--
The paradoxical evolution of titles --
Thu, 03 Dec 2015 09:47
--
SCREEN AFRICA EXCLUSIVE: Tim Horwood, channel director at MTV Base, believes that in recent years there has been somewhat of a paradoxical evolution in terms of the visual quality of television shows and title sequences in particular. He shares with Screen Africa his thoughts on the ongoing developments within this content genre.
In the last few years there seems to have been an increase in the quality of television programming. How has this affected the production of title sequences?
Certain sectors of the TV industry have seen a massive increase in budgets and resulting high-end output rivalling even feature films. Conversely, in other areas, budgets have decreased considerably and yet some of these less expensive productions are commanding the lion s share of viewership. No matter what budget you are working with, the effectiveness of a production be it a TV show or a title sequence - remains in its relevance to the audience and its ability to tell a story making quality a very subjective term.
How much importance do South African producers place on the title sequence?
It really depends on the channel and the producers, but I think overall not enough attention is placed on the opening sequence. Generally, SA producers have smaller teams than our international counterparts and the reality is that priority is often given to the content of the show itself versus the actual opening sequence. Often, the responsibility for the titles is put onto the editor who is expected to slap some highlights together, sprinkle of a few graphics and voila!
Often title sequences are given less consideration within a budget do you feel this is the case and has there been any change in this over the last few years?
This is pretty much the standard situation all over the world; very often the title sequence can be treated as a bit of an after-thought when it comes to the budget, even by some of the biggest productions. It is often up the creatives working on the sequence to work within quite tight budget limitations and yet still come up with something brilliant. It is often within these confines that some of the best work is achieved. At VIMN Africa, we have been recognised for full 3D big budget title sequences but have also won awards for work shot for virtually zero budget using innovative techniques like stop frame animation.
How intensive is a brief when creating a title sequence? Is it very specific? Are you given some room for your own ideas and creativity?
Again, this varies considerably based on who the producers of the show are and what kind of level of production you are looking at. Some producers have a very specific vision of what they want the titles to look like, others really do give the creative team the freedom to interpret and conceptualise the piece. It is always important for the creatives to intimately understand the essence of the show, the nuances, the vibe etc, and that process can take quite a lot of time and alignment. Often the creatives will spend time on set with the writers, directors and cast and immerse themselves in the production so that they can truly reflect the nuance of the show in the titles. Other times you are just given a few days to work it out and deliver something effective!
How important a role do music and animation play?
The use of music and animation are important editorial choices that can contribute to the atmosphere and overall success or failure of the title sequence.
What role does a title sequence play in the mind of the viewer?
A great title sequence should act as a tease, contributing both information and atmosphere to the viewer, and encouraging them to engage with the programme.
Has audience viewing behaviour (like time shifted viewing or access via digital platforms) played any role in the increasing quality of title sequences? Is it more important to grab a viewer s attention in our multiplatform consumer choice driven world?
There has been a movement in some sectors to shorten the title sequence and to get right to the point. With the introduction of digital media, and the resulting fight to hold the audiences attention from the so-called second screen there is a much shorter attention span particularly within the younger demographic; brands like MTV have consequently evolved content like promos and title sequences to match the shorter, bite-sized content that our audiences are consuming on an hourly basis.
Any personal favourite title sequences?
I really like the work that Hugo Moss (UK) does. He works on some really big International productions, but often has very small budgets to work with. He is forced to think of inexpensive and yet effective creative solutions.
Related Articles
PromaxBDA Africa 2015 highlight: Tim HorwoodTim Horwood is presenting a session titled: World Gold - 75 reasons to love your job at PromaxBDA Africa...
Read more...
PromaxBDA Africa celebrates Creatorshakers This year marks the 10th anniversary for PromaxBDA in Africa...
Read more...
Cultivating innovation at PromaxBDA Africa Today s world is constantly undergoing creative metamorphosis, not only in the way people consume media but in how they think, behave and interact...
Read more...
-- --
-- --
-- Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus. comments powered by Disqus
Most recent headlines
04/08/2024
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, is excited to announce Santiago Solanas as its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO)....
03/06/2024
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, a...
30/04/2024
LOUISVILLE, Ky. In another sign that broadcasters are finally using NextGen TV broadcasts to offer viewers new features instead of simply simulcasting existing ...
30/04/2024
OKLAHOMA CITY The Oklahoma Journalism Hall of Fame will induct Blaise Labbe, a group news director for Sinclair Broadcast Group, May 2 at the 54th Anniversary I...
30/04/2024
ATLANTA and ENGLEWOOD, Colo. Cox Media Group and Dish have ended a dispute over retransmission fees that lasted nearly a year and a half with a new multi-year ...
30/04/2024
Video transport solution provider LTN has announced that it is working with TelevisaUnivision to help the Spanish-language media giant migrate to IP-based video...
30/04/2024
ALAMEDA, Calif. Clear-Com has released details about how it played a pivotal role in the seamless coverage of the recent solar eclipse on April 8, 2024 by NBC K...
30/04/2024
CINCINNATI The E.W. Scripps Company is adding Seth Walters to its sales leadership team as head of CTV sales, effective April 29....
30/04/2024
The force was strong at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park on Saturday night, April 27, 2024, as the night netted the ballpark's first official sellout crowd of...
30/04/2024
Revry, a network celebrating queer culture. said its second annual NewFront presentation will be a cabaret-type spectacle showcasing the spirit of the LGBTQ+ co...
30/04/2024
Family Entertainment Television (FETV) said that the Western series The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp will be joining the network's afternoon lineup startin...
