Dan Perri
Dan Perri
Biography
Daniel Richard Perri (born August 11, 1945) is an American film and television title sequence designer. He has worked in film title design since the 1970s, and has been responsible for the main titles of several notable films including The Exorcist (1973), Taxi Driver (1976), Star Wars (1977), Raging Bull (1980), Airplane! (1980),[1] and Suspiria (2018). Perri made contact with the film graphics designer Saul Bass and began to pester him for work at his studio on Sunset Boulevard. Eventually, Perri found work with Bass through his illustrator, Art Goodman. During his service in the US Navy, Perri served on the USS Repose and designed an on-board newspaper, entitled The Repose Reprise. After serving in the Navy, Perri went to work with Cinefx alongside Phill Norman, Wayne Fitzgerald Don Record, and a former school friend, Steve Smith. After a year, both Perri and Smith quit and went on to form their independent design studio, Perri & Smith. The pair worked together from 1969 to 1973, mostly on small, low-budget television features, but their credits also included films such as Electra Glide in Blue and several of Gene Corman's blaxploitation films. The designers were often exploited and clients sometimes failed to pay, and eventually, the business folded. Perri's big break came in 1973 when he was commissioned by Billy Friedkin to produce the main titles for The Exorcist, his first solo project. With a blockbuster film in his portfolio, Perri was now able to attract more work and soon found himself working on high-profile titles. For Nashville (1975), Robert Altman commissioned a main title sequence and a logo to be used in marketing. Perri produced an unusual, kitschy sequence inspired by low-budget K-Tel Records television commercials, complete with a loud, brash voiceover by Johnny Grant. In 1976, Martin Scorsese brought Perri in to design the titles for Taxi Driver. Perri took second unit footage and color-treated the film through a process of film copying and slit-scan, resulting in a highly stylized graphic sequence that evoked the "underbelly" of New York City through lurid colors, glowing neon signs distorted nocturnal images and deep black levels, accompanied by Bernard Herrmann's jazz soundtrack. Possibly Perri's best-known title sequence project came about in 1976 when his friend James Nelson was working on post-production for a new space fantasy film, Star Wars. Nelson recommended Perri to director George Lucas, who invited Perri to Industrial Light & Magic, Lucasfilm's post-production operation at Van Nuys, California. Lucas briefed Perri to take inspiration from old 1930s cinema serials such as Flash Gordon and Buck Rogers that had inspired Lucas to write much of his Star Wars story. After struggling to come up with a concept that Lucas liked, Perri eventually developed a concept for presenting a textual introduction based on the opening credits of the 1939 Cecil B. DeMille film, Union Pacific, in which the credits are shown distorted by a sharp perspective and rolling along a railroad track towards a distant vanishing point. Lucas approved of the idea and Perri produced sketches and prototype mechanical artwork, supported by storyboard artwork drawn by the production artist Alex Tavoularis. This gave birth to the now-familiar opening crawl sequence that appears in the Star Wars films.
Known For
Personal Info
Known For
Art
Known Credits
257
Gender
Male
Birthday
1945-08-11 (79 years old)
Place of Birth
New York City, New York, U.S.
Acting

