Each month Aurora Picture Show hosts a free educational video salon with a visiting curator and/or artist at the Aurora Picture Show Video Library. In November we were lucky enough to have artist, Peter Lucas join us. Lucas facilitated a one-hour discussion on the history of title sequences in film, which included sample excerpts from some popular titles.
Lucas presented a primer on those dynamic, first few minutes of the featured films that set the stage. At their best, these movie appetizers were great short films in and of themselves, combining elements of typography, animation, visual effects, still and live-action photography, music and sound, and clever editing. While it's largely ignored in historic overviews of both cinema and design, Lucas explained, this fringe history of creative, efficient, and often experimental movie intros have had a great impact on contemporary film, art and motion graphics.
Lucas screened a selection of opening sequences that were created in the 1950s and 60s- the "golden age"- and discussed the interdisciplinary history. The clips that Lucas brought for us are listed below, along with their You Tube links (if they are available) in case you missed the salon.
Kreise (Circles) (1933) Short film by Oskar Fischinger
Ocean’s Eleven (1960) Saul Bass
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWPiwQqv65Y&playnext=1&list=PL4998D4DADCFE2285&index=15
Nine Hours To Rama (1963) Saul Bass
Birdman of Alcatraz (1962) Wayne Fitzgerald
Dr. Strangelove… (1963) Pablo Ferro
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BpikKUy13UE&playnext=1&list=PL9C9407AF26B26EE8&index=11
To Kill A Mockingbird (1962) Stephen Frankfurt
Bullitt (1968) Pablo Ferro
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vkj84Bn3N_s&playnext=1&list=PLFE53A025A3FE4076&index=16
We want to thank the Brown Foundation for their support and Peter Lucas for coming and educating us on this fascinating topic. Aurora is proud to generate meaningful discussions that provide context and encourage media literacy.
To all who missed November's salon, we hope to see you in December! Check our calendar!
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