Title Sequence Timeline

Title sequences often come in a certain order....
The production company always comes first



Then the director is shown, this could be as a sort of peacock-esque strut of the 'mastermind' behind the movie to be shown. Almost like an animal urinating on their territory.

(Disclaimer: John Hughes is a mastermind.)

 

The director is often followed by the Title of the film, to tell the audience what they're watching and then the titles proceed the list of actors starring in the film.

 

Purpose of a Title Sequence

Title sequences can be extremely useful to the overall film in a number of ways. Most people think title sequences are just to show off the fancy names directing and producing the film.



However, besides being a runway for obnoxious directors to strut their reputation, title sequences can also be used to foreshadow the narrative of the film ahead and allude ot the some of the themes to be explored in the next 2 hours.

Additionally, title sequences can even kickstart the narrative and introduce characters and construct the atmosphere/genre for the film.

Se7en: Title Sequence Analysis

Se7en from Matthew Brown

Valley of the Dolls: Title Sequence Analysis

"You've got to climb Mount Everest to reach the Valley of the Dolls. It's a brutal climb to reach that peak. You stand there, waiting for the rush of exhilaration, but it doesn't come. You're alone. And the feeling of loneliness is overpowering."

The film Valley of the Dolls (1967) opens with a shot of four figures looking statuesque and poised... like dolls, which relates to the title of the film as it foreshadows to the audience some of the story of the film ahead: the 'dolls' shown in the title sequence could represent the characters being manipulated and poised like statues without emotion or humanity. The lack of emotion is furthered by the use of a grey, minimalist background as grey has connotations or apathy.

The shot then changes and the statues are seen as the shadows of three different coloured people. These figures represent the three main characters of the film and are pictured in yellow, blue and red to show the different personalities and journeys the women will go through in the film ahead as each one of them ascends to fame/success (climbs up mount everest to reach the valley of the dolls) and their decline....

The three people then become pills (or 'dolls' another reference to the film title) showing that after the women achieve their success (reach the peak) they then fall into addiction to pills (fall into the 'valley of the dolls') and how the pills/dolls take over their life and all their humanity as the human figures become only pills.

The three pill capsules then topple over, powder spilling everywhere. This foreshadows the eventual demise of the three women as they struggle to deal with the problems in their life brought after achieving their "success".

The film then begins as the title of the film is shown. Overall, the title sequence summarises the whole story to the audience before the film has actually began, setting up the atmosphere for the movie including elements of fame, addiction and loss of control.