G321: Evaluation Question 7

G321: Evaluation Question 6

G321: Evaluation Question 5

G321: Evaluation Question 4

G321: Evaluation Question 3

G321: Evaluation Question 2

G321: Evaluation Question 1

G321: Comparing our Film Opening to Existing Openings

As a group we have now created the storyboard for our opening. As part of further research I am now going to compare our opening idea to that of existing openings in our chosen genre of romantic-comedy. I will compare the way titles, sound, narrative, characters and mise are all used to create a successful opening. In doing this I can ensure that our opening fits generic conventions of our genre and provides our audience will a plot line that they will want to continue watching.

Titles:
We are planning have simple titles that fade in/out of the frame, however we are going integrate the title of the film to make it stand out. Another film that uses this technique for the first title is 'Over Her Dead Body' (2008) in which the production company is integrated into the sequence onto a wedding invitation. This makes the sequence flow and we are hoping we can create the same effect.

This clip shows the integrated title:




Sound:
We are using a voice over for our opening without any other speech occurring, but with background music playing quietly. Films such as 'Confessions of a Shopaholic' (2009) and 'Bridget Jones's Diary' (2001) have also used this techniques in their opening. We feel this introduces the character and leaves the audience asking questions as to who the person is that is speaking. Also, in 'Confessions of a Shopaholic' background music is used beneath the voice over, which is something we are also planning to do. We feel this creates a more relaxed and welcoming atmosphere and prevents us from alienating the audience.

This clip shows the opening of 'Confessions of a Shopaholic':



Narrative:
Our opening is an open narrative beginning with a voice over of the character writing an article about love and relationships. When the audience enter the plot line they do not know what our characters job is, and so the voice over is not entirely clear which leaves them asking a lot of questions. Also, the identity of the voice over is not fully exposed in the opening. Other films that follow a similar narrative are 'Confessions of Shopaholic' (2009) and 'Sex and the City' (2008).

This clip shows the opening of Bridget Jones's Diary where a voice over is used: (one minute onwards) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6aFhQ9uPsxM

In 'Sex and the City', the actress Sarah Jessica Parker does voice over at the beginning of each film, and also in the TV series, in order to introduce it. She also narrates the film at certain point in order to explain certain things or give her opinion on certain situations. An example of one of the quotes is 'And we were dressed from head to toe in love...the only label that never goes out of style.'. In the same way we are introducing the film with a voice over as this will enable to use them throughout in order to narrate the film through the characters eyes. This will introduce the idea at the beginning of the film and then allow it to flow throughout.

Characters:
Our plot line follows a female on her plight of love. Having the main protagonist as a female is very common in rom-coms, for example 'The Devil Wears Prada' (2006) and 'Bridget Jones' (2009). These all follow the lives of one female and obstacles they face. As an audience we grow to love the leading female, which is was we are intending for our main character Penelope. Examples of these characters are Bridget Jones and Andy Sachs. Both these characters are both innocent but powerful and both have made mistakes but the audience still warms to and associates with them. This is similar to the qualities of our character Penelope Fox.

Bridget Jones

Andy Sachs

Mise-en-scene:

The overall feel of the film will be very feminine, however this will mostly be apparent in the opening. There will be a lot of pink, red and white in order to juxtapose the sense of innocence and sexuality. Props will look lavish and expensive and the lighting used throughout will be bright and natural. The film with the most resemblance to what we are wanting to create is 'Confessions of a Shopaholic' (2009) and 'The Devil Wears Prada' (2006). Furthermore, both these films include the plot line of journalism and therefore encompass out setting. Here are some still shots from each film to show parts of the mise which are similar to what we wish to create:

Office Setting

Bright, natural lighting

Theme of writing and journalism

Colourful bright props

High key lighting

Glamorous yet professional setting

G321: Initial Ideas + Time Line of Titles

We have now started to gather initial ideas on what we would like to include in our film. Below are the links to our group blog where we have started to bring together ideas on characters and plot line and also our film brief.

Mind Map:  http://ascvhsmediacjc.blogspot.com/2011/02/g321-mind-map-of-initial-ideas.html

List of Scenes: http://ascvhsmediacjc.blogspot.com/2011/02/g321-list-of-scenes.html

Character Profiles: http://ascvhsmediacjc.blogspot.com/2011/02/g321-character-profiles.html

Film Brief: http://ascvhsmediacjc.blogspot.com/2011/02/g321-film-brief.html

I have decided to watch the titles of two films and create a timeline of the title sequence. In doing this I will be able to see how other films in my chosen genre have put together their title sequence.  This will help me to get the titles in the right order and also produce a more professional final look to the film.

