Saul Bass

For my Thriller title sequences, i wanted to research some ideas and popular title sequences. I decided to research Saul Bass, who desighned title sequences and collaborated with famous film directors such as Alfred Hitchcock and Martin Scorsese.

Saul Bass' work consist of famous title sequences such as;

• Psycho


• Goodfellas


• Cape Fear


• Vertigo


• Ocean's Eleven


• Anatomy of a murder
  

When I looked at these title sequences, I noticed how you can straight away tell the title sequences was the work of Saul Bass. I like the way Saul Bass changes his ideas contiously and changes the materials he uses. For example, the title sequences; Psycho and Oceans eleven were both animated compared to Cape Fear and Goodfellas. Each have their own indivual features that creates the right opening and effect to begin the film.

The one thing i noticed about the title sequences is that they all keep moving continuosly, for example in the title sequence of Psycho you follow the shapes which lead in to the words they make and it makes your eyes follow whats happening.

I like the way Saul Bass' work is different to other title sequences. In ways he creates suspense for the film but without giving the plot of the film away. My favourite title sequence by Saul Bass would be Anatomy of a murder, i like the imagery used and i have studied this title sequence before in a Graphics lesson. I guess when u hear the title Anatomy of a murder, you associate the white line you get around a dead body at a murder scene, which is the idea you get from seeing this title sequence.

Saul Bass' work uses very little colour and simple imagery, I like how the colours he combines together creates the perfect effect that he is trying to create and gives the idea of "legibility of colours.He also uses simple music which builds up as the title sequence progresses almost the effect as if the suspense is building up.

I also like the Typography he uses its different for each film and varies with what genre the film is. When making my title sequence i would like to create a similar effect with the typography. Keeping it simple but different and connecting it with the genre of the film.