26 a film billing

1. Assignment 26A : Film Billing & Title Analysis

2. Key Terms DEFINITIONS Film Title Film Credit Billing (Top & Last) Opening Sequence (Cold-open/Teaser) Title Sequence Opening Credits Closing Credits Title of film Name and/or role of person worked on film The process of placing titles and credits in a film The opening of a film More modern films that set a scene in the opening which creates enigma (like a trailer) is called cold open or teaser . Example = 4-3-2-1 opening The opening credits of a film in which the title and credits are separate from the film itself Ex James Bond The credits and the beginning of the film The credits and the end of the film Top = most important Last = least important http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4uaYiWu7uZs&safe=active

3. Think of how titles and credits have changed over time -used to just be text on blank screen! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pwwxklLotJ8&safe=active http://www.artofthetitle.com/title/the-girl-with-the-dragon-tattoo / Now there are: -music -CGI -text animation -images/footage etc -separate narratives from the film -symbolism and enigma

4. Rules/REGULATIONS/exceptions http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billing_(filmmaking ) There are MANY complicated rules but they must be followed. Read through the above website for understanding of these rules. You must consider this when you make your opening sequence. There are considerations of fame, role, length of time in film etc. Basically the stars all want top billing! Sometimes actors have to fight/argue their way with studios (sometimes they want to be first and sometimes studios want the more sellable and famous stars first) Example 1: Miami vice = was supposed to be Colin Ferrell for top billing but after Jamie Foxx won academy award he wanted to be top (first name). He got it even though his role is not as long as Colin’s! Colin received top bill in closing credits. (agreement made) Example 2 Seven = Kevin Spacey’s name not in opening credits as it would give away his identity as the killer…..he is in end credits of course Example 3 Hannibal = Gary Oldman had extensive make-up done for his role and didn’t want his name in credits!!! (He didn’t want the fame like most stars)

5. Coursework A good portion of the task of making an opening sequence is how you apply titles/credits You MUST show titles and credits Weaker pieces of C/W tend to just have the title at the end on a black screen which is not even common in contemporary films!

6. Juno http://www.artofthetitle.com/title/juno /

7. Task Fill in the chart……….we’ll watch it a few times….

8. Juno opening details Style & purpose of opening -opening sequence -title sequence -teaser Length of opening   Type of font   Colour of font   Animation of text   Placement of text   Style : -standard opening sequence & - animated title sequence   _______________ Purpose: -establish indie style, character and setting   2:26       _______________ Why?   Short and sweet establishments.     Sans serif (like a amateur drawing)     _______________ Why?   Teen theme     Multiple – yellow, orange, pinks     _______________ Why?   Cheerful colours Like an amateur drawing (wiggling)     _______________ Why?   Not serious, comedy appeal All over the screen in various places (depending on the visuals _______________ Why?   No significance

9. Start of opening The film starts as a standard opening sequence which is normal footage which establishes: the main character and the setting

10. Style of opening The film then transitions into animation which more is similar to a title sequence style.

11. CREDIT 1 Time: .12 Possessory Distributing company Typical to have distribution company as first credit as they invested the money have ownership of film

12. CREDIT 2 Time: .17 Possessory Production company Next it is the production company as they have a large role as they produced the film, they have control over where film was filmed sets, filming, editing etc.)

13. CREDIT 3 Time: .21 Crew Director Director has 1 st credit as their role is quite important in this film (above the actors as they come after)

14. TITLE 4 Time: .28 Title of the film The title of film has the biggest size and the animation flashes in order it gets the most attention and is very noticeable. The main actress Ellen Page is placed in the shot as she is quite important

15. Credit 4 Time: .35 Cast Main actor gets top billing (first credit)

16. Credit 5, 6, 7, 8 CREDIT 5 CREDIT 6 CREDIT 7 CREDIT 8 Time: .40 Cast Main Actor 2 Time: .44 Cast Supporting Actor 1 Time: .52 Cast Supporting Actor 2 Time: .58 Cast Actor

17. TASK Assignment 26A : Film BILLING Upload your notes from juno Upload your notes from another film of your choice

18. Other OTS http://www.artofthetitle.com/title/red-lights /

19. Assign 25 – film titles/credit research Consider what you learned in this task Annotated screen grabs from the OTS