SEAN AND ELAINE BASS research project

 

Saul Bass was a graphic designer and filmmaker known for his design of film posters and sequences.  He worked with some of the greatest directors, such as Alfred Hitchcock, Stanley Kubrick and Martin Scorsese. He was first recognised in the film industry after creating the title sequence for 'The Man With The Golden Arm'. Bass designed effective, compelling and memorable title sequences, inventing a new type of kinetic typography for North by Northwest, Vertigo and Psycho. Here here is a clip of some of his most famous works. 

Elaine Bass is an American title designer and filmmaker. She was the wife and collaborator of designer and filmmaker Saul Bass for  40 years. In 1955 Elaine got a job as the assistant to graphic and title designer Saul Bass. 5 years later, Elaine directed on her own for the first time with the opening title sequence to Spartacus. After that, most of Saul Bass’s title design and film work were made working with Elaine. The following year, Saul and Elaine married. Their first joint venture into short filmmaking was with promotional films at the 1964 World’s Fair; they made the short film Why Man Creates, which won an Oscar.  They created the title sequences for films The War of the Roses, Scorsese, Goodfellas, Cape Fear and Casino, their last title sequence together. 

Casino opening title

Sean and Elaine Bass worked on the opening title sequence for the Infamous "Casino" directed by Martin Scorsese. the film opens with a character getting into his car and blowing up; the mood is sombre and down but in a bright sunny place, contrasting the spirit. The carvehiclecar vehicle explodes, and the opening titles start with fire leading straight into it. A body flies in slow motion across the screen as Martin Scorsese's name fades onto the screen; a choir sings in the background adding a robust, substantial feel to the sequence like something big has just happened w. We don't know it yet. The cast names fade in white through the flames. asAs the fire stops and the choir lightens up, the red of the flames turns into the bright red lights of a casino. As the title CASINO fades onto the screen over them. theThe credits continue like this as the lights of the casinos flash up on the screens. The same body flies and falls across the screen occasionally.  Until the flames return at the end and the film starts. 

I think this is a powerful tile sequence as It allows the audience to view the names clearly whilst still having enough toto focus in the background. theThe angelic music sets the tone of the film's tone style as a young Italian mobster breaks into the crime industry th; the divine types are often synonymous with Italians in Hollywood. Sean and Elaine's bass did a great job with the opening title sequence, as it is clear they've utilised their research to create the right setting for this opening title.