Researching - Film Credit Sequences

      A film opening isn't a film opening without its credit sequence. Credit sequences and the title displays are not only beneficial for crediting the people who worked on the film, but also crucial for setting the tone of the movie right from the beginning. The pace, the color, the font, and the size of the credits all matter when establishing the aura/vibe of the production. Therefore, I have observed a few credit sequences that I believe will help me choose how I want to include it in my own film opening.

Example 1: "Happy Gilmore"

Credit Sequence: https://youtu.be/3RlQttqJXVM?si=Bo28uDVjx1Rwprff

      Due to the fact that this movie was released in 1996, it has a rather simple credit sequence. The opening starts off with a black screen while slowly fading in and out credits. The font is a very basic white and in all caps. After the title of the movie is presented in the same style, the film begins to show clips from a tiny frame shaped like a old time television and the main character of the story starts to narrate his life story(developing the character). The clips keep playing on the tiny frame to the right of the screen, while credits still fade in and out on the left of the screen. To end the credit sequence, the tiny frame disappears and an abrupt close-up of the protagonist's face is shown getting smooshed into a glass wall of a hockey stadium, representing a snap back to reality/the present. This credit opening takes a more straight forward approach because it wants the audience to focus more on the film visuals and the narration of the main character.

Example 2: "Bend It Like Beckham"

Credit Sequence: https://youtu.be/NysSdbN02co?si=TcqAMbvqvXW3UDBa

     This credit sequence is somewhat similar to the "Happy Gilmore" credit sequence. In the beginning, a black background is displayed and credits fade in and out. However, these credits have a more stylistic appearance to them because of their orange font. Diegetic sound of a sports commentator and cheering can be heard, letting the audience interpret the setting with their own imagination. Additionally, because this movie is about soccer, the transition from the credit scene to the visuals connected to the audio, is created by a soccer ball panning from right to left across the screen. After a scene with the main character's mother, another soccer ball is used to transition the film to the title display. The title sets a sporty tone for the movie as the letters are bold and a soccer cleat is seen hanging off the letter "C" in "Beckham". This opening creates a more personalized approach, as the credits are more themed to the story.

Example 3: "Miracle"

Credit Sequence: https://youtu.be/TTO8M9Bx6_s?si=MYHpA3ep2S3zOOQi

     The opening credit scene for "Miracle" utilizes a creative style choice, as the film is sectioned in various colors, filtering the visuals as well as the text credits. The opening includes montages of what was happening in the world at the time, setting the intense and emotional tone for the movie. The credits fade in and out on top of the visuals being displayed. There is a cool editing effect that the editors incorporated when a color filter was covering the text. The part of the text inside the color filter would become a different color. This created a unique style choice that enhanced the production. A bold, capital blue title is then formed at the end, with an ice background to represent ice hockey. This perfectly symbolizes the theme and personality of the film.

Overview

    After conducting my research, I want to produce a credit sequence that is more similar to the film "Bend it Like Beckham". This is because I do not want a distracting credit scene, that will overstimulate my audience. Although I like the credits for "Miracle", I think that style will be too much on the eyes for the viewers because I want all the attention to be on mostly close-ups and establishing shots. In general, that tone just doesn't fit with the style I am going for. Sometimes the simpler the better.