Concepted, designed, and produced by Digital Kitchen, this main title sequence for Apple TV+’s Before sets the tone for the atmospheric psychological thriller series, drawing viewers into its dreamscape narrative where time ebbs and flows, blending memories and reality in a seamless dance.
Before, which premiered on Friday (10/25), revolves around Eli, portrayed by Billy Crystal, a child psychiatrist grappling with the recent loss of his wife, Lynn (Judith Light). As he encounters Noah (Jacobi Jupe), a troubled young boy with an eerie connection to his past, Eli is drawn into a mysterious world where memories intertwine with reality. As Eli attempts to help Noah throughout the 10-episode series, their bond deepens, revealing layers of psychological and supernatural intrigue.
Blending visual artistry with narrative depth for the show’s intro, Mason Nicoll, executive creative director at Digital Kitchen, described the sequence’s dreamscape-like ambiance as a visual narrative where time loses its linearity, memories intertwine, and reality becomes fluid. “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,” shared Nicoll.
Digital Kitchen’s main title sequence for Before moves as if tuning a radio, scrubbing through static, and blending sounds until a familiar image comes into focus, only to be quickly obscured and lost within the memories. To accomplish this in production, Digital Kitchen’s innovative approach was focused around how to capture as much as possible in camera. The use of vintage camera lenses, including the radioactive “Super Takumar Vintage,” added unique visual effects, light distortions, and color artifacts that enhance the sequence’s otherworldly feel. This method allowed the shots to feel as authentic to memories and hallucinations as possible, with subtle light effects, color artifacts, and distortions intensifying the ethereal essence.
“We wanted this show’s opening sequence to feel both archival and modern, and by using a variety of vintage camera lenses and digital infrared cameras, we were able to successfully capture and achieve that dreamlike-quality effect,” added Nicoll.
To bring this vision to life, the team at Digital Kitchen employed a range of cutting-edge tools and techniques. 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. 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 main title sequence.
The creation of the Before main title sequence was a collaborative effort, with key contributions from Digital Kitchen’s art directors Rachel Brickel and Peter Pak, motion artist and designer John Van Unen, and editor Justin West. The haunting music score by Jay Wadley further elevates the sequence, enhancing the atmospheric and psychological depth of the series.
Executive produced by Crystal, Academy Award® winner Eric Roth, and series creator Sarah Thorp, Before debuted globally on Apple TV+ on October 25 with the first two episodes, and will be followed by new episodes every Friday through December 20.
