Dan Fergus Design > Student Resources > Syllabus > Class Schedule > Project: TV Titles

VCB336 Motion Graphics 1

T.V. Title Sequence

Assignment

Using After Effects, create a an opening title sequence for a TV show using layered video clips, graphics and text.

The show must be fictional (not an actual show on the air), but it can be just about any kind of program—nature documentary, sit-com, drama, biography, news program, etc. For video clips, you may shoot your own, or use some of the stock footage I have.

Procedure

  1. Determine the type of the show you wish to do. It may be helpful to watch the stock video clips that I have—that may give you some ideas. Come up with a name and perhaps a logo.
  2. Find a piece (or pieces) of music to serve as the theme. Note that you could also incorporate sounds and dialogue in addition to (or in place of) the music. The title sequence should be about 30–90 seconds long.
  3. Gather your footage (if you haven't already) and place your clips and music files into a project root folder.
  4. Create additional elements (logos, graphics, still images, etc.) in Photoshop and Illustrator. Make sure you make them 853 x 480 (square pixels), 72 dpi. Save/export as tiff files.
  5. Create text in After Effects.
  6. Determine how you wish to present your footage. Consider size, movement, colors, layer effects, textures, and text. DON'T simply show one clip after another; you might as well use Final Cut for that. The goal here is to take advantage of After Effect's strengths by layering MANY clips and graphics on screen at one time and then and animating some or all of those clips, graphics, & text. Study the samples I provide and do research on your own (there are many excellent examples of layered titles on PBS, Discovery Channel, A&E, etc.).

Specifications:

Deliverables

Render your composition as an H264 Quicktime movie, highest quality & full resolution. Give me the finished Quicktime movie, NOT the After Effects file.

Deadline

Week 10: Due, beginning of (Wednesday) class.

 

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