"I don’t believe in decorative titles — neato for the sake of being neato."
August 27, 2012 12:26 PM Subscribe
"David Fincher: A Film Title Retrospective" — Art of the Title follows up on their interview with Fincher for The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.
Art of the Title has shown up on MeFi before: here, here and here.
Art of the Title has shown up on MeFi before: here, here and here.
He actually talks more about Alien 3 than I imagined. Not much about the titles themselves, which is sad because they're the best part of the movie.
posted by Brainy at 2:05 PM on August 27, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by Brainy at 2:05 PM on August 27, 2012 [1 favorite]
I've always loved that "souring" of the Fox fanfare in Alien3. So unnerving.
posted by brundlefly at 2:17 PM on August 27, 2012 [4 favorites]
posted by brundlefly at 2:17 PM on August 27, 2012 [4 favorites]
Alien^3's titles are fantastic as titles themselves (and also as filmmaking in general), but taken as part of the plot of the movie itself, they border on "Han shoots first" levels of ruination.
posted by Sticherbeast at 2:34 PM on August 27, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by Sticherbeast at 2:34 PM on August 27, 2012 [2 favorites]
I really loved the architectural lettering of Panic Room. Fringe tries the same trick but never quite hits the same mark.
posted by Artw at 2:38 PM on August 27, 2012
posted by Artw at 2:38 PM on August 27, 2012
I've always loved that "souring" of the Fox fanfare in Alien3. So unnerving.
Ah yes, that movie had so much promise. Visually it's still pretty awesome, though. Shame about the script.
posted by Doleful Creature at 3:40 PM on August 27, 2012
Ah yes, that movie had so much promise. Visually it's still pretty awesome, though. Shame about the script.
posted by Doleful Creature at 3:40 PM on August 27, 2012
I really loved the architectural lettering of Panic Room. Fringe tries the same trick but never quite hits the same mark.
I haven't actually watched Panic Room but that title sequence is just so, like, casually menacing in this weird way. Best use of Copperplate Gothic ever.
posted by Doleful Creature at 3:41 PM on August 27, 2012 [1 favorite]
I haven't actually watched Panic Room but that title sequence is just so, like, casually menacing in this weird way. Best use of Copperplate Gothic ever.
posted by Doleful Creature at 3:41 PM on August 27, 2012 [1 favorite]
Before you make a movie for a studio, you have to sign a contract that says you’re going to do it for plus or minus a certain amount. Your final cut gets taken away if the film’s budget is plus or minus five percent of that, so you have to take that seriously.
This is really fascinating. Thanks for the link, brundlefly.
posted by mediareport at 3:45 PM on August 27, 2012
This is really fascinating. Thanks for the link, brundlefly.
posted by mediareport at 3:45 PM on August 27, 2012
I had heard similar for going over-budget, but the "or minus" surprises me. Would someone on the last days of shooting have to go, "Oh, I'm too far under-budget, let's go blow something up."
posted by RobotHero at 4:37 PM on August 27, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by RobotHero at 4:37 PM on August 27, 2012 [1 favorite]
That would explain a lot, actually.
posted by brundlefly at 4:48 PM on August 27, 2012
posted by brundlefly at 4:48 PM on August 27, 2012
The credits for Se7en are, in my opinion, a short masterpiece.
posted by ltracey at 7:00 PM on August 27, 2012
posted by ltracey at 7:00 PM on August 27, 2012
I remember a story about the Se7en credits, but I'm having trouble finding a source...
I could have sworn that I'd read that the proper rights had not been secured for the music for Se7en's titles, which was Closer (Deviation), by NIN, remix by Coil. I think the studio had gotten the rights from Interscope for the original NIN track, but not the remix, or something like that. At any rate, there had been a SNAFU.
