The Making of the Mob: Chicago / Main Title Design
AMC / Stephen David Entertainment
Find your best pinstripe suit and get ready to be immersed into the world of Al Capone and the ‘Chicago Outfit’. For the eight-episode AMC docu-drama, The Making of the Mob: Chicago we created the dark, gritty, microfiche-based main title sequence exposing the underbelly of Chicago. Produced by Stephen David Entertainment, the series spans the better part of a century, featuring main players of the time such as the infamous Al Capone, his mentor Johnny Torrio, and well-known associates like Tony Accardo and Paul Ricca. Shots of these actors combined with authentic images from the period come together in the film-noir environment of the title sequence.
CONCEPT DESIGN DEVELOPMENT
We developed a range of initial concepts to express the most powerful and informative way intro the series, designs that would be very fitting for the gritty and true underbelly of the Mob world. Since it was a docu-series, we wanted to bring in realistic elements, but also have enough of the drama and flair to emphasize how dangerous and action-packed the lifestyle was. We went through some initial designs of a classic film-noir type design featuring neon lights, low-key lighting, venetian blind-esque shadows, amongst more. Some play more to a realistic tone, being that the show was depicting real events, while other concepts were much more stylized, capturing some of those Mob motifs previously mentioned. Ultimately we moved forward with a concept that was based loosely on an FBI evidence board — a design featuring documents, photos, maps and written markings all used together to emphasize that Mob feel but also showcase the featured characters.
MAIN TITLE
Bringing the concept in motion, the shots of the characters are combined with authentic images from the period, adding the sense of realism and placing you in the time period. These are combined with the before-mentioned GFX and an animation style that has friction and is confident. We punch around moment to moment, to feel the energy, drama and tension from the Mafia world and those investigating them. Every visual of the main title is supported by a heavy and deep music track that ramps up as you move through.
The whole thing is in-depth, suave and methodical, and it’ll make you reach for your nearest tumbler glass and prepare you for a ride into the underworld!