Posted: Sun Nov 23, 2008 10:11 am
This thread touches on one of my 'soap boxes' - I have been round a few clubs now giving a talk on 'titling'. My argument has been that people give time and consideration to the music they add to their movies - to enhance the mood, create the atmosphere, etc etc etc - and then slap clunky titles on at the beginning that give a totally incorrect impression of what is to follow. I'm talking about the font, types size, positioning etc here, rather than the actual wording (which is of course equally important).
I also blame oversized titles on the smallness of the preview window used in most edfitors. I also blame the crass 'samples or templates' many editor programs offer when the titler is selected (and I have to say, I think Pinnacle has been one of the worst for this - with double and triple cased letters in garish colours on an equally crass background... YUK!!).
But the wording of the title is equally important - which I believe is what this thread is primarily about. It has already been stated that it should hint at what the film is about and engender a certain amount of curiosity and interest. A title such as 'Lullworth Manor' could tell you what you're about to be watching, whist almost inviting people to start nodding off at the prospect of a documentary on ... yes, you've guessed it, 'Lullworth Manor'. I know one film maker who cleverly uses an intriguing and apposite line from the commentary as a title - and it works well. Something to think about perhaps. I'd only add ... puns are best left to comedies and light or frothy movies (IMO) ! They can give a totally false impresisonm of what is to follow.
I think the summation is - one should give as much thought to the titling (both wording, and its display form) as, say, to the selection of music - although titling is a much shorter part of the movie, it is one of the main 'scene setters' for what is to follow.
I also blame oversized titles on the smallness of the preview window used in most edfitors. I also blame the crass 'samples or templates' many editor programs offer when the titler is selected (and I have to say, I think Pinnacle has been one of the worst for this - with double and triple cased letters in garish colours on an equally crass background... YUK!!).
But the wording of the title is equally important - which I believe is what this thread is primarily about. It has already been stated that it should hint at what the film is about and engender a certain amount of curiosity and interest. A title such as 'Lullworth Manor' could tell you what you're about to be watching, whist almost inviting people to start nodding off at the prospect of a documentary on ... yes, you've guessed it, 'Lullworth Manor'. I know one film maker who cleverly uses an intriguing and apposite line from the commentary as a title - and it works well. Something to think about perhaps. I'd only add ... puns are best left to comedies and light or frothy movies (IMO) ! They can give a totally false impresisonm of what is to follow.
I think the summation is - one should give as much thought to the titling (both wording, and its display form) as, say, to the selection of music - although titling is a much shorter part of the movie, it is one of the main 'scene setters' for what is to follow.