Forward Pass

Background

This is Michael Mann's production company. It was formerly known as Michael Mann Productions.

Michael Mann Productions

(September 16, 1984-January 25, 1990)

Nickname: "Flashing Shapes"

Logo: On a black background, we see the text "MICHAEL MANN" in an odd, stylized font, with "a" and "production" above and below it in a smaller, less stylized font. Behind it, two screens both with odd neon-colored shapes on them flash multiple times. The first shows a fence-looking door with a blue squiggle to the right, and the second shows a row of lines arranged like a rectangle and a weird "splotch" thing. They eventually stop flashing, landing on the second screen.

Variants:

• On early episodes of Miami Vice, the animation is slower with different shapes appearing. It's also very poorly filmed, as it shakes a lot and looks like it was filmed with a cheap camcorder.
• On the second episode of Miami Vice, there is an in-credit card for "The Michael Mann Co., Inc."; such is depicted above.

FX/SFX: The flashing, which is actually in sync with the last notes of the Miami Vice theme.

Music/Sounds: The closing theme of the show.

Availability: Seen on Miami Vice and Crime Story.

Forward Pass

(September 27, 2002-April 21, 2003)

Logo: On a black background, we see a red box with the black text "FORWARD PASS" and Michael Mann's initials M.M. in the middle.

Variant: On the first two episodes of Robbery Homicide Division, the text and Mann's initials are in white.

FX/SFX: None.

Music/Sounds: The closing theme of the show. When originally shown on CBS, the network's generic theme played over it.

Availability: Extremely rare. Only seen on the aforementioned show above.