The title sequences of James Bond movies are like no other. First of all they are a lot longer than typical movie title sequences, and they have a certain amount of artistry and narrative rather than just a list of names. But what exactly is it that turns the title sequence into a James Bond title sequence?

In the video interview below, director and co-founder of directing collective Rattling Stick, Daniel Kleinman talks to Watch the Titles about his work on Bond movies. Beginning as a music video director, Kleinman used the medium to practice his craft and test out different techniques. ‘It was like going back to school on somebody else’s money,’ he says. Now, he uses those skills to do every Bond movie title since Golden Eye.

To create the perfect Bond opener, Kleinman explains you need to use a special formula:

It has to have the gun barrel, a little bit of narrative story which suggest the atmosphere of the film, it has to be a little bit sexy, a little bit funny, it has to be surprising, maybe a bit surreal and of course you have to peoples names, and it is quite a long list and is really pretty boring.

It’s a testament to Kleinman (and the directors before him) that they can transform a boring list of names into a short film in its  own right. One that means only one thing: Bond.

See the interview below to hear Kleinman discuss his inspirations and work, and explain some of those famous titles:

Daniel Kleinman