2023

The Exorcist Untold as Self

2021

The Art of The Film Title as Not available

2015

Sharkskin as Waiter
Crew

2023

The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial Title Designer

2022

Dead for a Dollar Title Designer

2021

Mosquito State Title Designer

2020

I'm Your Woman Title Designer

2019

The Public Title Designer

2019

Lake of Death Title Designer

2018

Suspiria Title Designer

2017

All Saints Title Designer

2017

First House on the Hill Title Designer

2016

Internet Famous Title Designer

2015

Sharkskin Director

2015

Sharkskin Producer

2015

Sharkskin Screenplay

2015

Sharkskin Title Designer

2011

Pound of Flesh Title Designer

2011

The Beaver Title Designer

2010

The Warm-Up Guy Title Designer

2009

Spread Title Designer

2007

Even Money Title Designer

2007

The House of Usher Title Designer

2007

Spinning Into Butter Title Designer

2007

In the Valley of Elah Title Designer

2007

There Will Be Blood Title Designer

2007

Have Dreams, Will Travel Title Designer

2006

Eight Below Title Designer

2006

Hoot Title Designer

2005

Pizza Title Designer

2005

Santa's Slay Main Title Designer

2004

Mojave Title Designer

2004

The Aviator Title Designer

2003

The Battle of Shaker Heights Title Designer

2002

Sorority Boys Title Designer

2002

Insomnia Title Designer

2002

American Gun Title Designer

2002

Gangs of New York Title Designer

2002

Tropix Title Designer

2001

Bartleby Title Designer

2001

15 Minutes Title Designer

2001

James Dean Title Designer

2001

Speaking of Sex Title Designer

2000

Luckytown Title Designer

1999

She's All That Main Title Designer

1999

The Road to 'Dracula' Main Title Designer

1999

Varsity Blues Title Designer

1999

Freak City Title Designer

1999

Thick as Thieves Title Designer

1999

East Is East Title Designer

1999

In Too Deep Title Designer

1999

Vendetta Title Designer

1998

A Price Above Rubies Title Designer

1998

Since You've Been Gone Title Designer

1998

The Very Thought of You Title Designer

1998

54 Title Designer

1998

I Woke Up Early the Day I Died Title Designer

1998

A Night at the Roxbury Title Designer

1997

Love Jones Title Designer

1997

Gridlock'd Title Designer

1997

This World, Then the Fireworks Title Designer

1997

Traveller Title Designer

1997

Cold Around the Heart Title Designer

1997

Soul Food Main Title Designer

1997

Tinseltown Title Designer

1997

Playing God Title Designer

1996

Rainbow Title Designer

1996

Freeway Title Designer

1996

Mulholland Falls Title Designer

1996

Curdled Title Designer

1996

House Arrest Title Designer

1996

Harvey Title Designer

1995

Picture Bride Title Designer

1995

Congo Title Designer

1995

Species Title Designer

1995

Separate Lives Title Designer

1995

Dazzle Title Designer

1995

Mallrats Title Designer

1994

Color of Night Title Designer

1994

Safe Passage Title Designer

1993

Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit Second Unit Director

1993

Alive Title Designer

1993

Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story Title Designer

1993

Iron Monkey Title Designer

1993

Mr. Wonderful Title Designer

1992

The Player Title Designer

1992

Deep Cover Title Designer

1992

Original Intent Title Designer

1992

Traces of Red Title Designer

1992

Night and the City Title Designer

1992

The Distinguished Gentleman Title Designer

1991

Guilty by Suspicion Title Designer

1991

Palomino Title Designer

1991

The Taking of Beverly Hills Title Designer

1990

Internal Affairs Title Designer

1990

Stella Title Designer

1990

Men Don't Leave Title Designer

1990

Lord of the Flies Title Designer

1990

The First Power Title Designer

1990

RoboCop 2 Title Designer

1990

Pacific Heights Title Designer

1990

The Rescuers Down Under Title Designer

1989

Miracle Mile Title Designer

1989

Out Cold Title Designer

1989

Field of Dreams Title Designer

1988

The Seventh Sign Title Designer

1988

A Time of Destiny Title Designer

1988

The Beat Title Designer

1988

Bull Durham Title Designer

1988

Midnight Run Title Designer

1988

Vibes Title Designer

1988

1969 Title Designer

1988

Mystic Pizza Title Designer

1988

Everybody's All-American Title Designer

1988

Fresh Horses Title Designer

1988

Tequila Sunrise Title Designer

1988

Talk Radio Title Designer

1987

Raising Arizona Title Designer

1987

The Allnighter Title Designer

1987

In the Mood Title Designer

1987

