " Actors name "
16.  " Actors name "
17.  " Actors name "
18.  and " Actors name "
19.  Casting by ...
20.  Music by ...
21.  Music Produced by ... and ... 
22.  Costume Designer ...
23.  Visual Effects Supervisor ...
24.  A ... Production
25.  A ... Production
26.  A ... Production
27.  A ... Film 

...
RESEARCH (mine):
looking at 10 films (link to post here) from a range of genres I counted the number of titles in their opening sequences and the duration

• there were usually 20-30 titles
• in some films only the director/companies had titles
• In older examples there were usually more titles on screen at once (4+) an in newer examples there were never more than 3

Submarine 

Start/end time of main titles: 0:00-1:53

• Submarine was co-produced
•  2 indie companies (uk- Warp, usa- Red Hour)
• Film4 Productions - a subsidiary of Channel Four Television Corporation
• UK Film Council (in this case funded by the National Lottery)
• Film4 and the UK Film Council both have idents, and are credited in the titles
• 8 companies in total were credited

The full titles were all upper case, and are given below in order
(prod/dist company x2) present
in association with (prod comapny x2)
in association with (prod comapny x2)
in association with (prod company)
a (prod company) production
film title
...

I was surprised at how few there were for Submarine when you compare these opening credits to how many people were involved on the IMDB credits, and the director/writer wasn't credited either.

The sans serif font used is against a dark blue background - the seriousness of the font signifies social realism and coming of age - which this film has aspects of. However the extreme spacing of the lettering connotes a slightly quirky aspect - the film is a hybridised rom-com.
In this example the font may also have been chosen as a part of the IP - it is the same font used on the cover of the book which the film is based on.
The blue also links with the ocean theme and setting, so could be a combination of mise-en-scene and for aesthetic purposes.

...
Baby Driver

Start/end time of main titles: 5:43-8:20
Running time of main titles: 2:33

• Baby Driver was co-produced
• America indie company Media Rights Capital
• uk subsidiary company Big Talk Productions (subsidiary of ITV)
• uk subsidiary Working Title (a subsidiary of NBCUniversal - one of the Big Six largest conglomerates)

The full titles were all upper case, and are given below in order
(dist. company x2) present
a (production company x2) production
a film by (director & writer)
film title
(actor's name)
(actor's name)
(actor's name)
(actor's name)
with (actor's name)
and (actor's name)
(actor's name)
(actor's name) x3
casting by
choreography by
costume designer
music by
editors
production designer
director of photography
executive producers (x3 names)
executive producers (x3 names)
produced by (x3 names)
written and directed by

There were a lot more credits given in this one compared to the indie film Submarine - this is probably because star billing is a large marketing/advertisement strategy. Actors agents often put a lot of effort into getting their actors names into billing blocks and having title cards to themselves rather than being one name amongst several. This is more typical of high-budget films made by conglomerates or subsidiaries.

There was an animation with these credits
via GIPHY
The title for the film made the building look like a road and the orange of the font emphasised this (the colour of taxis and road lines). This has narrative connotations as the protagonist is a getaway driver.
The serif font is also an intertextual reference: the font is called Gunplay and was designed for the 1972 Steve Mcqueen/Ali McGraw film The Getaway (a neo-noir film) - This appeals to a secondary older target audience who would be able to pick up on the preferred reading 

...
Mean Girls



Start/end time of main titles: 0:00-5:12

• Mean Girls was produce by Broadway Video, a production company founded by Lorne Michaels, who receives 2 credits
• again famous actors get there own credits (Lindsey Lohan directly after the procurers name and before the film title)
• it was distributed by Paramount - one of the Big Six conglomerates

The full titles were all upper case, and are given below in order
a (producer) production
(actor's name)
film title
(actor's name)
(actor's name)
(actor's name)
(actor's name)
(actor's name)
(actor's name) x2
(actor's name) x3
and (actor's name)
casting by...
based on the book ... by...
music supervisors (names x2)
music composed and conducted by ...
co-producer...
costume designer...
editor...
production designer...
director of photography...
executive producer...
produced by ...

screenplay by...
directed by ...

