Portfolio Project: Analyzing Credit Scenes

Research

Credit sequences are very important for giving professional credit and acknowledgement to the effort behind films and TV, helping to boost careers for the cast and crew. Not only do credit sequences serve as professional recognition, but they set the mood, style, and tone of the film, often being creative and engaging. They can also offer clues and extra information for audiences, specifically in extra scenes.


1. Zodiac (2007)

The opening credit sequence of Zodiac uses shots of normal, everyday life with certain aspects of danger and fear to build suspense. The credits are shown over shots of San Fransisco in 1969, with warm and soft lighting to help establish the aesthetic of the time period, creating a sense of realism. The pacing is slow and calm, showing mundane locations to make the opening feel relaxed and ordinary, adding to the shock and fear of the later fear and violence. The text of the credits is designed to look like coding and symbols, reflecting the Zodiac killer's letter. Through the visuals, realistic mise-en-scène, and use of text in the credits, the credits open to a slow, psychological.

 2. The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999)

The credit sequence for The Talented Mr. Ripley opens to the psychological themes of the film through the typography and few visuals. As the title appears, different adjectives appear to replace the word "talented," suggesting that the protagonist may be a complex character, and difficult to define as a person. The sharp and clean design of the text creates a calm and structured mood, conflicting with the shifting words which hints at themes of deception and conflict that is hidden. The credits only introduce the protagonist, seemingly Mr. Ripley, showing different angles of his face, which keeps the audience's attention focused on the character instead of a specific storyline. Ultimately, the credit sequence acts as preparation for the audience for a film that may evoke fear and stress.

3. American Psycho (2000)

The credit sequence for American Psycho builds tension for the audience through artistic visual shots that confuse viewers. The sequence begins with an extreme close-up of red liquid dripping onto a clean white surface, appearing to be blood. This creates a feeling of anticipation, as viewers want to know what it is. Later in the sequence, the liquid is revealed to be food that is being made in a nice restaurant, changing how the images and shots shown are to be perceived by the audience. The meticulous and bright lighting, and symmetrical shots show themes of control, structure, and perfection. The clean text of the credits mix with the elegance of the visuals, adding themes of wealth and surface-level appearance. Ultimately, the sequence helps prepare the audience for a thriller film with a focus on psychological violence and a superficial society.