Title Research: Signs

 Madelyn Argueta

AICE Media Studies

Hello World, 

So, I watched the opening sequence of a thriller movie called "Signs" from the website Art Of The Titles (https://www.artofthetitle.com/title/signs/) and this is what I found through my research... 

1. What titles are displayed during the opening sequence? 

- The titles that were displayed included the names of the actors, who the production is by, who's presenting the movie, who directed it, who the music is by, who wrote the film, the title of the movie, etc. What I noticed about the titles was that other than the font sizes, they were all the same color, font, and they were all capitalized. The titles were also placed in the same place throughout the entire movie rather than being scattered around the screen. Something that I found interesting about the style of the titles is the slight shadows on each letter. I felt like it accentuated the thriller aspect of the film and began the tension right from the beginning.  

2. What images are prioritized in the opening sequence? 

- In this opening sequence, there were necessarily images, it only consisted of a plain blue background with the titles placed on top. To me, the titles were what was prioritized the most rather than any images during the opening sequence. 

3. How does the film establish a feeling of the genre from the outset? 

- The film established a feeling of the genre from the outset was a combination of the music as well as the shadows that dissolved after each title, which gave the impression of a malfunctioning flashlight that was flickering in the dark. The loud and tense violin music already puts the audience on the tip of their toes, making them curious whether something is going to happen as the violin music increases. The shadow around the screen, which mimics a flashlight shining on the titles, and the sudden flashing light builds tension each time it occurs. This is perfect for the genre of thriller since the whole purpose is to create that feeling of suspense, anticipation, and anxiety within the audience. By establishing these feelings from the outset, it allows the viewer to smoothly transition into the film itself and properly enjoy it. Every aspect of this opening sequence fits perfectly into its genre and what they want to convey to others who watch the film.