The font clearly indicates a female teen target audience and signifies rom-com/drama: the serif fun tis almost bubble and lots of pink is used. There is animation with these titles: they slide in and bounce - this signifies the comedy aspect.

...

GENERAL CONVENTIONS 7: Transition to main film

MY INFLUENCES:

• after learning about Todorov's theory I understand much better when the main movie has started
• 3 different stages of equilibrium
• I could also use this theory for my own film opening
• how to create a dis-equilibrium

WHAT I DISCUSS IN THIS POST:

• Todorov's Narrative Theory
• understand when the main movie starts
• 3 part equilibrium 

SUMMARY:
...

...

• represented from Todorov's Narrative theory
• it suggests that it follows a 3 part equilibrium structure 
• this equilibrium is disrupted by something (binary opposition)
• then reaches a solution when equilibrium is restored

RESEARCH(SAM'S):

The clear transitioning to the main film can be represented from Todorov's Narrative Theory. Tzvetan Todorov's narrative theory suggests that all narratives follow a 3 part equilibrium structure, it progresses as suddenly something comes/happen to disrupt that equilibrium (e.g. binary opposition) and finally reach a solution when the equilibrium is restored. The transition to the main film starts with an equilibrium (everything is as it should be) then there's a disruption (by an event or change in the characters life) that's when it's clear it has transitioned to the main film.

...

...

For This Is England it was when Shaun met Woody. Before, Shaun's life was miserable, he always gets picked on by his schoolmates. When he met Woody everything changes, Shaun felt accepted and confident with his new group.

...

...

In Would You Rather (2013) the equilibrium is that the central protagonist and her brother have been left in debt after their parents died and the brother is very ill who needs medical help which they can't afford. Her life changes when it's offered to her to win a lot of money which can pay for her school, debts, and her brother's treatment. In order to win she has to compete in a game with other participants. 

...

...

In Need For Speed (2014) the equilibrium is that the central protagonist stopped racing after he sat in prison for a few years. But soon he changes his mind and his life changed when he started preparing himself for that famous race he decided to take part in. As well as to revenge his friend who got killed at a car accident.

...

RESEARCH(MINE):

Summary:

• Fade to black and crossfading
• Todorov's 5 point narrative - transition at establishment of equilibrium, or at disruption 
•  title cards

Mean Girls

This examples uses a cross-fade to transition to the main film

• After the protagonist has spent her first day of school being told off and sitting by herself
•  there is a clear disruption of the equilibrium established at the start of the film, where she was initially excited.
• She comes home to her parents and shrugs them off rather than engaging with them as she did at the start

Mean Girls cross-fade to mark transition

...

Submarine

• This examples has a series of wide shots of the welsh countryside, then a title card
• establishing an equilibrium with the protagonist fitting in more with the countryside than 'most people' - as he puts it

  

  Submarine title card

...

Baby Driver

• Quite similar to Submarine, this example had a title sequence that began with a worms eye view of a building, and the film title transitioned in with a little animation
• at the en dog the title sequence the protagonist enters the same building 
• this creates a sense of closure, and establishes an equilibrium (the protagonist is in a sense driving in circles in his life, with nothing new ever happening)
• You see a police car quickly drive past (also part of the equilibrium as the police are in a sense always just behind the protagonist (catching up maybe?)
  

  

  Baby Driver - juist after protagonist has re-entered building

...

The Mexican

Quite typical - fade to black then fade up to begin the main film

• Creates narrative enigma as we just heard a car crash - who was in it? did they survive? was it actually an accident?
• Isn't done in chronological order - the happens towards the end of the film

...

The Notebook

• This film begins with a serious os wide shots of a lake at sunset 
• it's really serene and romantic 
• Marks the transition to the main film with a sudden cut to a closeup shot of an old woman's face, and the music playing comes to an end

  

  The Notebook closeup shot

...