Pina, 2011 (Film Title Sequence)

Motion Graphics | Advertising

Tools: Adobe After Effects, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Premier Pro

 

Overview

Combine shapes, typography, and sound to create engaging film titles for a chosen film within the specified design parameters. Watch and research the movie to learn about its narrative structure and convey its story with motion graphics.

Outcome

I created a title sequence that mimics the diverse styles of dance Pina Bausch explored throughout her career. The sequence and music was pair together to match Bausch’s soft yet explosive choreography.

Social media posts and large scale graphics were also deigned to expand upon the title sequence.

Format and Specifications

  • 30 – 90 seconds long

  • RGB Color Space

  • No direct images from the film itself can be used

  • Text must include the title and main credits

 

Film Analysis

While watching the movie, I took notes on its Key Themes and Narrative Structure to help me figure out what visual concepts and I convey and what tone they would take on. This research not only helped me further understand the film, but it also see how some elements could be conveyed through motion.

  • What are the main themes in the film?

    • Dance can be both a theater act and a form of entertainment

    • Repetition establishes importance and is memorable

    • Sight changes how we “see” dance (it becomes more than just movement)

  • What is the overall concept?

    Dance brings people together, allows us to look beneath the surface, and is a subjective experience.

  • What is the tone you want to establish?

    • Bold

    • Energetic

    • Powering

  • Are there visual metaphors to represent a theme?

    • Constant, Fluid Movement (Dancing)

    • Physical Impressions (Barefoot/Shoes)

    • Single vs Multiple (Solo/Duo/Group Dance)

  • Other Important Aspects

    • Dance Sequences (and sequencing)

    • Context (background of the stage setting is stark darkness)

    • Settings (Indoors vs. Outdoors)

  • How could I create an original piece that expresses film?

    Use constant movement to represent the dancers and Pina’s influence on the dance world over several years.

Rough Storyboarding

To establish a design direction, I named the storyboard “Vision” as I wanted to convey Bausch’s vision of dance and how she has influenced the dance world. The idea was to have a main “dancer” interacting with others, while revealing the production team credits.

Digital Storyboard + Digital Assets

Flushing out the rough storyboard included finalizing the dance sequence, color scheme, and selecting the right typeface. I wanted the title sequence to explore solo, duo, and group dancing that incorporated different styles of Bausch’s dance. Red was a used as the key color to mimic the boldness of Bausch’s dance. The font were chosen for their strong contrast and combine to create a modern yet traditional feel.

  • Neo-Expressionist Black (Neo-Expressionist Dance Style)

  • Tanztheater Red (Popularized Dance Tradition)

  • Chancy White (Unpredictable & Risky)

Putting It All Together

The lead “dancer” leaps from the text and dances across the screen to meet with the next dancer. Together they join to form one and their influence creates a trail of dancers that surround them. The lead dancer emerges one again as the surrounding dancers rush off screen to give more room. Completing yet another solo, the lead dancer emerges and lands on top of the film’s title completing yet another explosive and energetic dance sequence.

 

Music: Amon Tobin (feat. Kid Koala), Untitled

Motion on the Big Screen

After the audience has watched the almost never-ending string of trailers, the house lights dim and the opening title sequence for Pina begins!

Creating a Film Teaser

A YouTube page was designed that includes exclusive content that went into making the film and features an exclusive film teaser. The teaser acts as a precursor to the main movie trailer and features 5 of the original 10 keywords used to describe Bausch and her dance influence.

Music: Jun Miyake, All Names (Pina Soundtrack)

Instagram Stories

A series of sponsored advertisements were created to act as a sneak peak to the film and capture the attention of the viewers clicking through their insta-stories. Each keyword is derived from Bausch‘s dance style and reflected in its respective post.

Expanding to a Larger Audience

To extend its presence to a larger audience, video advertisements were created to be placed in areas that attract a lot of foot traffic. The digital billboard in the subway station mimics the “Seasons March“ that is performed in the beginning of the film (also seen in the header for this project). The bus stop digital advertisement features a group dance of 4 intertwining dancers who also appear in the film.

Loops every 60 seconds

Loops every 20 seconds

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