“My initial thoughts about what a title can do was to set mood and the prime underlying core of the film’s story, to express the story in some metaphorical way. I saw the title as a way of conditioning the audience, so that when the film actually began, viewers would already have an emotional resonance with it.”

– Saul Bass

Taking a cue from the preeminent title designer Saul Bass and from his successor Kyle Cooper, Locked Horns Productions provides professional-level title design for independent film and television productions. A limited budget does not have to imply a limited vision - and a well-designed title sequence is the most effective way to quickly connect an audience to your film’s central themes and imagery.

Locked Horns’ principle compositor and animator Paul DeNigris is also a filmmaker, and he views title design as just an extension of the filmmaking process. Words, images, and music should combine to tell a little bit of the story and set the mood for the audience - a good title sequence is like a little movie unto itself, and can add otherwise unused colors to any filmmaker’s palette.

Below are some examples of our title designs for film and television. Please contact us today to begin exploring how Locked Horns Productions can bring its expertise in title design to your production - regardless of budget.

NetherBeast Incorporated (feature film, 2007)
Ronalds Brothers Productions

For their “undead office comedy” feature film NetherBeast Incorporated, the Ronalds Brothers commissioned Locked Horns Productions to create an elaborate animated title sequence including fully animated versions of the film’s principle cast. Designed and animated by Paul DeNigris; art direction and illustrations by Linda LaGalia.

Read more about the making of this sequence, or check out www.netherbeast.com for more info about the film, available on DVD January 6th, 2009.

“Little Victim” (short film, 2005)
JuSpan Productions / Ronalds Brothers Productions

For this wickedly funny short film starring Robert Wagner and Lori Singer, the task was to create a simple and atmospheric title sequence that evoked the film’s smoke-filled climax.

Read more about the making of the “Little Victim” title sequence.

The Falls (feature film, 2003)
Locked Horns Productions

For his feature directorial debut, Paul DeNigris designed these intricate opening titles inspired by the flowing waters of Niagara Falls and the elusive, fluid nature of memories - built around the central image a beer bottle.

Read more about the making of title sequence for The Falls.

“Screen Wars” (television series, 2005-2007)
IFP/Phoenix, Phoenix Film Foundation, and AZ-TV

For this short film competition series, created as a companion to the Phoenix Film Festival, the mission was to create a professional-looking intro with absolutely no budget. Using stock photography and simple visual effects tricks, Paul created this sequence. During the first season of the show, five different opens were created, one fore each genre competition; the version you see here was created to run for the entire second season.

Read more about the making of the “Screen Wars” title sequence.