Credit Sequences

 Coming up with a Creative Thriller Credit Scene 

    Based on my research I've learned that credit scenes or title sequences have multiple purposes which include setting the tone/style of the film, giving credit to key cast and crew members, and even setting up the story. A credit scene is the very "first impression" you get of a film, so it's important that this opening is adding to the film in some way and resonates with the audience. On top of giving credit to the director, main actors, writer, producer and more, an opening credit scene is an artistic medium. There are so many artistic ways a credit scene can go, and some directors decide to keep them simple or create freely without limits. 

    In class, me and my partner Manuela came up with the plot of our 2 minute film opening and we are very excited because it fits the thriller genre conventions we have so far learned and researched about. We also discussed how we want to incorporate the credit scenes into the opening of our film. Our plan is to film joyful scenes of a family's past memories and then intensely switching back and forth between the present and the past, leaving a surprise twist for viewers to catch onto.

An example of a thriller title sequence is the film- The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo

    What I find interesting about it is it's not like anything I've seen before. They chose to go through a symbolic/metaphoric route of a title sequence which I admire. Throughout the entire credit scene we see a black ink slowly seeping through everything like the keyboard, even pouring through a woman's mouth, and eventually it takes over her and everything surrounding through an intense and fast paced editing with rock music that gets louder and more intense as the opening continues. From the first watch I didn't quite understand what was happening but the more I replayed it and paused at different moments is when I came to the realization that the "ink" relates to the dragon tattoo (the title of the film). Although I'm not familiar with what happens throughout the film, I can infer that this ink represents a powerful or consuming presence rather than something harmful, which would explain the thriller genre of the film.

The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo Opening Title Sequence

Another example- Zodiac

    Different from the last example, this thriller film uses a different approach in the opening title sequence. This film dives into the main character (the cartoonist) becoming obsessed with the hunting down of the "Zodiac killer" which derives from the true story from the 70s. In this particular opening I briefly get a better understanding of what the film is going to be about and hints at the characters development right off the bat. This helps set the narrative context, adding another layer to the film that is necessary later on. What I liked about this opening is I can already feel immersed in their world from the start and it makes me wonder what is going to happen next. I found myself trying to look for clues as to what the rest of the film may look like, which is a great starting point for a real audience of this film. It shows the director knows how to wrap people in from the start.

Another example- Vertigo

     This title sequence is simple but carries a lot of meaning behind it that people might not pick up on until later in the film. The purpose of this title sequence isn't supposed to explain the story of the film, it is simply supposed to make you feel uneasy and dizzy with the close up shots and spirals, hence the title of the film. "Vertigo" is the sensation of dizziness or spinning, so the title is used literally and symbolically which I found interesting. Me and my partner Manuela want to play around with titles to create something similar within our film opening, so this is a great reference for that. 

Sources:

Crawford, M. (2024). What is a title sequence in film? Setting the tone for the cinematic experience. FilmLifestyle.
Art of the Title. (2015, June 11). Zodiac (2007). Art of the Title.

Radatz, B. (2012, January 23). Vertigo (1958). Art of the Title.