Why are title sequences important? Taxi driver:

In this lesson we were asked to go on www.artofthetitle.com and watch the titles for Taxi driver. We were then asked to print screen the most important frames which were edited to the front of the title sequence clip. Mr. Barton the asked us to identify why titles were are important for this film.


These are the nine frames:

This is the original title sequence:

These titles are important because...

• They introduce the famous actors and the people working behind the scenes of the film. Like the producer ect.
• They entice the audience and set their expectations and mood.
• They give information about the story-line.
• The camera shots set an atmosphere (Close-ups give the impression of mysteriousness).
• The red filters symbolise the hidden meaning; danger, anger, blood, murder ect.
• The distorted city images shows how the character feels about the city. It tells the audience that the character has a negative view on the city.
• The taxi coming out of the sewer smoke may symbolise that the character is like the rats that live in the sewers, invisible to the city people.
• The red lights on the streets symbolise prostitution, showing that he has to roam these dirty, dingy, immoral streets. Which may have caused anger, frustration and temptation to kill.

In this lesson I have learnt that in order to analyze a sequence you need to look for...

Meaning: Look at whether a certain shot contains symbolism. Like red meaning anger.

Location: Where is the story set? This is important at Thrillers use certain locations (Isolated/city's).

Lighting: Look at the lighting and decided whether it is being used to create an atmosphere/mood.

Costume: Look at the costume and decide whether it is relevant to the film (Police will wear uniform ect).

Hidden messages: Is there any little clue or symbolism which will give information towards the story-line.

Details: What has happening, what does that lead the audience to believe will happen next, are the audience left guessing.

Facial expressions: Do the facial expressions of the actors suggest the mood of what is happening/ their feelings.

Music: What does the sound track do the the atmosphere/mood. Does it fit in with the genre and theme of the film.

I also learnt that the difference between the titles and the end credits is that the titles are there to introduce the important actors, the high profile actors and the direct ect and are there to give the audience information and incite as to what will be expected from the story line.