30/04/2024
Bob Bakish, president and CEO of Paramount Global, will depart the company as Paramount explores a merger, according to numerous published reports. The reports ...
30/04/2024
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Order intake: 5.0 billion, up 47% ( 46% on an organic basis1 )
Sales: 4.4 billion, up 9.8% ( 7.9% on an organic basis)
All f...
29/04/2024
(L-R) Mark Gatiss and Polly Walker on set
Monday 29 April 2024 Further casting is now confirmed for Bookish (6x70), a brand-new drama created by Emmy Award-wi...
29/04/2024
A groundbreaking initiative offering training and mentoring to 30 women journali...
29/04/2024
Even though we've been doing this for over 40 years, a spark of excitement r...
29/04/2024
L3Harris is delivering manpack radios to U.S. Army CH-47 Chinooks as part of the Air-to-Ground Networking Radio program, providing seamless, resilient communica...
29/04/2024
He writes in Defense One: Despite the near-universal acknowledgement throughout the U.S. government and defense industrial base of the criticality of resilient ...
29/04/2024
eds3_5_jq(document).ready(function($) { $(#eds_sliderM519).chameleonSlider_2_1({ content_source:......
29/04/2024
Codemill aims to revolutionize media workflow efficiency at this years NAB Show by introducing Just-In-Time (JIT) playback technology in Accurate.Video Validate...
29/04/2024
April 29, 2024
-- TF1 Chooses Broadpeak to Power Targeted Advertising for New...
29/04/2024
LOS ANGELES Allen Media Group (AMG) has partnered with LG Electronics to bring 223 Local Now FAST channels to LG's free streaming service, LG Channels, avai...
29/04/2024
OTTAWA Ross Video has announced the introduction of Raiden, a data-driven weather graphics software that combines data gathering, processing, and visualization ...
29/04/2024
Panalux, a leading rental provider of lighting and power solutions for the motion-picture industry and part of Panavision's end-to-end service offerings for...
29/04/2024
Cobalt Iron Inc., a leading provider of SaaS-based enterprise data protection, today announced that it has received a patent on its technology for dynamic autho...
29/04/2024
SDVI, the leading platform provider for cloud-native media supply chains, today announced that Rally Access Workstation, a fully managed solution for editing in...
29/04/2024
Premier Sports, a premium sports broadcaster, has selected QuickLink's Remote Commentary solution for introducing professional, high-quality remote commenta...
29/04/2024
Glookast has chosen Jigsaw24 Media as the only UK channel partner to represent their portfolio of ingest and workflow optimisation products. The agreement, sign...
29/04/2024
Clear-Com played a pivotal role in the seamless coverage of the recent solar eclipse on April 8, 2024. Leveraging its cutting-edge Eclipse HX Digital Matrix i...
29/04/2024
PlayBox Neo will promote its complete range of television channel management, graphic branding and playout solutions to EMEA region media content owners and bro...
29/04/2024
Lingo, RuPaul's word-twisting game show, returns for season two on CBS Friday, May 24. Two episodes air that night, and stream on Paramount Plus, too....
29/04/2024
ESPN and Amazon Prime Video are reportedly close to scoring television rights to the National Basketball Association, according to published reports....
29/04/2024
Judge Judy and Hot Bench, CBS Media Ventures' genre-leading court shows, have been renewed through the 2025-26 TV season in more than 95% of the country, Gr...
29/04/2024
Premier Sports, an Irish-based premium sports broadcaster, has selected QuickLink's Remote Commentary solution for introducing professional, high-quality re...
29/04/2024
The awards celebrate the craft of behind-the-scenes TV talent and the best programmes of 2023
By Matthew Corrigan
Published: April 29, 2024
The awards cel...
29/04/2024
The team at Milk had to create and deliver the VFX and environment work for the royal residences featured in the drama from scratch
By Jenny Priestley
Publis...
29/04/2024
CEO Bob Bakish is expected to leave the company as early as today, with a new leadership committee likely to run the company on an interim basis
By Jenny Pries...
29/04/2024
Albena Ivanova, director, media and entertainment and strategic products at CHAOS talks to TVBEurope about her route into the industry
By TVBEurope Staff
Pub...
29/04/2024
The acquisition gives Grand Technix the opportunity to expand its footprint in the audio visual and broadcast technology sectors
By Jenny Priestley
Published...
29/04/2024
29 04 2024 - Media release Screen Australia announces James J. Robinson's debut feature First Light
First Light
Principal Photography is underway on Firs...
29/04/2024
Capitol Broadcasting recently became the inaugural company honored with inductio...
29/04/2024
Tonight on House of Zwide: Zanele tells a surprised Zola that Faith fully suppor...
29/04/2024
Tonight on Scandal: A line is crossed and a mother starts to lose focusDon't miss Friday, 26 April's riveting episode of South African soapie Scandal! o...
29/04/2024
Tonight on Skeem Saam: Evelyn puts measures in place to protect her sonDon't miss Monday, 29 April's riveting episode of South African soapie Skeem Saam...
29/04/2024
April 29th, 2024 UNINTERRUPTED AND TRIBECA ENTERPRISES PARTNER FOR SECOND-ANNUA...
29/04/2024
Rebrand and refresh: SailGP talks bringing its graphics operations inhouse for a...
29/04/2024
Reflecting on a Storied Career: Sean McManus Looks Back While Keeping an Eye on ...
29/04/2024
Drones Take Flight Inside MSG: How Sky Candy Studios is Upping the Excitement fo...
29/04/2024
Back to All News
Netflix Announces a Diverse Lineup of Polish Titles to Debut i...
-- 
