In their latest work for Apple TV+, ECD Mason Nicoll and Digital Kitchen capture themes of grief, loss, and ties to the past in this amorphous and unsettling title sequence for the psychological thriller Before starring Billy Crystal.

Mason Nicoll: “Our vision for the title sequence was to evoke the ethereal and disorienting nature of the show’s themes, blending together and moving in reverse.

“Creatively, our challenge was to set the tone and atmosphere for the mysterious elements layered within the show, while alluding to the converging worlds of the two leads. The show has such a compelling visual palette that we leaned into the idea of a dreamscape where time has no direction. A journey that takes us through memories of past lives connecting the characters.
 

“The show has such a compelling visual palette that we leaned into the idea of a dreamscape where time has no direction.”

 
“To fulfil this, it was important to find a visual balance between the archival and modern look. Using modern digital infrared cameras with a selection of vintage lenses (including one that was found for $10 in the bargain bucket of a lens store) created an otherworldly style to capture these dreamscape environments.

“The combination of Black Magic Infrared Pocket Cinema cameras and RED V-Raptor 8k VV cameras provided the perfect balance of authenticity and modernity, capturing the intricate and evocative visuals that define the title sequence.

“The production process involved meticulous planning and experimentation, utilizing Photoshop for design development, After Effects, Cinema 4D, and Premiere Pro for animation and editing, and DaVinci Resolve for color grading.”
 
 

 
Client: Apple TV+

Production: Digital Kitchen
Executive Creative Director: Mason Nicoll
CD: Andrew Julien
Art Director: Rachel Brickel, Peter Pak
Motion Artist/Designer: John Van Unen
Editor: Justin West
Senior Producer: Jason Rosen
Head of Experiences: Ally Malloy

Music: Jay Wadley