Analysis of Thriller film openings

Saul Bass

Saul Bass was an American graphic designer and Oscar- winning film maker. He was known for his design of motion-picture title sequences, film titles and corporate logos. He introduced a new art form with his imaginative film title sequences that conveyed the essence of a movie and prepared audiences for what they were about to see.
 

Source: https://www.artofthetitle.com

The Night Of : The titles that come up at the opening of the movie are the names of the directors, producers, cast member, music producer, editor, production designer, photography director, co-executive producers, executive producers, creators, teleplay. Then ends with blackout. After it says the creators it comes up with the title of the film. Each name appears for 2 seconds before the next title comes up. The characters are not introduced yet, all we know is their names. But we see shots of a city in America, which include shots that relate to the film. This is how the storyline is introduced to the audience. The shots are simple and on the screen for also 2 seconds, when the title changes the shot also changes. Some of the shots include, a taxi, a shower head with drips of water, a high shot showing the city. 

0.01-0.03 - Production company

0.04-0.31 - Names of actors

In between the names of actors, quick shots of the film appear, showing the audience what the film may be about. >

0.32-0.33- Casting

0.34-0.35- Music 

0.36-0.37- Editor

0.38-0.39- Production designer

0.40-0.41- Photography director

0.42-0.43-  Producer

0.45-0.48- Co-Executive producers

0.49-1.06- Executive producers

1.08-1.11- Creators

1.12-1.15- Film title

1.16-1.18- Teleplay

1.19-1.20- Director

0.00-0.04- Shots of what the film includes

0.05-0.08- Presenters (Netflix)

0.09-0.12- Production

0.12-0.14- Photography director

0.14-0.16- Production designer

0.17-0.19- Costume designer

0.21-0.23- Make up artist

0.26-0.29- Casting

0.35-0.39- Editor

0.41-0.43- Music

0.45-0.47- Line producer

0.48-1.01- Executive producers

1.03-1.06- Creators

1.07-1.10- Writer

                                                            1.12-1.17- Director

                                                            1.21-1.26- Film title                                                                                                

0.01-0.08- Company (Warner bros)

0.09-0.13- Film director (Alfred Hitchcock)

0.15-0.20- Film title

0.21-0.23- Color by

0.25-0.45- Actors

0.46-0.49- Screen play

0.50-0.57- Photography director, Art director, Film editor, Sound by, Set director, Wardrobe by (costume designer), Makeup artist, Assistant director. All on same screen

0.58-1.01- Background music composed by and conducted by

1.02-1.06- Director

0.04-0.08- Production

0.12-0.24- Company's in association with

0.25-0.28- Director

0.30-0.35- Main character (Ryan Reynolds) 

0.37-0.44- Film title

0.48-0.50- Sound mixer

0.51-0.54- Makeup

0.55-0.58- Costume designer

1.00-1.05- Art directors

1.06-1.08- Visual effects

1.09-1.12- Sound designer

1.15-1.20- Post production supervisor 

1.24-1.27- Line producer

1.29-1.31- Editor

1.36-1.39- Music

1.42-1.45- Photography director

1.48-1.53- Executive producers

                                                        1.55-1.57- Screenplay

                                                        2.01-2.07- Producers

                                                        2.10-2.12- Director

DARK- Dark shows its thriller conventions through the opening title sequence from, the very first shot being a kid breathing heavily, the heavy breathing suggests tiredness, fear etc. The background music is intense and the singing that starts off quiet gets louder as the opening continues.

Since I will be doing a title sequence, it I very important that I see how long titles are up for, what type of font they use in the titles and where on the screen they place them, this is because I need to stick to the conventions of a thriller. Each movie uses a different type of title sequence but all have many similarities. 

As my task is to make aa title sequence it is key that I analyse the popular thrillers title sequences so I have some knowledge of what they include and how they work.