HM: Task 15 Analysis of Title Sequence, Shutter Island(2010, Scorcese)

Order of titles and duration

• 0:02, A film by Martin Scorsese
• 0:05 Produced by Micke Medavoy Arnold Messer
• 0:10 Screenplay by Laeta Kalogridis
• 0:12 Based on the novel by Dennis Lehane
• 0:17 Director of photography Robert Richardson
• 0:27 Ben Kingsley
• 0:31 Leonardo Dicaprio
• 0:37 Mark Buffalo
• 0:42 Edited by Thelma Schoonmaker
• 0:47 Music by Robbie Robertson
• 0:57 Shutter Island

Typography Analysis

• All writing is in block capitals which denotes the bright colour of red and the large visually clear and imposing block capitals.
• The connotation however in this context could mean blood and violence for red. Block capitals could connote a serious plot and add gravitas to the situation in the film. Also The text is sharp and angular which could connote a knife and weapon.
•  The first writing is in red which enhances the previous connotation and could be perceived as blood. The writing is all placed in different sections of the screen but never central until the title of the film is shown.
•  This could connote the fact that the plot may be unexpected and twist in places. The writing is all the same size apart from the film title which is larger and in red. The meaning derived from this extremely clear in many senses.
•  For example the name Shutter Island, can give clues to what the film could be about. Island could connote isolation and entrapment.
•  Shutter connotes trying to keep something out or in. The reason for much meaning being drawn from the film title is due to the large red font in centred in the screen making it significant.

Relationship between text and visuals

• The style of the opening titles are portraying the film. For example most of the shorts are in low light such as a dark house or cell. This links with the block capitals to add horror atmosphere within the title sequence. This prepares the audience for a horror film and possibly gory due to the chains and red writing. Institutional context could relate to a cell so as to confine someone who is potentially dangerous to society.  
• All pointers suggest this film to be confining someone such as the tracking shot going into the entrance of the prison.
• This suggests they will be the antagonist as I know from the rest of the film this theory is flipped on its head. This therefore gives off a different enigma to what the outcome of the film is.

 

How can we use these Ideas

The title sequence sets up the film and suggests particular traits and sets that could appear on the scene. We could use this to our advantage by giving off the correct enigma of the film by changing the font and placement of the opening title. We can do this by changing the pace and variety of shots to build suspense.