Credit Sequences

 Hey Blog!!!

A requirement for our film opening is to incorporate credits scattered across the clip, so I'm going to analyze a few credit sequences in the coming-of-age genre. 

The Perks of Being a Wallflower (2012)

The opening credit sequence in "The Perks of Being a Wallflower" is the first thing the audience sees of the film. The film company and a few of the actor's names are displayed first, before the title of the film is shown and it goes back to the rest of the credits. All the credits are centered and colored white, contrasting with the black screen and dark clips in the background, making them stand out. What stands out the most, though, is the font used. This typewriter font, a major marketing strategy of the film, is used for the credits and title. It gives the story a more personal feel, as it is an it is a story explained through letters, likely written with a typewriter, by the protagonist, Charlie. The font shows that this film is telling an exact story from Charlie's point of view and evokes nostalgia and raw emotion, since the protagonist is "sharing" his life with the audience. 

For our project, I don't think we want the same vibe as this credit sequence, but I love the unique font, which is definitely something I am interested in using. An interesting font, rather than the minimalistic boring fonts typically used, would make our film more identifiable, almost like a brand. Also, since our story takes place in the early 2000s, a font that brings nostalgia and maybe contains funky, retro, or bold elements is a must. 

My Girl (1991)

The opening credits sequence of "My Girl" is very different from "The Perks of Being a Wallflower." It is much simpler and minimalistic while keeping that 70s childhood tone. Again, the white letters contrast with the darker backgrounds, but the font is very "normal." This "normal" font, however, fits with the mood being established, which is a morbid and dark one. It makes sense that the font does not seem happy as the entire scene is very somber. The simple words also ensure that the scene being shown, which includes dialogue and begins to introduce one of the protagonists, is full understood and not being interrupted by distracting words on the screen. The font itself is also very common in films from the 1900s, clearly illustrating what time period this film takes place in. And unlike the credits in "The Perks of Being a Wallflower," these credits are displayed at the bottom right of the screen, making sure no faces or objects are covered. 

I feel this whole opening is very unlike what my partner, Arantza, and I are going for, therefore we probably won't be using elements from this opening sequence. But I do like the credits displaying at the bottom of the screen, which is probably something we will be doing. If not that, the credits will be scattered across the screen, but still they'll be somewhere where important faces and objects arent covered.