CK : Analysis of Title Sequence : Insidious (Wan, 2010)

Title Order and Duration

0.00-0.03 - In association with Stage 6 Films

0.03-0.09 - An Alliance Films, and Im Global Presentation, of A Haunted Movies Production

0.17-0.28 - A James Wan Film

1.22-1.27 - Insidious

1.32-1.36 - Patrick Wilson

1.39-1.44 - Rose Byrne

1.46-1.50 - Line Shaye

1.52-1.57 - Ty Simpkins

2.00-2.04 - And Barbara Hershey

2.07-2.10 - Leigh Whannell, Angus Sampson

2.13-2.16 - Andrew Astor, Joseph Bishara

2.19-2.23 - Casting by Annie McCarthy and Kellie Gesell

2.26-2.30 - Costume by Kristin M.Burke

2.32-2.37 - Music by Joseph Bishara

2.39-2.44 - Edited by James Wan, Kirk Morri

2.46-2.50 - Production Designer Aaron Sims

2.52-2.56 - Director of Photography John R.Leonetti ASC, David M.Brewer

2.58-3.03 - Line Producer Jeanette Volturno-Brill

3.05-3.10 - Co-Produced by John R.Leonetti, Aaron Sims

3.12-3.17 - Executive Producer Brian Kavanaugh-Jones

3.20-3.25 - Produced by Jason Blum, Steven Schneider and Oren Peli

3.27-3.31 - Written by Leigh Whannel

3.34-3.42 - Directed by James Wan

Typography

• Red, bold font throughout. Links to danger, blood and horror.
• 'A James Wan Film' given prevalence as the font and colour change, and it is framed on a light bulb to make it stand out.
• Main title 'INSIDIOUS' made up of big, red letters in a different font to the rest of the titles, this gives it prevalence among the rest of the titles. Reminiscent of the Devil's trident. Flickers like a candle. Has connotations with summoning and the dead.
• Actors names are split in to two and then disappear in a puff of smoke, links to the soul leaving the body and ghosts., which are both key motifs in the film.
• The names are bigger and move more than the roles, which makes them stick out more.
• Most of the text moves, if it doesn't it is used to draw attention to it.
• The main titles are all positioned in the centre of the screen. Actor's names are in the corners, this gives the main titles prevalence.
• The titles are generally placed in a darkened or black area of the screen, this again makes them stick out, and also allows for a creepy image to have its own space in the background, which adds to the feeling of unease.

What have I learnt from this?

• A slow pace in the titles is really effective in building the tension.
• To give titles more effect it is wise to have little action going on in the background, so as to not distract the audience from the title.
• It is important to have a separate font for the title in order to draw attention to it.

How does this help with our production?

• It is clear that it is very important to put titles on a background which makes them readable, in this case, the titles were red on a black background, which made them obviously stand out.
• The wisp of smoke effect as the titles disappear could be used in our titles, because the theme of the supernatural is present.
• The main title for the film must stick out a lot more and have features which make it unique from the other titles.