Opening Title's Analysis

TITLE SEQUENCES

UP

0.00     START

00.16  'Walt Disney Presents'

00.19  'Pixar Animation Film'

00.27  Director - Pete Doctor

00.33  Writer - Bob Peterson

00.36  Music - Michael Giacchino

00.41  Producer - Jonas Rivera

00.44  Executive Producer - John Lasseter

00.49  Film Title - UP

01.00  END


Analysis

The title sequence for UP is representative of the common format of Disney animated films in where the titles for Disney and Pixar appear at the very start of the sequence. Disney appears before Pixar perhaps to attract more attention to the film as Disney is one of the world's most well known brand names where as Pixar, although still internationally well known, is lesser known than Disney. The sequence sets the tone of the film well as it is light-hearted, adventurous and almost childlike, themes which are evident throughout the film. The names of those in charge of technical aspects of the film are portrayed to be off less importance than the big name production and distribution companies as they are often only in the shot for a short amount of time, sometimes only a second before they move on to the next name. The use of a high angle shot when showing the names of Disney and Pixar is unusual as high angle shots usually represent inferiority in what they show, however, in this case the names are shown on the floor as an obstacle for Russell (the young Wilderness Scout) suggesting an importance to the film.

The Notebook

00.00  START

00.04  Actor - Ryan Gosling

00.10  Actress - Rachel McAdams

00.15  Actor - James Garner

00.21  Actress - Gena Rowlands

00.28  Film Title - The Notebook

00.37  Actor - James Marsden

00.45  Actor - Kevin Connolly 

00.50  Actors x3

00.56  Actor - Sam Shepard

01.01  Actress - Joan Allen

01.11  Casting - Matthew Berry & Nancy Green-Keyes

01.15  Costume Designer - Karyn Wagner

01.21  Music Composer - Aaron Zigman

01.27  Editor - Alan Heim 

01.33  Production Designer - Sarah Knowles

01.40  Director of Photography - Robert Fraisse

02.00  Executive Producers - Toby Emmerich & Avram Butch Kaplan

02.13  Producers - Mark Johnson & Lynn Harris 

02.20  Based on the novel by Nicholas Sparks

02.26  Screenplay - Jeremy Leven 
            Adaptation - Jan Sardi 

02.30  END

Analysis

The title sequence for The Notebook is different from many other Hollywood blockbusters in that it does not have the name of the production and distribution company in the opening credits. Instead of the names of the big production company/ies it has the name of the actors and actresses at the start of the sequence, starting with Ryan Gosling (one of the main characters and also probably the biggest name actor in the film). Rachel McAdams name follows Ryan Gosling's; this could be because, although she is a character of equal importance to him, she is a lesser known actress meaning that it makes the film appear more impressive and appealing to the audience if Ryan's name is first. The dark lighting of the entire opening sequence helps to build an atmosphere of suspense before any words have been said. 

Pirates of the Caribbean

00.00  START

00.05  Distribution Company - Walt Disney Presents

00.07  Production Company - A Gore Verbinski Film

00.09  Actor - Johnny Depp

00.12  Actors x 4

00.14  Actor - Johnathon Pryce

00.16  Actor - Lee Arenberg

00.43  Actors x32

01.26  Actors x37

01.27  Producer - Jerry Bruckheimer

01.29  Music - Klaus Badelt

01.30  Cinematographer - Dariusz WolskiDir

01.33  Film Editor - Stephen E. Rivkin, Arthur Schmidt & Craig Wood

02.00  END


Analysis

This is the simplest of the opening titles that I have looked at, the main focus of it is on the names of the film's actors as opposed to the companies and editors/directors etc involved in the film which is different from many other title sequences. It creates the atmosphere of a pirate movie due to the dark stormy skies and pirates medallions which fly across the screen throughout. Disney is the first name shown on the credits as a way of attracting the audience to the film and persuading them to continue watching the film as Disney is one of the world's most universally recognized brands. The white font used juxtaposes against the darkness of the navy background drawing attention directly to the names shown; the style of font also links closely to the pirate theme as it has a 'pirate' look. The medallion that is shown first in the sequence is portrayed to be of immense importance as it is in the centre of the shot. The ominous rumbles that are audible throughout the opening sequence also add to the atmosphere of a pirate movie as it builds tension and suggests that the main theme of the film is evil instead of good. 

Napoleon Dynamite

00.00  START

00.03  Company Credit - MTV

00.09  Production/Distribution Companies - 

            Fox Searchlight & Paramount

00.19  Film Title - Napoleon Dynamite

00.27  Director - Jared Hess

00.35  Producers x4

00.42  Writers - Jared Hess & Jerusha Hess

00.48  Actor - John Heder

01.15  Music - John Swihart

01.21  Cinematography - Munn Powell

01.27  Editor - Jeremy Coon

00.32  END

Analysis

The opening credits for Napoleon Dynamite are all handwritten on paper not using high budget CGI effects. The showing of MTV films first is particularly relevant due to the film being independent as this will be a focal point in attracting audiences to watching the rest of the film as this may be one of the only names they recognize throughout the opening credits. As usual, the people in charge of the technical aspects of the film are shown last in the credits as they are usually lesser known people meaning that they would be of less interest to thee audience and would not convince them to watch the film. The use of fast-paced, cheerful music builds a light-hearted and happy atmosphere giving the audience the impression that the film is a happy film which is not too hard-hitting.

Panic Room

00.00  START

00.12  Distribution/Production Company - Columbia

00.22  Columbia Pictures Presents

00.28  Production Company - Hofflund/Polone

00.30  Indelible Picture

00.35  Actress - Jodie Foster

00.39  Actor - Forest Whitaker 

00.52  Film Title - Panic Room

00.57  Actress- Kristen Stewart

01.11  Casting - Laray Mayfield

01.15  Costume Designer - Michael Kaplan

01.19  Music - Howard Shore

01.21  Film Editors - James Haygood & Angus Wall

01.26  Production Designer - Arthur Max

01.29  Directors of Photography - Conrad W. Hall & 

                                                           Darius Khondji

01.33  Producers x4

01.40  Writer - David Koepp

01.43  Director - David Fincher

01.51  END

Analysis

The opening credits for Panic Room set the scene effectively for the rest of the film as the city setting establishes the location for the film and the ambient rumbles create an ominous atmosphere. As is often the case, Columbia (the distribution/production company) is the first name shown during the credits; although other production companies are shown later, Columbia is the most well known meaning that its name was shown first to attract the audience and persuade them to watch the rest of the film. The showing of Jodie Foster's name first is relevant as, at the time that the film was released, she was a very popular actress who was involved in many films. Forest Whitaker's, although it could be argued that he is just as famous an actor as Jodie Foster, name is shown second suggesting that he plays a less important part in the film than Jodie. Those involved in the technical side of the film are shown last suggesting that they are considered to be of less importance, not necessarily to the film, but to the audience and would therefore attract them to the film less as they are usually lesser known names resulting in their names being shown last, if at all. The use of high angle shots when showing people involved in the film who could be considered to be less important by the audience gives the audience the impression that they are looking down on these people suggesting a hierarchy within those involved in the film's technical side.