Anyway, I could have sworn that I'd read a remark from Trent Reznor, where he said that he had no idea his music was going to be in the movie until he actually saw it in the theater. He raised the appropriate ruckus, noting that it was less about his money and recognition, so much as it was for Jhonn and Peter from Coil, whose excellent work on the remix had not been paid for.
I'd be grateful if someone could confirm or deny this story for me. It's driving me nuts that I can't find it.
posted by Sticherbeast at 7:47 PM on August 27, 2012
I could have sworn that I'd read that the proper rights had not been secured for the music for Se7en's titles, which was Closer (Deviation), by NIN, remix by Coil. I think the studio had gotten the rights from Interscope for the original NIN track, but not the remix, or something like that. At any rate, there had been a SNAFU.
Anyway, I could have sworn that I'd read a remark from Trent Reznor, where he said that he had no idea his music was going to be in the movie until he actually saw it in the theater. He raised the appropriate ruckus, noting that it was less about his money and recognition, so much as it was for Jhonn and Peter from Coil, whose excellent work on the remix had not been paid for.
I'd be grateful if someone could confirm or deny this story for me. It's driving me nuts that I can't find it.
posted by Sticherbeast at 7:47 PM on August 27, 2012
I always thought the Se7en credits were inspired by Stan Brakhage, especially Mothlight. Can anybody confirm or deny that one?
posted by jonp72 at 7:56 PM on August 27, 2012
posted by jonp72 at 7:56 PM on August 27, 2012
Good question, I wish I knew that story. I know for sure the song isn't on the official soundtrack (same with the Bowie song in the end credits). It does appear on the 2-disc "Original Score", which never saw commercial release.
posted by churl at 7:56 PM on August 27, 2012
posted by churl at 7:56 PM on August 27, 2012
Sorry, I made a mistake. It wasn't Closer (Deviation), it was Closer (Further Away).
Carry on.
My wayward son.
posted by Sticherbeast at 8:31 PM on August 27, 2012
Carry on.
My wayward son.
posted by Sticherbeast at 8:31 PM on August 27, 2012
Fucking hell. It was Closer (Precursor). I give up.
posted by Sticherbeast at 8:32 PM on August 27, 2012
posted by Sticherbeast at 8:32 PM on August 27, 2012
Closer (Precursor) according to Wikipedia.... they don;t have any details on your story though I'm afraid.
It's be pretty unusual - there's basically teams of lawyers employed to clear these things, but not unheard of.
posted by Artw at 8:34 PM on August 27, 2012
It's be pretty unusual - there's basically teams of lawyers employed to clear these things, but not unheard of.
posted by Artw at 8:34 PM on August 27, 2012
I had heard similar for going over-budget, but the "or minus" surprises me.
Maybe they are trying to ensure you will actually do the kind of work they expect, i.e. they won't be happy if all you do is spend a couple of days recording your friends mumbling through their lines in a parking lot and present this as your unique artistic vision.
posted by Dr Dracator at 1:15 AM on August 28, 2012
Maybe they are trying to ensure you will actually do the kind of work they expect, i.e. they won't be happy if all you do is spend a couple of days recording your friends mumbling through their lines in a parking lot and present this as your unique artistic vision.
posted by Dr Dracator at 1:15 AM on August 28, 2012
Sticherbeast: "Alien^3's titles are fantastic as titles themselves (and also as filmmaking in general), but taken as part of the plot of the movie itself, they border on "Han shoots first" levels of ruination"
I always thought that whole sequence was Fincher getting rid of stuff he didn't like from Aliens. Like the cute kid, the potential love interest/male protector figure, the relative safety of a high-tech space ship...
posted by Joakim Ziegler at 4:01 AM on August 28, 2012
I always thought that whole sequence was Fincher getting rid of stuff he didn't like from Aliens. Like the cute kid, the potential love interest/male protector figure, the relative safety of a high-tech space ship...
posted by Joakim Ziegler at 4:01 AM on August 28, 2012
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posted by safetyfork at 1:13 PM on August 27, 2012