Title sequence analysis
These two sequences are taken from critically acclaimed TV dramas. The Night Manager was produced by the BBC and House of Cards was produced by Netflix (the same as Stranger things).
The first video uses graphics to produce a creative sequence piece with objects morphing that have connotations to glamour and riches contrasting with the war weapons and explosions, for example the chandelier turns into an explosion when it hits the ground. The clip begins with a clockwork object that turns into a rocket which then explodes and morphs into a cocktail glass. Following this is the text in a 50s style. The clip turns red and then into a blue colour fading into a tea set which spins into a firing plane. As they fire down they join together creating a pearl necklace, adding to the idea of riches vs. weaponry. Jewellery is shown falling like raindrops into bombs which is then followed by boats morphing into bubbles in champagne. Finally a chandelier is shown falling perhaps portraying the fall of a power or superior person in the drama, this then explodes. All of this is accompanied by tense music (assumably played by an orchestra with a dominant violin).
House of Cards uses more camera work in their piece with over a minutes worth of video showing different areas of Washington D.C in a time-lapse. This sets the agenda for the drama. The sequence begins with a crane shot of a vast landscape which switches quickly to different scenes. An establishing shot is used with panning as cars race past the road with a time lapse effect. This continues as the streets of Washington are explored with names of the cast and producers changing with every new scene. The White house is centred later on in the clip which is followed by a similar crane shot to the start. Here we see the time setting change as the colours prominent are blacks and blues portraying the night as the sun sets, still continuing to show time lapse of Washington D.C. Towards the end we see a crane shot of the White house as the text arises with the American flag in the centre. The sequence concludes with a similar shot to the start as the lights are all lit in the city, portraying the continuity.
Both programmes show the title of the TV drama near the start of the sequence. They both use a white font with a darker background contrasting the colours so that it stands out. The title is then followed by smaller sub-headings of producers and extra necessary information. Both of the sequences allude to what the drama is going to be based upon. House of Cards shows images of the white house which we can infer means the programme may be based upon the law of America. The Night Manager shows weaponry on a mass scale and riches which we could infer to mean that the programme is based on the military and war.
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