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4.12.09

Feature Friday: The Title Sequence

Today being the last feature for my month-long birthday video streak thing, I figured I'd end it with a series of sequences that inspire me. While most people go to the movies to see the movie itself, I go and watch the entire thing from the pre-movie trailers to the very last character of the movie's end credits. While most people start leaving the theater the moment the end credits roll, I stay. One, I believe that watching the end credis would be my way of giving respect to the people behind making the movie. I stay to the very end, especially if I loved what I saw. There's that need to know "who did what". I actually do the same thing for TV series. Part of the fun in watching those series are the title sequences. It's a preview of what the show is about, and what you can expect, and it's one of the reasons why I seem to have that need to view every pilot of every show I fancy. And then I google the show and dig to find out who made them. Is that weird? Maybe that's just me. Below are a series of title sequences that tickled my fancy.

Frank Miller's 300
300 contact sheet
Aside from the movie itself having my jaw constantly on the floor, and I don't mean that because of the insane amount of abs, the movie's end credits were just an awesome way to cap the entire film. I enjoyed the movie for all the technical geeky video stuff. The colors, the treatment, the effects. I loved it so much I watched the making of the film more than I can count! [end credits by yU+Co]

Watchmen
yuco_thewatchmen_01
I didn't enjoy the film as much, but I definitely enjoyed the opening title sequence. I love the whole re-creation of iconic personalities and events. I know the film isn't a period piece, but the title sequence certainly looked a lot like one. It was pretty long though. But hey, I found it to be the highlight of the entire film. Well, minus certain fight scenes, which I also found amazing. Title credits, again, by the amazing people at yU+Co.

Juno
This' flick's title sequence was created the long and painful way. But thanks to geeks around the world, a tutorial comes in handy to create your very own Juno title sequence. I loved it because of it's element of youthfulness, and it's uber indie feel. Y'all know how much of a sucker I am for indie stuff. Well, that, and insane visual effects. Definitely not the easiest one in this post. Created by Shadowplay Studio.

Six Feet Under

One word: FANCY. It may not be the most CG heavy title sequence out there, but I find it one of the most clever ones. Not so hard of the visual effects, but it does move you. Well, it moved me. Into saying "WOW! I wanna do that!!!" The camera work (+shots) were awesome. Proof that you don't need some super hi-tech 3d machine to produce something wild. But you do need a wild creative mind. This was created by the iconically amazing Digital Kitchen.

The Kingdom

Love the title sequence. I love it because I know it's something I can pull off. And it's awesome. And when I said "something I can pull off", I don't mean now. Give me a year, or a bit less than a year. I know I can pull something like that off. See? Inspired already!

There are two go-to sites to view more title sequence bliss.
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a104/yavie/6c18d720.jpg
I love these sites because not only do they compile these fabulous clips, and definitely the best out there, they provide interviews and links and more information in general to geeks, and people who are majorly interested on who and how those amazing sequences were made. All with just a click or two of your dandy mouse.