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'', was seen from 1966 to 1981 , making it one of the longest-running continuous title sequences on television.]] A title sequence, in a television program or film, is shown at the beginning which displays the Opening Credits . TELEVISION One notable example of this is '''' the characters are Blue - Grayish . Some title sequences use dialogue, footage from early episodes, or song lyrics to establish the concept of the series. An often-cited example of this is the title sequence from the 1960s sitcom '' Gilligan's Island '' which introduces the situation, the location, and provides a brief primer on the recurring characters. On some sitcoms and dramas, the ensemble cast is shown together at the end of the titles. Some shows, like '' Good Times '' and '' Family Ties '', went one step further and had the main players sit for a Painting , which was then shown in the titles. Soap Operas are highly known for their varying title sequences since they're some of the longest running shows on television. As changing with the times is almost necessary, the opening of any given show today is usually dramatically different from the one shown the first airdate. Most long-running soaps, however, have established a central theme for their title sequence. This symbol is usually showcased throughout the sequence and in the show's title card and remains a fixture every time a serial debuts a completely new sequence. Examples include the hourglass from '' Days Of Our Lives '', the lighthouse from '' Guiding Light '', and the family scrapbook from '' All My Children ''. Also, because of their longevity, soap operas tend to use the same sequence for an extended period of time. '''' is also famous for its sequence (a simple shot of the sand trickling through an hourglass over a light blue, mountainous sky), which has only been altered twice since the show premiered in 1965. Some shows have title sequences that are subtly different in every episode (or season). Some famed title sequences with variables include:
FILMS Film title sequences are sometimes considerably shorter than the title sequences of television shows, and are often much simpler, focusing mostly on listing the names of all the actors and producers. This is because in films, title sequences are often controlled by detailed contractual provisions regarding crediting the major players in the film (actors, directors, producers, casting agents, etc.) In some cases, directors have found their desire to make the title sequence they want interfered with by the technical requirements of these contracts (e.g., that the actor's name be at least as large in font size as the film's title). Sometimes, these requirements can be avoided by negotiating an amendment to the actor's contract, although that can be expensive, if possible at all. However, title sequences of Blockbusters , such as '' Ben-Hur '', were once quite long and elaborate. The title sequence of ''Ben-Hur'' shows the names of all the leading and major supporting actors, plus many of the technical credits, all the while tracking backwards from a huge closeup of the Creation of Adam panel on Michelangelo 's Sistine Chapel Ceiling . This sequence runs three-and-a-half to four minutes. Cecil B. DeMille 's opening title sequence for his three-and-a-half hour version of '' The Ten Commandments '' was also long, listing what seemed to be (but was probably not) every single member of the enormous cast. The title sequences of virtually all Roadshow musicals made from the late 1950s through about 1971 would sometimes be rather lengthy, and would be accompanied by a potpourri of the film's songs. However, '' West Side Story '' had an unusual variation on this. The film opened with a sketched skyline of New York City which changed colors, backed by a medley of some of the songs, but no credits. After about three minutes, the camera pulled back slowly, and the film's title was seen on the bottom of the screen. The rest of the credits were shown as Graffiti at the end of the film. The last lengthy title sequence in a musical (so far) was the one seen in the 1971 film version of '' Fiddler On The Roof ''. It occurs after "Tradition", the pre-credits opening number, and lasts nearly a full five minutes. A fiddler is shown playing on the rooftop of Tevye's house, while Isaac Stern is heard on the soundtrack in a violin medley of instrumental music from the show, and the credits appear on-screen next to the fiddler. Because of the unusual length of the film's title sequence, many of the credits appear individually, rather than being grouped together as in other films. Title sequences using modern graphic design began appearing in Hollywood films of the 1950s and 1960s, created by designers such as Saul Bass and Maurice Binder . George Lucas was fined by the Directors Guild Of America for refusing to have a standard title sequence in his '' Star Wars '' films. After paying the fine, Lucas quit the Guild. By the 1990s, however, it was not uncommon for motion pictures to no longer have Opening Credits sequences. SEE ALSO |
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