True Blood Title Sequence

‘True Blood’, a very explicit raunchy programme about vampires and humans has a very interesting, moving title sequence. From the title sequence we see a little boy with red berry juice all around his mouth, this is the 4 frame of the 9-frames and gives away hints that the programme is about vampires as the red berry juice imitates the colour of blood. Further into the sequence we see a sign that says ‘God Hates Fangs’ this also gives the audience an idea that the programme is about vampires and religion hating them. The 5^th frame shows moonlight, this also gives the idea that the programme is about vampires as vampires like the dark and come out during the moonlight. We also see scenes of church services and gospel choirs as well as people dancing in church this conveys the information that they are very deeply religious people, we see images of people praying and being baptised which are seen in frames 6 and 9. Further on in the sequence we see girls dancing with rednecks and their writhing bodies which shows that they may be poor and they are not glamorous, it also shows their loose sexual morals and that the women and rednecks are sexually active. The first and third frames show images of swamps and during the full sequence we see bars and clubs as well as churches, this shows the audience that the location is in the USA and the swamps show that the location is in the ‘deep south’.  The actors shown in the opening sequence are wearing vests, baseball caps and have beards; this is a typical redneck stereotype and encourages the audience to believe they are in a poor community. The 2^nd and 7^th frames show a snake looking like it’s about to pounce on its prey as well as a venus fly trap swallowing up an insect, also the 8^th frame shows the title ‘True Blood’ in a red liquid symbolising blood, this conveys the idea that the programme is a horror, drama or soap, or possibly all of them. It draws in the audience who like thrilling programmes which give that sense of mystery and terror. Throughout the title sequence there are some very muted colours, several images of death and decaying animals along with naked bodies and women in underwear, this creates a juxtaposition and leaves it up to the reader to establish connections and impose a meaning of these figures. These images create a sense of discomfort and a chilling mood, it also creates a mysterious atmosphere along with the tension of sexiness and sinister. As previously stated the woman dancing seductively with a man which generates the theme of sex, also the Baptist church service shows religion and sacrifice, the rotting rat and dog produces the theme of death and decay which is shown several times in the sequence, and the civil rights protest from the 60’s as well as the ‘ku Klux klan’ child creates the issue of civil rights as the clip shows images of protestants. An enigma created by the sign outside the church is ‘what does the phrase ‘god hates fangs’ mean? Why are there several images of death and decaying animal bodies? And why are the women openly letting themselves be open to anyone? These enigmas encourage the audience to want to find out the answers to them, therefore drawing them in to watching the programme and really engaging in the issues created throughout the series.