Saul & Elaine Bass

 In today's media lesson I carried out some research on Saul and Elaine Bass. I watched this video to gather some background information. 

Saul Bass was an American graphic designer and film maker, and is known for his design of opening sequences. He worked as a graphic designer on advert campaigns and then became an on set visual consultant where he began to work with famous people. He has worked with some of Hollywoods biggest film makers such as Alfred Hitchcock. One of his most famous pieces of work is the opening sequence he did of 'The Man with The Golden Arm' in 1955.  Saul Bass was working on symbols for 'The Man with the Golden Arm' when he quoted the  "Why not make it move" which is what he did. Title sequences evolved from an official presentation of legal and copyright information and the presentation of cast and crew. Its said that he saw an opportunity to create titles in a new way and "set the story up" for the rest of the film. 

He also did corporate logos which have become the most recognised of the era, such as the AT&T 'bell' logo. 

Elaine Bass was Saul Bass's wife who was also an American title designer and film maker. The pair worked together, although she has only began to get more recognition for her work over the past 10 years.

She had her own successful career before the pair met.  She co- directed and produced 'Spartacus' in 1960 and not long after this the pair were married. 

Their titles were said to be 'mini masterpieces'. They set the mood,  tone and texture for the rest of the film. 

A sequence they produced together is Grand Prix in 1996. 

It opens with grand music and whilst the titles are being shown there are zoom ins on different parts of the car whilst it is being put together.  The sound changes to loud car noises which gives the idea for the film that theres a transition from 'glory' to some sort of race as there is a sense of rush. 

It has been filmed in an economical way as there will be a shot of a zoom in on one thing and then it is multiplied to make it seem more hectic and that more is going on- the rush of things. This is used more than once to overwhelm the audience. 

A character we can assume is the protagonist as we are being shown his full face and we know he is the driver is introduced before more characters are introduced who are in a competition and we can assume they are competitors. This urges the audience to watch on because they can invest in their time in the competition and 'having a relationship' with the characters. 

Then, the small section where the sound effects of the heart beat is used could mirror the adrenaline rush of the race, which creates a mood and atmosphere for this film which is one of Bass's aims.  At the end of the sequence, the build up to the race is over as the cars are driving which we can assume leads to the beginning of the film. 

This title sequence creates a tone and the mood for the rest of the film as it is called the Grand Prix, and the sequence shows a motor car race so the audience can assume that the film will be about car racing or the competitors lives as motor car competitors.