“Clueless”
Movie Title Sequence
TYPE
Motion Graphics
DESCRIPTION
Process
The vision for this project came from the 1989 hit movie “Clueless.” What would it have been like if the movie began with a compilation of Cher’s photos and fashion magazines piling into a scrapbook she might have made? My goal for this project was to visualize the story and characters of “Clueless” in a flipbook-style opening credits scene. Execution of this project included multiple mediums and disciplines including collaging, stop-motion photography, hand-drawn illustration, and video editing.
1. Collage
First thing first: Create Cher’s scrapbook
I gathered photos from behind the scenes cast photos, key movie moments, colorful 90’s graphics & patterns, foam letters, jewels, felt, and stickers for the scrapbook elements. Each page was intentionally made per character for the opening credits.
2. Photograph
Step two: Stop motion
I created a flat lay for Cher’s scrapbook - the journal surrounded by photos, stickers, and other elements as if Cher was creating & flipping through the book herself. To create the flipping effect, I held and propped up each page as it turned to the next.
3. Draw
Next: Write the names
It was only fitting to have the character names be hand-written in Cher’s scrapbook. I used ProCreate on my iPad, to hand draw each character’s name over the corresponding page.
4. Edit
Finally: Make it move
Using Adobe After Effects, I imported the flat lay photos as a sequence. I then layered on the hand-written names and used masks to mimic a hand-drawn effect. The title sequence ends with a transition to the beginning scene of Clueless.