Saul and Elaine bass

 Saul and Elaine Bass research 

Saul Bass is the key figure in the rising of opening title sequences in the Hollywood films. He had a huge impact and has influenced many other filmmakers for decades. He was brown 8th of May 1920 and passed away the 25th of April 1996. He was an American graphic designer, and was born in New York where he began his design for motion picture title sequences. He was born in the household of Jewish immigrants and attended the James Monroe high school where he graduated. He later on started his own practices in 1952 where a few years later he established his private firm, Saul Bass & Associates. In 1954 he finally had his big break as he was offered a job by the filmmaker Otto Preminger to design a poster for Carmen Jones. They loved his work and then came to realize that the title sequence can enhance and engage the audience to a visual level, and can help set the mood and theme at the opening of a film. After his debut work in Hollywood he produced the title sequence for ‘The seven year itch’ then he also made the title for ‘The mans with the Golden Arm’ where he earned his reputation. Another noticeable filmmaker he worked with is Alfred Hitchcock where he distinguished his titles for motion picture ‘North by Northwest.’ Vertigo and Psycho were also made by him. Bass believed his opening title sequences were designed as an art with unique purposes. His creation was based on lighting the audience and giving them a preview of what there are about to watch throughout the movie. This would also evoke their emotions and in an unfamiliar way. These are most of the opening title sequence that Saul Bass created: 

- psycho 

- Casino

- higher learning 

- the age of innocence 

- Cape fear 

- good fellas 

- big 

Elaine Bass 

Elaine Bass was Saul Bass spouse that was also a filmmaker and title design maker. Together they developed many project and worker for some of the most successful directors to create opening title sequences. They worked together for 40 years and created some of the most successful opening title sequences in the universe. They changed the film industry and inspired many film directors to contribute to what they were trying to portray to the audience. 

Cape fear: 

https://youtu.be/jIlEaBKjFaM

Cape fear is a signature of intensity and un settlement which engages the audience to a different level. It starts with a shot of water with a warm light and this already creates a creepy atmosphere which shows to the audience what is going to happen and gives the audience an idea of what the genre of the film is going to be about. The titles are in a bulky white font which contributes to what the gene of the film is about. In general the whole opening title sequence gives the audience a creepy atmosphere and what I liked most is the fact that throughout the whole opening title sequence there is a creepy vibe and that the continuity and slowness contrasts to the music this makes the audience want to keep watching and be invested in the movie. It makes the audience get read for what they are about to watch.