Titles Sequence One: 10 Things I Hate About You (1999)




(Time line in minutes)
00.02 - Institution name
00.12 - Institution name
00.18 - Institution name
00.28 - Film title
00.33 - Actor 1 (Main female)
00.37 - Actor 2 (Main male)
00.41 - Actor 3
00.43 - Actor 4
00.48 - Actor 5
00.52 - Actor 6
00.56 - Actor 7
01.26 - Actor 8
01.30 - Actor 9
01.34 - Actor 10
01.38 - Scene setting
01.42 - Casting names
02.30 - Music producers
02.36 - Executive music producers
02.42 - Costume designer
02.57 - Associate producer
03.14 - Co-Producer
03.17 - Editors name
03.30 - Production designer
03.32 - Director of photography
03.43 - Executive producer
03.59 - Producer
04.05 - Writers names
04.21 - Director

Title Sequence Two: The Wedding Planner (2001)



(Time line in minutes)
00.04 - Institution
00.08 - Institution
00.13 - Various Institutions
00.18 - Actor 1 (Main female)
00.22 - Actor 2 (Main male)
00.29 - Film title
00.33 - Actor 3
00.40 - Actor 4
00.44 - Actor 5
00.50 - Actor 6
00.54 - Actors 7 + 8
00.59 - Actors 9, 10 + 11
02.48 - Casting names
02.54 - Co-producers
03.05 - Music by
03.13 - Music supervisors
03.18 - Costume designer
03.23 - Editors name
03.34 - Production designer
04.02 - Director of photography
04.18 - Executive producers
04.25 - Executive producers continued
04.49 - Producer
04.59 - Producers continued
05.06 - Writers names
05.32 - Director

After doing the timeline for these two films it is clear to see that the title sequence follows a certain order, with generally the Institutions coming first, followed by the main actors and title of film. It then moves on to other actors, casting, producers, music and other people involved in production. Lastly is the writers name(s) and the director. After noting the order I can now ensure I follow the same pattern when it come to creating the titles for my own film.

G321: Re-makes of Films Diary

In preparation for making our own opening sequence we have done re-makes of three films (each of a different genre). The planning for these remakes is on our group blog which has been linked to below. I have kept a diary of what we have done each lesson including the planning, filming and editing stage of each film.

Planning for remakes: http://ascvhsmediacjc.blogspot.com/2011/02/g321-shot-lists-and-storyboards-for.html

The Re-makes:   http://ascvhsmediacjc.blogspot.com/2011/02/g321-film-re-makes.html

Lesson 1: This lesson we looked at the options of films we could re-make. we decided on Vertigo (1958), The Strangers (2008) and Juno (2007). We felt that these openings would challenge us a group but would also be simple enough for us to re-create.

Lesson 2: Today we started to film Vertigo using a real persons face to film. We found it quite hard to frame the right parts of the face and felt that this was not the best option.

Lesson 3: We went back to filming Vertigo but used a drawn face to film instead of a real person. We felt that this overall worked better. We then went on to film Juno around the school using someone from our group to play the character of Juno.

Lesson 4: This lesson we filmed The Strangers using images of houses printed on paper stuck to wall. This was quicker than going to film real houses and was more viable for us that the time.

Lesson 5: Today we focused to editing Vertigo. We arranged the shots in order and sorted out the timings for each one.

Lesson 6: We continued with the editing of Vertigo and added the effects and titles.

Lesson 7: This lesson we began by editing The Strangers. We arranged the clips and also added in the fade to blacks in the right places. We also made sure each shot was the right length.

Lesson 8: We finished editing The Strangers by adding in the background sounds and voice over. We then began to edit Juno by uploading the clips and arranging them in the correct order. We then cut and trimmed each clip to the correct length and removed the sound of the clips.

Lesson 9: Today we completed the editing on Juno by adding the background music and adding titles in the correct place. We also sorted all the different transitions and made sure everything was correct and finished.

