The Order of Titles in an Opening Title Sequence
- Distribution Logo
- Investors (If the distribution and production companies can't afford to make the whole film)
- Production Logo
- Quotes (If Used)
- Production Company Name
- Title
- Stars
- Casting Directors
- Music Composed
- Hair & Make - Up
- Costume Designer
- Editor
- Production Designer
- Director of Photography
- Line Manager
- Co - Producers
- Executive Producers
- Producers
- Production Team
- Story/Written/Screenplay
- Director
Most opening title sequences of a movie are in this order give or take the investors. The films that have investors involved are generally low quality as this means the distribution and production company either did not have enough money or did not think the movie was worth all their money. This oder of titles has been used for over 100 years and is still common to use now. There are only a few films now that do not follow this typical order of titles such as The Ring or Saw. This is because they do not use opening title sequences but instead just have the title and credits at the end. These credits are also shown in different ways. Some are shown over the top of film or other titles are shown on black backgrounds which are in between bits of film. They are portrayed in white writing in plan font so that it is easy to read. The names of the production company, quotes, production team, title and starts are normally all in capital letters where as the other titles are in small letters. Quote are sometimes used in horror movies. For example commonly at the start it will say based on a true story before the title.
What Each of the Title Names Do
Distribution Logo: The distribution company is the company that takes the film and is able to transport it around the world. These people put the movie into cinemas and then make digital copies so that people can buy them. Their logo is placed at the start of the film so that they are advertised and shown as part of the success of the film.
Investors: These people fund the film. Investors put in money to the film but this is only if the production and distribution team do not put enough in. When a film need investors it is worrying because it means that either the production and distribution company in new and has little money or they do not have enough faith in the film to be successful.
Production Company Name: The production company are the people that made the film. These are the main reason that the film has been made and they have put in the most money. They have got the actors, crew and directed all of the scenes.
Stars: The stars are the people who have acted in the film. They have played all the roles of the characters in each scene. The main stars are in titles at the start of the opening title sequence. Most films have famous stars in these titles such as Dwayne Johnson and Tom Cruise. This helps gain the film a better reputation and encourages their fans to see it.
Casting Directors: The casting director picks the cast for each character role in the film. They can include main stars that will hype up the film for the public. They must pick people that fit the role. An example for this is that Jason Statham would be used for a action film rather than a romance.
Music Composed: This person picks or makes the music for each part of the film. They will pick the music in the trailer and what is in the opening title sequence. They will also put in music throughout the film which will help the buildup of tension in some horror scenes.
Hair & Make - Up: These people would have got the actors ready for filming. They would need to put on make-up and do their hair to fit the role in each scene. They would need to make sure they are seeable on the camera and they do not shine. Other than just normal make-up so the camera can see them, they also must do special make-up such as blood running down their face after being hit.
Costume Designer: The costume designer will make and choose costumes for each character to wear. They will need to fit the choice to go with the scene. An example of this would be in the Expendables. Sylvester Stallone wears combat gear with his team when he is going in a action filled battle. He is going to wear this over a Hawaiian shirt as it will keep him safe. Another thing that costume designers must think about is the props the characters will have and what the colours of the clothes represent. For example Claire Danes in Romeo and Juliet 1996 wore a white dress to show that she was pure. If she wore a black dress it would give across a different interpretation.
Editor: The editor is the person who adds effects to the film. They can adjust noise making screams higher pitched and the volume of each scene. They will put the backing track into the clips and as well as editing the film will create the trailer. This person can add visual effects as well such as rain or black and white. They will complete these processes on computers on different soft wares like Final Cut. The editors job as well as changing the clips and making them look better is to put them together. They will be in charge to use many different techniques like a match cut, cross cut and montage to create a certain feeling about different stereotypes/characters.
Production Designer: The production designer will be the person who reads over the play before the director. He will first of all judge if the film is any good and see if it is profitable to make. They may suggest changes and will estimate a time it will take.
Director of Photography: The director of photography is also known as the cinematographer. This person will be in charge of all the camera crews that are working of the set. He will base them all around the same scene and place their camera at different angles to give different perspectives on the scene. They may also tell their crews to use different techniques like track, dolly and crane.
Line Manager: Line managers work on one film at a time. They are in charge of the human resources which is the staff and they must fill any vacancies if they come up. They must pay all of the people and finally handle any problems that may occur.
Co - Producers: The co-producers are under the producers in the organisation diagram. They will also be supervising that everything is being done on time and efficiently. They will report into the producers.
Executive Producers: This person has been picked from the producers to be in charge of this filming project. They will oversee the rest of the producers who will be reporting into them. Their main job is to stick to the budget and make sure each section of the film is completed on time.
Producers: The producers oversee the filming process. They will be on the set each day supervising each staff and making sure they are doing their jobs correctly. There will be many producers in big film projects because they will each have to supervise different areas such as different scenes or different camera shots.
Production Team: The production team is the team that have produced the film. These people would have been on the set each day giving stage helping anyway they can. They would have also made a script for each actors, storyboard and a screen play. As well as making these for the filming they would have also made a risk assessment so that each person on the set will be safe without injuries.
Story/Written/Screenplay: This is the person who has wrote the play. If the film is based off a book then the authors name will be here but if it is an original film and knew storyline that has never been seen before then the play writer names will appear. This will be the person either giving it or working for the production company. An example of this is The Hunger Games.
