ABSTRACT
This chapter explores how compositing layers and adding visual effects in After Effects can provide a sense of the genre for a film or television show and can focus the audience's attention to the significant area of interest in a shot. Film and TV title sequences not only introduce the title and principle actors, they set the mood and tone for an audience. Successful film titles become part of the visual narrative and establish a sense of place, communicate the story's theme, and even hint at a few plot points. The chapter enables one to: discuss how effective title sequences engage and excite an audience; list where title sequences can be positioned within a movie; incorporate design principles into compositions; simulate three-dimensional movement using multiple layers; use layer blending modes to enhance the visual look; and composite green screen footage within a composition.
