RESEARCH:Categorizing Title Sequences

FILM OPENINGS

Title sequences have evolved over the years, it has been used to respond to, clarify and introduces themes later explored in the films. As a result of technology the types of title sequences have evolved and been categorized into four key categories:

• Titles on a blank screen
• titles on still images
• titles over moving images 
• titles using animation or motions

With a blank screen with a type face on top this is the cheapest way to create a title sequence.
With the limited technology and budget these are the simplest type of title sequences and are historically common and cheap.
however with the right fonts or music used it can be very effective and can introduce a mood to the film without any images
the most common would be white face of black as it would create contrast.
many directors such as Tarantino in  "Pulp Fiction" has included a simple, but effective way of presenting the genre of the film. A soundtrack is usually added and with Pulp Fiction, a fast paced and comedic song is used to set the genre and tone of a comedy film.

Titles on still images

 This method is more elaborate title sequence and can create a more effective way to hit or introduce tone and genre by Incorporating both text and images,  This lead to longer credits to include more  production information and cast without getting bored of a blank screen

Supporting the development of a more elaborate film introduction, music introduces the genre and the mood of the film within the quick 2 minutes.

An example of this being used is in Kyle Cooper's "Wimbledon",it starts with images of a blue sky and creates an atmosphere of a joyful movie.

 where still images of a large crowd in a stadium turning their from left to right regularly like in a tennis match when the ball is hot from court to court, which creates the mood for the film and gives the audience an idea of it being based around a tennis match. 

Titles over moving images

Title sequences with moving images are used to create a narrative thread or a a visual metaphor to introduce the main themes and core story-line to the audience and set the mood.

for example in "City of God", where the running chicken represents a protagonist and their struggles to fight for freedom in the the backstreets of Brazil where gangs were popular 

Titles with animation or motion

In 007 Casino Royale the title sequence introduces the themes explores in the movie, of guns and gambling(with the playing cards). the themes in relation to to the genre of thriller and action the rapid transitions creates the mood of the film being fast paced paired with the music creates suspense.