Functions of the Title SequenceThe functions of the title sequence in a film may seem to be fairly obvious. They are designed to tell the audience the names of the people and organisations involved with the making of the film and in this respect they do the job well.Irrespective of the genre, there is a conventional way of presenting this information in the credit sequence. This information and the order in which it is presented follows a standard format. Later in this study we will be looking more closely at the title sequence in a James Bond film but by way of introduction, we will look at the conventional way of presenting information as shown in the title sequence to the 1978 film Superman.

Codes and Conventions The producer’s name will generally be the first to appear followed by the word ‘presents.’ This is

because the producer is the person who takes overall responsibility for the planning and the production of all aspects of the film; it is in fact, the producer’s film to offer to us.

It is usual for the next screen to show the name of the director who is responsible for the artistic and creative elements of the film. In the case of Superman, the next names to appear are those of two of the actors. This is because they receive top billing; they are being used to attract an audience. Generally, only people who have the ability to attract an audience, such as the well known “A List” actors will find their names featuring so prominently on either the credits or the film posters.

Interestingly, neither of these two actors play the title role as the actor who did, Christopher Reeve, was nowhere near as well known as either of these two actors who by comparison had much smaller roles.

In this example, we next see the director’s name followed by the title.

After this, significant members of the crew receive their billing.

The final name to appear before the film commences is always the director’s.

However, once this conventional approach has been established, there is nothing to stop alternative approaches which challenge these conventions. In some films such as the 2006 film Poseidon, the opening credits are shown over action from the film, thus the credit sequence serves also as an establishing sequence in which we are introduced to the setting of the film and some of the characters.

In other films, perhaps most famously in the Star Wars franchise, there are no credits in this style at all as we are thrown straight into the created world of the film with its title followed by text which is designed to set the scene for the audience. This is an interesting deviation from the established norm and it allows us to become submerged in the verisimilitude of the film immediately without having ‘real world’ names superimposed over the fictional elements.

Case Study - Casino RoyaleThe main function of the opening credits are obvious, to tell the audience who is involved in the film’s production. However, there is more to studying title sequences than this. In the examples above, we have only dwelt upon the simple visual aspects of the titles and have not mentioned how these titles might move or the contribution to the sequence made by sound. The titles to Superman are particularly effective since they ‘swoosh’ across the screen, with sound effects and the famous rousing score by John Williams playing over the top.

It could be said that the title sequence is an art form in itself and nowhere is the artistic and creative input into the titles more apparent than in the James Bond films. In each Bond film starting with the debut in 1962 right up to the most recent entry in 2008, there is a unique titles sequence yet each is by following certain codes and conventions immediately recognisable as a James Bond credit sequence.

These title sequences follow the standard pattern as established earlier:

producers’ names the actor playing Bond title of the film supporting cast crew finally the director’s name.

In the case of the Bond sequences it is in the visual elements and the sound which accompanies the credit sequence which allows us to derive satisfaction and enjoyment.In Casino Royale, a film which many argued reinvigorated the Bond franchise, the titles sequence begins as with all other Bond films, after the opening action sequence, another convention established by the series. As the titles start, the first chords of the film’s title song, “I Know Your Name” by Chris Cornell can be heard.

Interestingly, although there have been some instrumental Bond themes, this is one of only two sung themes which makes no reference to the title of the film in the lyrics, the other was “All Time High”, the theme to 1983’s Octopussy.

These opening bars to the song are rousing and pulsating which is reminiscent of the famous James Bond theme itself. Visually, we are shown images of the symbols of the four suites from a deck of playing cards: clubs, diamonds, hearts and spades.

These images are key icons of gambling which is both known as one of Bond’s favourite pastimes and given the title of the film, provide further appropriate connotations. Throughout the entire sequence, we are reminded of some of the key iconography associated with the Bond films: guns, smart suits, fighting, death and of course the famous 007 number.

The association with playing cards is maintained as cards and suite icons form weapons and bullets which Bond uses and is forced to avoid throughout the sequence.

In one part of the sequence, there is a line in the song which refers to the coldest blood running through veins. As this plays, the scene switches to a line which is cut, and out of which pours hearts (which of course have connotations with love, life and blood) and is thus made to strike a familiar note as a vein being cut.At the end of the sequence as the song builds to its climax with the line “You know my name”, the character of Bond, or more specifically Daniel Craig as Bond who up to this point had been largely hidden or appearing as a silhouette, emerges to reveal his face. This was Daniel Craig’s first outing as the secret agent and this serves to remind the audience that although the face has changed from those actors who had previously played the role, the name has stayed the same.