The document analyzes the title sequence of the TV show Narcos. It discusses the various shot types, camera angles, lighting, mise-en-scene, typography, editing, and sound design used in the sequence. The sequence uses aerial shots, surveillance footage, and real footage of Pablo Escobar to portray the DEA's investigation into Escobar. It also contrasts the clinical look of the DEA with the colorful, fantasy depiction of Escobar's lifestyle. White writing overlaid on shots represents investigative notes. The title sequence effectively establishes the show is about the search for Pablo Escobar and the Colombian drug trade through its stylized depiction of the investigation.
The document analyzes the title sequence of the TV show Narcos. It discusses the various shot types, camera angles, lighting, mise-en-scene, typography, editing, and sound design used in the sequence. The sequence uses aerial shots, surveillance footage, and real footage of Pablo Escobar to portray the DEA's investigation into Escobar. It also contrasts the clinical look of the DEA with the colorful, fantasy depiction of Escobar's lifestyle. White writing overlaid on shots represents investigative notes. The title sequence effectively establishes the show is about the search for Pablo Escobar and the Colombian drug trade through its stylized depiction of the investigation.
The document analyzes the title sequence of the TV show Narcos. It discusses the various shot types, camera angles, lighting, mise-en-scene, typography, editing, and sound design used in the sequence. The sequence uses aerial shots, surveillance footage, and real footage of Pablo Escobar to portray the DEA's investigation into Escobar. It also contrasts the clinical look of the DEA with the colorful, fantasy depiction of Escobar's lifestyle. White writing overlaid on shots represents investigative notes. The title sequence effectively establishes the show is about the search for Pablo Escobar and the Colombian drug trade through its stylized depiction of the investigation.
clear that a lot of the shots are a form of surveillance of presumably Pablo Escobar. A lot of the shots used are birds eye view, this gives the impression of the surveillance being performed during a helicopter fly-over. The aerial view helps the viewer to establish that this is a series about searching for Pablo Escobar. The sequence integrates shots that are from the series and real life footage of Pablo Escobar, this is to remind the viewer that the show is based on real events and people.
Lighting
Similar to the lighting in the True
Detective title sequence there is a spectrum of light being used to portray both sides of the story. Whenever a shot to do with the DEA comes up their isn't much colour in the shot and because of this it creates quite a clinical feeling around the organisation. Whenever a shot of Escobars lifestyle comes up the colour is very prevalent and because of this creates a fantasy look to his life, which is reasonable considering he thought he was living his dream.
Mise en Scne &
Typography Aside from the recurring investigationstyle notes in nearly every frame, it is made clear to the viewer what is going on in the given time period from what is shown on screen. We are given an idea of what Pablo Escobar does when a briefcase filled with cocaine is shown then moments later the same shot/briefcase is used only this time it is filled with money, which is obviously the fact that Pablo Escobar sold cocaine for a living and it is made clear how much money this could bring him. When shots of Escobars fantasy life are shown, attractive women are often the central interest points of the frames, which leads to the suggestion that Escobars fantasy life was heavily made up by women.
Editing
In many shots some form of white writing
can be seen overlaying the actual shot itself. There are also grids, highlighted locations and crosses over peoples eyes. All of this is representative for the investigation taking place at the time, these are clearly some form of DEA research/investigation and this is made clear specifically by the suspect elimination shot in the bottom right. The white writing that overlays these shots is often variations of crime scene notes or in some cases it is a chemical equation for presumably the drug heroine. Another noticeable edit is the placement of the real Pablo Escobar shots and what comes before and after them. In one scenario a shot of Escobar is shown then cuts to a shot of burning buildings, which is suggestive for what he has caused.
Sound
The soundtrack to the sequence is called
Tuyo by Rodrigo Amarante and was composed specifically for the series. The track is in Spanish which relates to the context however if translated it can be seen that the lyrics relate to the actual narrative of the series. The song fits into a genre known as narcocorrido which is a genre of music based on drug kingpins in Central and Southern America. The song is often described as hypnotic which could be related to the drug heroine which is one of the main centre points of the storyline in the series.
Summary
Overall I feel that the title sequence
served its purpose and also was quite entertaining to watch.
The most effective part of the sequence
was the investigation-style text as well as the use of chemical equations to establish that this is an investigation into the Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar.
It is made clear from the very start what
the series is about and the sequence also provides basic character descriptions.