G321: Analysing Romantic Comedy Genre Openings

Now we have come to the decision of making a romantic-comedy genre film I am going to analyse 3 existing film openings of this genre. By doing this I will be able to take into account what conventions there are in the opening sequences. This will ensure that I include these conventions in my own opening in order to portray a clear representation of the romantic-comedy genre.

Opening One: Love Actually (2003)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D46oPJuqrbo

• Modern titles - Introduce institution first 
• First apart with the voice over concentrates on romance and love, whilst second part contrasts and introduces the idea of comedy - showing the sub-genre of rom-com.
• 'Christmas' in lyrics of the song being recorded signifies the time of year that the film is set.
• Title if film is integrated into what the voice over is saying. It then comes up with title with 'Love' in red - connoting love. This theme is continued to other titles with the first letter of the actors name appearing in red. This helps the two contrasting parts of the opening to flow into each other.
• Titles only come up when music plays for the recording in the storyline. This helps to integrate theme effectively and creates more of a flow overall.

Opening Two: Four weddings and a Funeral (1994)

• Classic non-diegetic background music, which sounds expensive and lavish.
• Title of film comes up almost straight away. It appears on weddings cake which reflects the name of the film and the iconography of the wedding cake indicates the possible theme of weddings.
• Simple titles and transitions (fade in/out).
• Shows a range of characters - possible main characters.
• The old fashioned font of the titles is reminiscent of old story books with stories about love and fairy tales. 
• Hugh grant playing his character is seen first - he was the main star of the film and him being seen first highlights and reinforces this to the audience. 
• Background music lyrics directly talks about love - showing the genre.
• The narrative is ambiguous - we don't really know what is going on which leaves the audience questioning and wanting to watch more.

Opening Three: The Holiday (2006)

• Institution is shown straight away followed by the other production companies involved in the film.
• Slow, romantic music that is played is fitting with the opening frame of the man and woman kissing - we automatically presume this to be the start of the film.
• The voice over introduces ideas from rest of film and refers to problems that the characters may find along the way.
• Quite old fashioned title font could represent the idea of the old fashion 'happily every after' - this contrasts the actual plot line. 
• Each main character is seen separately - suggesting that their paths may cross as some point in the film.
• Title of the film comes up quite early on in the sequence.
• The opening is more focused on the romance side of the genre as oppose to the comedy.

After watching and analysing these 3 openings it has become apparent that many conventions are followed. The title almost always comes up very early on in the title sequence. This is then followed by actors names etc. In all 3 there is non-diegetic background music playing which reflects the romance side of the genre - indicating almost immediately to the audience what the genre is. Often many clues about the storyline are given away through voice overs or simple references. I have found that titles that are integrated a little more into the film e.g. in love actually work more effectively and are more noticeable. It seems that films made at an earlier date i.e. Four Weddings and a Funeral are much less integrated as oppose to the more modern films. Also, the main characters that are introduced are often the ones that the story will be focused on. These introductions also give an indication that these characters may have something to do with each other later on in the film.

Overall, by doing this task it has allowed me to look at how professional opening sequences in my genre have been created. I can now take into account the points I noted and refer to them when creating my own opening in order to make it more effective.

G321: This History of the Romantic-Comedy Genre

A romantic comedy is a dramatic story about romance told with a light, humorous touch. Modern films often revolve around issues including:

• does true love exist
• there's someone out there just for us, and if we could only find them, we would experience true love
• romance can overcome all obstacles

Comedies since ancient Greece have often incorporated sexual or social elements. It was not until the creation of romantic love in the western European medieval period that "romance" came to mean "romantic love" situations, rather than the heroic adventures of medieval Romance. Howver, these adventures often revolved around a Knight fighting on behalf of a lady, and so the modern themes of love were quickly woven into them, as in Chrétien de Troyes's Lancelot, the Knight of the Cart.

The creation of huge economic social strata in the Gilded Age, combined with the heightened awareness of sex after the Victorian Age and the celebration of Freud's theories, and the birth of the film industry in the early twentieth century, gave birth to the romantic comedy. The French film industry went in a completely different direction, with less inhibitions about sex and without the roots of screwball comedy, creating sex comedies.

