A title card (also known as an intertitle); in terms of motion pictures, refers to a section of written text that is displayed on the screen for a duration of time within the overall motion picture edit. This is generally used to display dialog related to the characters inner voice or emotion. It sometimes allows the viewer to receive information that may be hard to represent via moving image or audio. An example of this could include the common use of "10 years later" or "30 minutes before". Title cards can be divided into several categories:
So some examples of title card are:
Title cards were the basis of old silent films. Silent films eventually reached a point where written text within the edit was necessary in order to convey the message of the story or explain certain things within the film to the viewer. There are an infinite number of examples of title in silent films.
So basically everything we see, hear, feel, taste or smell would have been described in these title cards for silent films.
The use of soundtrack eventually ruled out the use of title cards for narrative, and so in the modern day they are more used to introduce or end a film.
They are commonly used to supply an epigraph. An epigraph is, in its most simple terms, some form of written piece that is artistic in nature, used to summarize or introduce a story. It is very common for films to be introduced or concluded with some form of poem, limerick or famous quotation.
This isn't limited to artistic pieces of writing, however. It is common for pieces of text to introduce or conclude a film, For example the introduction to star wars, etc.
- Title
- Main title
- Cast
- Crew credits
So some examples of title card are:
- Produced by Universal Studios
- Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
- Starring: Jim Carrey
Title cards were the basis of old silent films. Silent films eventually reached a point where written text within the edit was necessary in order to convey the message of the story or explain certain things within the film to the viewer. There are an infinite number of examples of title in silent films.
- To show someone laughing it would be "Hahaha"
- To give a sound effect it'd be "crash", "pow", "boom" etc
- To give narration it'd be, "he went", "and then", "in the garden" etc.
So basically everything we see, hear, feel, taste or smell would have been described in these title cards for silent films.
The use of soundtrack eventually ruled out the use of title cards for narrative, and so in the modern day they are more used to introduce or end a film.
They are commonly used to supply an epigraph. An epigraph is, in its most simple terms, some form of written piece that is artistic in nature, used to summarize or introduce a story. It is very common for films to be introduced or concluded with some form of poem, limerick or famous quotation.
This isn't limited to artistic pieces of writing, however. It is common for pieces of text to introduce or conclude a film, For example the introduction to star wars, etc.
