The importance of title sequences

The importance of title sequences

The title sequence is an essential part of any film or even programme. To different films, a title sequence means different things. Some are there to only introduce the film/programme, others are there to create suspense for the person watching and some are to give background information for the viewer which may not be able to be portrayed in the actual film. There are many types of title sequence which exsist for different reasons, it depends on the type of film or what the director wanted to achieve. It is also so no spoilers are too obviously given away, if the title sequence is at the start and they  didnt want to give anything away then it may hinder their plans. They may however want to hint towards parts of the plot. Some films, most nowadays, have a sequence of events before the title sequence is even introduced. Having a sequence of events before the title sequence sets it up to have a more dramatic impact, and it sets the scene. James Bond (Sky fall) for instance does this to great effect.

It leaves everyone on a cliff-hanger and makes the audience want to find out what happens. The audience is wondering whether bond is dead as well as what’s going to happen now that the villain got away. It entices the audience to keep watching and keeps them on the edge of their seat. This is important for the film because it makes it appear more unique than most other Bond films. The audience begin to wonder “Can Bond actually die”, it leaves those watching with many questions un-answered. In comparison to most of the other Bond films it’s new and exciting. This shows the importance of the title sequence because without it there wouldn't be a pause between Bond being shot and finding out if he is alive or not. It’s that pause that is the cliff-hanger because if the audience found out straight away it’s not got the sense of mystery and Bond being shot is pointless. An argument could be made however that everyone knows that Bond isn’t dead because he is what the film is about. It still leaves doubt in the mind however.

The sequence itself is also a big part of the film because people who have never seen the Bond franchise before will find out what he does, and in extension, what the films about. The pint at which guns are falling down to the sea bed along with knives shows the intentions of the film and still links in with the opening scenes as it is under water.

The title sequence itself is also an intrigue for the people watching because it shows what the film is about but it also confuses. There are mermaids and things falling from the sky, completely out of the ordinary to the intrigued viewers.

All of this confusion, interest, suspense, tension had all come from the title sequence and partly from the opening scenes. It shows just how much the title sequence can affect us.

In The Cabin in the Woods it is different to Sky fall in the sense that it isn’t there to create a cliff-hanger or intrigue necessarily. The title sequence is there to create tension and to give background information on what the films about. This is how the sequence starts, with dark music and sacrificial

pictures. A complete contrast is then created when everything suddenly cuts, then it’s very bright with no music and a sign saying “enjoy a cup of fresh coffee”. It makes the audience confused and makes them wonder what the film’s about. It seemed like a normal horror film, which it still could be, it suddenly changed to two guys having a normal conversation however, so it leaves confusion and doubt in the minds of the viewers. This is a similar aspect of the film when compared to Sky Fall as that was also a feature of that title sequence. Sky Fall’s sequence fitted in with the scenes before it though which is completely different to The Cabin in the Woods. This outlines some of the ways that a title sequence can be made and their different purposes. The Cabin in the Woods title sequence then shows parts of comedy which is again a contrast to the initial impression.

At one part of the title sequence the title of the film is suddenly put in the middle of the screen with a stereotypical horror scream straight after a joke to imply that the film is a spoof of a horror which is a contrast in itself.

 This sequence also shows all the main characters of the film in both parts of it, in Sky Fall however, only James Bond is shown. This shows that there are many main characters in The Cabin in the Woods that are important for different things. It is also as if there are two stories going on at the same time which the title sequence points out to the audience.

Overall these sequences show the different types of openings that can be made. They show the different purposes that title sequences have and the way the directors carry them out with different intentions. The importance of a good start is essential for any film to create an interest from the viewer because without it, the film would be harder to understand or not as gripping.