There are an abundance of elements that go into film making but one that really sets the mood, states the intent and is a vital component to any movie is the title sequence. To some, this can be overlooked as being another part of production but if we were to tell you that one particular soul has been behind the likes of BATMAN, EVENT HORIZON, QUADROPHENIA, TAMARA DREWE and SWEENEY TODD, you’d probably not believe me but – in truth – the story is even bigger.
THN proudly introduce you to Richard Morrison, a Brit who is one of the world’s leading designers of film title sequences. In a career spanning over 30 years, he has created over 150 title sequences – from blockbuster to cult classics – for many of the industry’s most respected film directors and producers. You would have seen his sequences recently with THE COLD LIGHT OF DAY directed by Mabrouk El Mechri and Tim Burton’s DARK SHADOWS and he’s also currently working with Tim again on FRANKENWEENIE. Richard has also worked with Sir David Lean, Sir Richard Attenborough, Kenneth Branagh, Stephen Frears, Jean-Jacques Annaud and Ridley Scott…to name but a few. In the last year alone, Richard has clocked up a staggering fourteen new title sequences to add to an outstanding CV, I think you’ll agree?
His latest work also includes David Mamet’s PHIL SPECTOR biopic for HBO, DAY OF THE FLOWERS directed by John Roberts: nominated for The Michael Powell Award for Best New British Feature Film at this years Edinburgh International Film Festival and NOW IS GOOD for Ol Parker. In an interview with Empire Richard said about the process:
“I look for a nuance, a subliminal energy in a film that I can then work into an idea. A lot of my title sequences don’t give much away, but they give you a flavour. So the viewer thinks – Oh, this is intriguing, show me more…”
I think you’ll agree by watching his title sequence for BATMAN, it’s still an unforgettable and iconic beginning for the Dark Knight:
Over the years, Richard and his team have produced some outstanding work. One such member of that team is Dean Wares, who has worked with Richard for nearly two decades now and created the titles typography for such hits as (one of my all-time top five films) HIGH FIDELITY and THE GOLDEN COMPASS, as well as the newly released LAY THE FAVORITE starring Bruce Willis and who also designed with Richard the title sequence for the upcoming WELCOME TO THE PUNCH starring James McAvoy.
Currently, Richard is now under way with some very exciting, newly awarded films including THE NUMBERS STATION for Kasper Barfoed, MOHAMMAD ALI’S GREATEST FIGHT directed by Stephen Frears for HBO and ZAYTOUN for Eran Riklis, as well as Trevor Miller’s RIOT ON REDCHURCH STREET produced by Sean McLusky and Hamish McAlpine.
If that wasn’t enough, Since 2002 Richard has also been the chairman of Europe’s leading film and animation conference “Pencil to Pixel” and in 2009, he was appointed Honorary Professor of Digital Film School of Media Arts and Imaging at the University of Dundee, Scotland.
We’d also like to direct you towards their blog, check out their website for further details plus check out their IMDb pages for the full filmography.
If you would like to get in touch with Richard Morrison, please contact New Business Manager Annabel Wright: [email protected]
Richard Morrison: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0607290
Dean Wares: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2861146
Annabel Wright: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1975410
