Typography in Films Opening

Breakdown of various famous movie title with the same theme to observe the convention and common features of them, to implement on own's opening sequence in post production

Sherlock - BBC (2010)

• Sans serif font to connotes a sense of modernity in light of this old, conservative brand of Sherlock Holmes, as well as illustrating the influence of London in the new series, whose image is quite structured and conforming
• The font color, on the other hand, keeps the intended effect of being washed up and obsolete, by using off black and scratchy texture on the typography. This style persists through small titles for the feature and crew member credits.
• Multiple scene setting montages are being shown with the title, to establish the location and its significance to Sherlock’s identity. A small detail of a different, more freestyling font is in the showcase of various location and destination name, to mimic the handwriting of case covers in a typical investigation scene.

Murder on the Orient Express (1974)

• Due to its intensive premise and mise en scene, the title appears in both before and after the opening sequence to play a supportive role of location and time period setting, while maintaining the enigma by introducing more and more conflicts introduced to the movie
• The font of this movie title is sans serif, with affluent comic influence by the variation in thickness and size of each character of the same font, alongside with the swell on the first letter to be the largest and most 
• The mix of fonts and capitalization of each character first raises a question mark and various inquiry, but later grow to a fondness and intrigue of the main title and poster, as it diverges my attention across the frame, to capture in as much information as possible
  
• The subversion and deconstruction of movie's title convention is quite intriguing and leave long lasting impression, although being confusing to look at in the beginning 

Chunking Express (1994)

• Serif font to connote a sense of comfort and familiarity in the writing. The use of light yellow showcase the feeling of being welcoming, bright, innocent and quite unconventional to the real, subdued world
• Using Chinese characters in handwriting style, while remaining quite structured and aligned. The subtitle of sans serif may be used only for readability and ease of performance 
• The main title of Chungking Express having a stricter, more uniform weight to it. Its quite crooked and intentionally segmented into column suggests the column of apartments and system of metro express, dividing the building boundaries on human community 
• The title appears in tandem with establishing scene and action scene right after it, to push the pace of the movie and create instant enigma surrounding the setting. Lack of location notation suggests the audience to figure it out themselves by looking at the signs and store front boards of the bustling streets. 
  

Laura (1944)

• Font: Prominently serif, a convention of suspense, thriller noir
• A brief of handwriting font is there to break off the stiffness and stillness of the typography, while still being properly aligned and relatively in the same size with the main text to show uniform
• Prolonged and thinness of the text, with title text having limited shadows and 3D effects
• Text appears right after indent for 20th century fox, giving credits for production crew, before the movie begins with the Detective meeting with Mr. Lydecker
  

The Pale Blue Eye (2022)

• Main font: Serif, with the mimicking of handwritten letter, by the variation of thickness in the red dripping title (denote blood dripping), by letting out unnecessary strokes intentionally 
• Convention of horror film and period drama, as to convey the non uniform, non mass produced typing font of sans serif
• Whisky and flimsy, almost slanted nature of the font connotes a tone of fragility and instability, as well as vulnerability and unstructured balance of the writing, in contrast to the static, solid blueish gray environment 
• The main title is hard to read, as the red is quite subdued to the dark blue background, although it’s easier to presume that this incident is unintentional, as it’s in contrast to color theory principle to no noticeable connotation and thematic matter. Thus, I think this color choice is unintentional and non aesthetic
• The production companies, quotes and location notation appears before the movie opening, in order to set the scene and main message for the audience, as well as introducing the main character of the movie. 

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Common feature of the genre (detective thriller, fast pace and instant established enigma):

• Mostly serif to convey the sense of disoriented feel and genuine threatening feel of the movie
• Appear within the context of the movie, so not as harsh guideline about whether they appear before movie scene or after - usually in between to note on time period and location

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