Typography of 'Catch Me If You Can'

I will now discuss the title sequence from 'Catch Me If You Can' after researching it in class. This research all links into the work that I will soon be doing in creating my own media product, a title sequence. 

Olivier Kuntzel was the title sequence designer for this piece in the film staring Tom Hanks, 'Catch Me If You Can'. The sequence has a lot of themes and stereotypes from the 60's and throughout shows a lot of connotations of the narrative and future events through foreshadowing. These are some of the conventions of a very good title sequence. For example portraying one character on the run from another one foreshadows to the audience that there is going to be some kind of chase in the film amongst characters. Secondly, the fact that planes are seen throughout this title sequence tells the audience that in the film there are going to be themes of travel and characters who are possibly forced to travel away - due to this 'chase' I previously discussed. 

Colour is also a key theme through this sequence. In the second screenshot from the film above a yellow arrow is used. This arrow is the only thing on display in the picture at that time with this sort of bright colour. Firstly, this would of been done to stand out from the other elements, and to therefore draw the audiences eye in first. Then after seeing it would be led to what its pointing at. This is all a technique from Kuntzel in an attempt to get the audience to see what he wants them to see in his very own order.

All of these elements I've looked into are ones which i will try to adapt and replicate with effect in my own attempt in creating a title sequence. 

Genre Research

Sicario, rated one of the best action films of 2016, recieved great critical reviews. As advertised on their poster below. The films directer, Denis Villeneuve, is also very well known for Arrival (2016) and Prisoners (2013) staring Jake Gyllenaal and Hugh Jackman; which thinking about it is probably one of my favourite films coming out of this hybrid mystery/drama genre. Anyway, Sicario is a very intense picture which fits in nicely to the thriller/action genre along with films such as Taken, the first one of course while the other two aren't so good, and even 13 Hours which i watched recently and heavily enjoyed, definately one to recommend if this is your genre.

This heavily action packed genre is one for the types of people who love a good call of duty war video-game. Also normally consisting of a massive disruption in the middle/beginnin of the film to influence the plot and spark it into action as soon as possible. Which compared to drama's for example care a lot attention into character development and the overall storyline.

On the other end of the spectrum is The Station Agent (2003) which is a brilliant independant film staring Peter Dinklage, now claiming his fame from Game of Thrones, and Bobby Cannavale (pictured together below right). The film had an estimated budget of $500,000 and grossed around 10 times that. The genre for this film is a very good example of a hybrid comedy/drama genre. The fact of it being a drama, just like other dramas, is that it's normally the case where the audience create and feel strong emotional relationships towards a number of the main characters. In this films case, all 3 main characters, where *spoiler alert* a love interest is created later on in the story. If/when creating a title sequence or short film this will be the type of genre i'll be interested in creating.

  

Analysis of title sequences

Within our chosen genre for our title sequence there will be conventions very much like other films in this same genre. Film title sequences i will look into are Hell Or High Water, Forest Gump and Whiplash.

Whiplash ; in this short title sequence the audience see only a black screen backed up by various shapes, mostly rectangles and circles, and then secondly the credits. This heavy use of rectangles and circles is clearly symbolism of the music  narrative, in more detail, drumming narrative involving main up and coming star Miles Teller. The rectangles used clearly connote to me the drum stick lifestyle almost and the coloured circles the actual drums. Like below the clearest example of the drum stick connotation is in the first title we see - "Presented by Sony Pictures"

Hell or High Water ; in my second title sequence I've looked into this isn't a very conventional sequence. In the sequence the audience are presented with the main credits and the first scene were presented. This scene is the bank which is originally robbed by the two main characters. So anyway, in David Mackenzie's Hell or High Water, the only things the audience are presented with are the credits, a sets and setting establishment and the establishment with the two main characters we suspect are the robbers in the car.

Lastly, Forest Gump (1994) shows the audience, through the tracker of the feather through the air, the park / bus setting which the film will eventually end up. Also, the main character played by Hanks pulls out his briefcase holding life items he's kept hold of throughout his life. Therefore when watching this film for a second time you understand what the objects are about and what part of the films narrative they're from.

Continuity Sequence

As a group we were tasked to plan and create a continuity sequence to help establish the idea of the 180 degree rule for at least two characters having a conversation for example. In my group is Fiona Kenn, Laine Mantell and Lilly Bolton. We story boarded our initial idea and then began to film. We thought about using some handheld shots and some shots also using tripods and a small easy to use steadily-cam holder. The whole idea of the sequence is based around the idea of Fiona'a character needed to have a conversation with Laine's character over a serious issue which occurred from the previous few days. Then when they were together in a room together we could exploit the 180 degree rule and really put it to practise.

Our continuity sequence via YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_vxj2zhm88w&feature=youtu.be

OCR Specification

Video
Preliminary exercise: Continuity task involving filming and editing a character opening a door, crossing a room and sitting down in a chair opposite another character, with whom she/he then exchanges a couple of lines of dialogue. This task should demonstrate match on action, shot/reverse shot and the 180-degree rule.

Main task: the titles and opening of a new fiction film, to last a maximum of two minutes.