Conventions of

title sequences

What is a title sequence?

Title sequences are used in
films and television
programmes to list the most
important members of the
production.
They are now shown usually
shown as text superimposed
on a blank screen or static
pictures, or sometimes on
top of action in the show.
Opening title sequences may
or may not be accompanied
with music.

A title sequence is the method by which films or

television programs present their title, key production
and cast members, or both, utilizing conceptual visuals
and sound. It usually follows but should not be
confused with the opening credits, which are generally
nothing more than a series of superimposed text.

The main conventions within a film

title sequence

Production/distribution company (including logo)

Title of the film
Cast and crew
Characters and setting
Sound
Narrative enigma
Possible encoded signifiers (ie. A gun can symbolise
death with the same weapon at a later stage)

Common order of credits

While there are numerous variations most opening credits use some variation of the basic order noted
below:

(NAME OF THE STUDIO)

(NAME OF THE PRODUCTION COMPANY)
(PRODUCER NAME) PRODUCTION or/and (director only) A FILM BY (DIRECTOR NAME)
STARRING
(FILM'S TITLE)
FEATURING.
CASTING or CASTING BY
MUSIC or MUSIC COMPOSED BY or ORIGINAL SCORE BY
PRODUCTION DESIGN or PRODUCTION DESIGNER
As a variation some of the below may be noted:
SET DESIGN
COSTUMES or COSTUMES BY or GOWNS (older movies)
HAIRDRESSER
MAKE-UP ARTIST
SOUND RECORDING (older movies)
VISUAL EFFECTS DIRECTOR or VISUAL EFFECTS BY
EDITOR or EDITED BY
DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY
PRODUCER or PRODUCED BY, EXECUTIVE PRODUCER
BASED ON THE BOOK (PLAY, GRAPHIC NOVEL etc.) BY or FROM A PLAY/BOOK BY (older movies)
BASED ON THE CHARACTERS BY or BASED ON THE CHARACTERS CREATED BY
(SCREEN) STORY or STORY BY
WRITER(S) or WRITTEN BY or SCREENPLAY or SCREENPLAY BY
DIRECTOR or DIRECTED BY

Examples - Companies
Production name/distribution company:
One of the key convention within an opening title
sequence is having the production name, this allows
the audience to familiarise with the production
company itself and may refer to other films made by
this company depending on how
good the film was.
Screenshot taken from Sweeney
Todd.

Title of the film

Title of the film:
The title of the film within an opening title sequence
is vital, it can give a hint to the audience of what the
film is going to be about, for example just by looking
the title from Catch me if you can suggests that the
films could be fast and action
packed with on the run
with
situations.

Cast and Crew

Cast and crew
Another convention within
opening title sequences is listing
the main characters and the
people associated with the film
(producers, directors, editors)
For example, in Memento the
main actor is stated first (Guy
Pearce), shortly followed by
other acots/actresses, producers
and editor (Dody Doom)

Characters and setting

Characters and setting:
Within an opening title sequence, there is always an
introduction to a certain character; this tends to be
the main character so that the audience can
familiarise with the character and understand their
lifestyle.
The character can also be introduced via a specific
setting, this tends to be the main setting.

Sound
Another key convention of an opening title
sequence is sound. The sound can come in
different forms such as dialogue and soundtrack.
It lets us make various interpretations, for
example if we hear a man with a croaky
threatening voice then we say immediately
conclude that this person is an antagonist and a
sign of danger.
Soundtrack and theme tunes gets stuck into the
audiences head and so they can associate it with
the film, for example with Jaws if someone hears
the Jaws soundtrack they instantly associate it
with sharks.

Narrative Enigma
Narrative enigma is when the filmmakers
intentionally arise questions to the audiences
head, making them think what is happening, why
it is happening etc.
It is done so that tension is built towards the film
and gives an element of mystery to the viewers
and slowly unravels as the film progresses.
For example, in Cirque De Freak we want to know
why the two puppets are running/ who is the big
evil man controlling everything? Why are they
running? and who are these monsters chasing
them?

Encoded signifiers

Another convention of opening title sequences are encoded

signifiers. Encoded signifiers are specific items that are
encoded within a film to help or supposedly give hints to
the audience that may require to decode them, they can also
be symbols.
For example in an opening title sequence there may be a gun
which may make us think that this gun will come in handy or
be used later in the film, this can also be within in a film; ie
red associated with blood and death.