AS MEDIA STUDIES Unit 321: Foundation Portfolio for Media

Fiction Film Opening Sequence

WORKSHEET FOR ANALYSING TITLE SEQUENCES It is always useful to have any moving image that you want to analyse available on a digital format so you can watch it as many times as you wish. You can pause it to consider the framing of individual shots. The following ideas may help you when you get started in your analysis of a title sequence:

What sort of text is the sequence introducing? For example, a fictional/factual text?

What tone is being set? Serious, light-hearted, flippant, or comic?

What is the function of the text? Information; entertainment? What type of audience is being addressed? You might like to

think in terms of age, gender, background, cultural experience. Some further points to consider:

1. Is the sequence live action or an animation? If the latter, why do you think this medium has been chosen?

2. How has the sequence been edited? Short fast-moving edits or long sequences? What is the effect of this?

3. What does the soundtrack contribute to the sequence? You should consider use of music, voice-over and sound effects for example.

4. How long is the sequence? Is there a clear division between the end of the title sequence and the beginning of the text?

5. What links does the sequence have to the text itself? How does it work as an introduction to the text? Is it, for example, an opening scene from the film or TV programme?

6. Is any iconography used that will be significant in the text to follow?

7. How does the sequence link to other sequences introducing texts of the same genre?