Director: The director will be in charge of everyone who is working on the set. He is in charge of making sure all the scenes are filmed on time and in the best quality they can be. They are likely to want many takes of the film for the editor to pick from. They will make sure all requirement from the scenes are met such as position and clothes of the characters.
Investors: These people fund the film. Investors put in money to the film but this is only if the production and distribution team do not put enough in. When a film need investors it is worrying because it means that either the production and distribution company in new and has little money or they do not have enough faith in the film to be successful.
Production Company Name: The production company are the people that made the film. These are the main reason that the film has been made and they have put in the most money. They have got the actors, crew and directed all of the scenes.
Stars: The stars are the people who have acted in the film. They have played all the roles of the characters in each scene. The main stars are in titles at the start of the opening title sequence. Most films have famous stars in these titles such as Dwayne Johnson and Tom Cruise. This helps gain the film a better reputation and encourages their fans to see it.
Casting Directors: The casting director picks the cast for each character role in the film. They can include main stars that will hype up the film for the public. They must pick people that fit the role. An example for this is that Jason Statham would be used for a action film rather than a romance.
Music Composed: This person picks or makes the music for each part of the film. They will pick the music in the trailer and what is in the opening title sequence. They will also put in music throughout the film which will help the buildup of tension in some horror scenes.
Hair & Make - Up: These people would have got the actors ready for filming. They would need to put on make-up and do their hair to fit the role in each scene. They would need to make sure they are seeable on the camera and they do not shine. Other than just normal make-up so the camera can see them, they also must do special make-up such as blood running down their face after being hit.
Costume Designer: The costume designer will make and choose costumes for each character to wear. They will need to fit the choice to go with the scene. An example of this would be in the Expendables. Sylvester Stallone wears combat gear with his team when he is going in a action filled battle. He is going to wear this over a Hawaiian shirt as it will keep him safe. Another thing that costume designers must think about is the props the characters will have and what the colours of the clothes represent. For example Claire Danes in Romeo and Juliet 1996 wore a white dress to show that she was pure. If she wore a black dress it would give across a different interpretation.
Editor: The editor is the person who adds effects to the film. They can adjust noise making screams higher pitched and the volume of each scene. They will put the backing track into the clips and as well as editing the film will create the trailer. This person can add visual effects as well such as rain or black and white. They will complete these processes on computers on different soft wares like Final Cut. The editors job as well as changing the clips and making them look better is to put them together. They will be in charge to use many different techniques like a match cut, cross cut and montage to create a certain feeling about different stereotypes/characters.
Production Designer: The production designer will be the person who reads over the play before the director. He will first of all judge if the film is any good and see if it is profitable to make. They may suggest changes and will estimate a time it will take.
Director of Photography: The director of photography is also known as the cinematographer. This person will be in charge of all the camera crews that are working of the set. He will base them all around the same scene and place their camera at different angles to give different perspectives on the scene. They may also tell their crews to use different techniques like track, dolly and crane.
Line Manager: Line managers work on one film at a time. They are in charge of the human resources which is the staff and they must fill any vacancies if they come up. They must pay all of the people and finally handle any problems that may occur.
Co - Producers: The co-producers are under the producers in the organisation diagram. They will also be supervising that everything is being done on time and efficiently. They will report into the producers.
Executive Producers: This person has been picked from the producers to be in charge of this filming project. They will oversee the rest of the producers who will be reporting into them. Their main job is to stick to the budget and make sure each section of the film is completed on time.
Producers: The producers oversee the filming process. They will be on the set each day supervising each staff and making sure they are doing their jobs correctly. There will be many producers in big film projects because they will each have to supervise different areas such as different scenes or different camera shots.
Production Team: The production team is the team that have produced the film. These people would have been on the set each day giving stage helping anyway they can. They would have also made a script for each actors, storyboard and a screen play. As well as making these for the filming they would have also made a risk assessment so that each person on the set will be safe without injuries.
Story/Written/Screenplay: This is the person who has wrote the play. If the film is based off a book then the authors name will be here but if it is an original film and knew storyline that has never been seen before then the play writer names will appear. This will be the person either giving it or working for the production company. An example of this is The Hunger Games.
Director: The director will be in charge of everyone who is working on the set. He is in charge of making sure all the scenes are filmed on time and in the best quality they can be. They are likely to want many takes of the film for the editor to pick from. They will make sure all requirement from the scenes are met such as position and clothes of the characters.
Our Opening Titles
- Distribution Logo : Accretion
- Investors : We did not use investors because we wanted our Production and Distribution companies to look well established and organised
- Quotes : "Be careful who you trust, the devil was once an angel" - Unknown, "Who hears me, who understands me, becomes mine, a possession for all time" - Ralph Waldo Emerson, Based on a true story
- Production Company Name : Crimson Webb
- Title : Patient Purgatory
- Stars : Brandon Hibberd, Jordan Ferneyhough, Jon Mann, Ella May-Webb
- Casting Directors : Leanne Wisby, Sally Thomas
- Music Composed : Robert Woodman
- Hair & Make - Up : Megan Hill
- Costume Designer : Jake Hill
- Editor : Jack Day
- Production Designer : Harry Airlie
- Director of Photography : Oli Dunn
- Line Manager : Hannah Say
- Co - Producers : Amy Armitage
- Executive Producers : Liam O'dywer
- Producers : Scott Patterson, Sophia Sinclair
- Production Team : Zoe Taylor, Ella Barry, Erin Taylor
- Story/Written/Screenplay : Erica Davis
- Director : Charlotte Weygang