La Bamba Title Designer

1987

Wall Street Title Designer

1987

Leonard Part 6 Title Designer

1986

Dream Lover Title Designer

1986

Quicksilver Title Designer

1986

Nine 1/2 Weeks Title Designer

1986

Wise Guys Title Designer

1986

Where the River Runs Black Title Designer

1986

Tough Guys Title Designer

1986

The Color of Money Title Designer

1986

Deadly Friend Title Designer

1986

Quiet Cool Title Designer

1986

Willy/Milly Title Designer

1986

Streets of Gold Title Designer

1986

Platoon Title Designer

1985

Grace Quigley Title Designer

1985

The Last Dragon Title Designer

1985

Key Exchange Title Designer

1985

Compromising Positions Title Designer

1985

Beer Title Designer

1985

After Hours Title Designer

1985

White Nights Title Designer

1984

Circus Title Designer

1984

Against All Odds Title Designer

1984

Beat Street Title Designer

1984

Blood Simple Title Designer

1984

The Goodbye People Title Designer

1984

A Nightmare on Elm Street Title Designer

1983

Curtains Title Designer

1983

Spring Break Title Designer

1983

Star 80 Title Designer

1983

Streamers Title Designer

1983

A Night in Heaven Title Designer

1982

If You Could See What I Hear Title Designer

1982

White Dog Title Designer

1982

An Officer and a Gentleman Title Designer

1982

The King of Comedy Title Designer

1981

Cutter's Way Title Designer

1981

The Hand Title Designer

1981

The Fan Title Designer

1981

Honky Tonk Freeway Title Designer

1981

Threshold Title Designer

1980

American Gigolo Title Designer

1980

The Long Riders Title Designer

1980

The Stunt Man Title Designer

1980

Airplane! Title Designer

1980

My Bodyguard Title Designer

1980

Caddyshack Title Designer

1980

Why Would I Lie? Title Designer

1980

Blood Beach Title Designer

1980

Times Square Title Designer

1980

The Idolmaker Title Designer

1980

Raging Bull Title Designer

1980

First Family Title Designer

1979

The Double McGuffin Title Designer

1979

The Warriors Title Designer

1979

Norma Rae Title Designer

1979

Dreamer Title Designer

1979

Hanover Street Title Designer

1979

Players Title Designer

1979

Bloodline Title Designer

1979

Americathon Title Designer

1979

Promises in the Dark Title Designer

1979

An American Christmas Carol Title Designer

1979

Going in Style Title Designer

1978

Girlfriends Main Title Designer

1978

FM Title Designer

1978

The Betsy Title Designer

1978

Blue Collar Title Designer

1978

Coming Home Title Designer

1978

House Calls Title Designer

1978

F.I.S.T. Title Designer

1978

I Wanna Hold Your Hand Title Designer

1978

The Last Waltz Title Designer

1978

Girlfriends Title Designer

1978

Days of Heaven Title Designer

1978

Stony Island Title Designer

1977

The Late Show Title Designer

1977

3 Women Title Designer

1977

The White Buffalo Title Designer

1977

Exorcist II: The Heretic Title Designer

1977

New York, New York Title Designer

1977

Sorcerer Title Designer

1977

Capricorn One Title Designer

1977

Star Wars Title Designer

1976

Taxi Driver Title Designer

1976

Griffin and Phoenix Title Designer

1976

All the President's Men Title Designer

1976

The River Niger Title Designer

1976

Paco Title Designer

1976

Marathon Man Title Designer

1976

Welcome to L.A. Title Designer

1975

Lepke Title Designer

1975

The Day of the Locust Title Designer

1975

The Hiding Place Title Designer

1975

Las Vegas Lady Title Designer

1975

Nashville Title Designer

1975

Once Is Not Enough Title Designer

1975

The Four Deuces Title Designer

1975

Russian Roulette Title Designer

1975

The Legend of Bigfoot Title Designer

1975

Mr. Sycamore Title Designer

1975

Lucky Lady Title Designer

1975

King Arthur, the Young Warlord Title Designer

1975

Love Among the Ruins Title Designer

1974

California Split Title Designer

1974

Flesh Gordon Title Designer

1974

The Swinging Cheerleaders Title Designer

1974

Freebie and the Bean Title Designer

1973

Time to Run Title Designer

1973

Heavy Traffic Title Designer

1973

Electra Glide in Blue Title Designer

1973

I Escaped from Devil's Island Title Designer

1973

The Exorcist Title Designer

1972

Fritz the Cat Title Designer

1972

Cool Breeze Title Designer

1972

The Concert for Bangladesh Title Designer

1972

FTA Title Designer

1972

Hit Man Title Designer

1971

The Grissom Gang Title Designer

1971

Plaza Suite Title Designer

1970

The Out-of-Towners Title Designer

1970

Rio Lobo Title Designer