Is this title sequence too long for modern audiences?

H

harmonica44

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bW-jSa9_k3M

I am writing the shooting script of the one of my choices that I would likely make my first feature film. When it comes to feature with no known people in it, is a title still okay?

And if it is, I think that a title sequence like that one, would be perfect for my opening scene. It's a crime, that introduces the villains' characters, and the crime also leaves a trail, which gets the ball rolling. So the opening hook, happens right in the first scene. I am just wondering if quiet eerie title sequence like that, with no music, would be too boring, to modern audiences, that I hope to show a finished product too? Wouldn't want to derail their first impressions too much.
 
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If you can make the sequence filled with beautiful shots, interesting characters, unbelievable lighting, amazing tension, one of the most FANTASTIC dialogs (brought two too many... i mean holy f**k! Brilliant), incredible soundscape and as epic music as "Once Upon a Time in The West" .. oh ... AND on top of that your name was "Sergio Leone" - then yes, this title sequence would be OK.

But until then - your job is to hold audiences a**es on the seat and thro everything you've got in the first 10 mins of your movie, so I will not think "Why the hell am I watching this"
 
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Especially with the features lol
As a viewer, if I don't see something happening in first 10 mins of the movie - i'm turning it off, because I wouldn't want to gamble with the remaining 2 hours and hope that there is something good happening.

Its like first 5 minutes of the date with a cute girl, whose breath smells like marinated pickles.. She might realize the bad breath, will go and brush her teeth, and smell nice and minty for the rest of the date- but the whole evening will be ruined.. because of the original pickle breath. (true story)


S. Leone can get away with this particular title sequence because he knows exactly what he is doing, when he is cutting, what light goes where. He is in perfect control of audience's emotions. Every gaze is held as long as needed to create tension.
Most (i should probably say "all") begining filmmakers do not know how to create that.. and that where PRACTICE comes in ;)

BTW Leone made "Once upon the time in the west" 20 YEARS into his successful career of film industry.. we've got ways to go haha
 
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That's not a title sequence. It's got titles, but it's much more of a prologue. And no, it's not too long. It's fucking perfect.

This is a title-sequence:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sY4f_83t_rw
 
Yep!

The opening credits are dragged out too long. That would even be long for an old movie, much less a recent production.

Some opening credits start to role after the teaser or opening scene.
 
Yeah I'm writing the script with the title sequence in mind of the opening, so I can either have it right at the beginning, or after the villain's opening crime, gone somewhat wrong. I will put it after then.
 
We went with just the title of the movie in the opening credits of my feature (Surviving Family), and even that comes after the first couple minutes of the movie. Everything else is at the end.
 
Well I would like to do the sequence in the beginning, after the villains opening crime gone wrong. The whole sequence preferably but if I really really must wait until the end... I am hoping the opening crime gone wrong will be enough to get audiences to want to see what happens next. There is another crime in the second scene as well, which hopefully will too.
 
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