Examples of romantic comedy films throught the various periods:

Screwball Comedy Period:

• It Happened One Night
• Bringing up Baby
• My Man Godfrey

Transitional Period:

• Singin' In The Rain
• Pillow Talk
• Lover Come back

Modern Romantic Comedies:

• Pretty Woman
• Never Been Kissed
• Notting Hill
• Love Actually
• Music and Lyrics
• When Harry Met Sally

 

G321: Deciding on Genre

We have now decided on the genre of film we would like to produce. Here is a link to my group blog where our notes and discussion from the lesson have been written up in order explain how we reached our decision.

http://ascvhsmediacjc.blogspot.com/2011/02/g321-discussion-of-genre.html

G321: Creating Openings Using Jelly Babies

We used jelly babies in order to create a range of opening sequences. We had to consider narrative, sound, titles, timing and genre. In doing this it would allow us to begin thinking about aspects we need to consider when coming up with our own opening. We came up with three openings of different genres in order to become familiar with a range of genre. This would then prepare us for when we chose the genre for our final opening sequence.

Film Opening One: Action

Film Opening Two: Horror

Film Opening Three: Comedy

G321: Analysing Student Films

In lesson we watched 3 student films in order to analyse the strengths and weaknesses of each. In doing this we were able to take into account any errors that were made and bare in mind to avoid them ourselves. Furthermore, we can also look at strengths that we can apply to our own films to make them more successful.

Student Film 1



Strengths:


This film had a good use use to transitions, for example the white transition to show the flashback worked really well in highlighting the change in time. The institution logo was memorable and intersting and fitted with the genre of the film. Another strengths was the entrances and exits of titles. These were consistant and flowed well throughout the opening.


Weaknesses:


The main weakenss of the film was the way the shots were edited together. This together with the actual content of the film made the opening seem more like a trailer. The editing also made the narrative quite confusing to follow - they could have made it more linear, which would make it easier to follow. The title of the film had the same name as the institution logo, which was slightly confusing. An opening should be an open narrative as it has to leave premise for the rest of the film. However, this seemed more like a closed narrative and a lot of the plot line was revleaed.


Student Film 2



Strengths:


The use of jump cuts to show the stalker at certain points were successful and made clear to the audience. The overall filming of the opening was very good and steady nearly all of the time. The non-diegetic background music also fitted really well with the genre, adding to the tension of the opening.

Weaknesses:


The main weakness was the use of titles. They were in a range of fonts which meant it didn't flow as well as it could have if it was kept consistant. Towards the end of the opening the jump cuts became slightly confusing and there was too much going on at once. Again, this opening was more of a closed narrative in that a lot of the plot line was given away which left it nowhere to develop.

Student Film 3



Strengths:


This opening was the one that came across as an open narrative, which makes it more like a conventional film opening. Another strengths was the use of camera angles, these were very effective and the camera was kept steady throughout.


Weaknesses:


As with the previous opening, the titles did not flow very well due to the range of fonts used. It could be improved upon by keeping the font consistent. The institution 'One Bad Apple' wasnt really in keeping with the tone and genre of the film. The animation made if feel like a childs type film production company. Finally, some of the editing could have done with being checked again - things like the windscreen wipers moving and the actors laughing etc.

G321: Thinking About Genre

I am going to look at the opening of 6 films in order to look at how directors create a sense of the genre within the first 2-3 minutes. This will help me in establishing a clear genre when I come to creating my own opening.

1. 28 Weeks Later 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wHf6Th-E3kE

Genre: Horror

• The low key lighting creates a dark atmosphere and sense of hiding.
• There are lots of close ups used which creates a intense atmosphere and braces the audience for something to happen.
• The non-diegetic background music is low and builds in volume as the scene build in anticipation.
• Lots of shadows are created from the candles. The shadows connote evil and a sense of uneasiness.
• The diegetic conversation about death and the words 'them and us' shows how there is a battle of some kind.

2. Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels

Genre: Crime/Thriller

• The whole idea of the stolen goods being sold makes it very clear of the genre.
• The interjection of the police brings to light that what the men are doing is illegal.
• The chase between the police and the criminals adds an action feel to the film.
• The diegetic 'market like talk' that the man uses to sell his items gives the film its street 'nitty-gritty' feel which adds to the crime effect.
• The graffiti seen on the walls of the stairs connote crime and vandalism.
• The silent black and while titles are very plain and simplistic. The lack of capital letting is informal which reflects the genre of the film. However, the capital lettering of the title makes it seem harsh and almost violent.
• The non-diegetic music that is played during the chase sounds very 'common' just like the men. It is also quite fast paced which mirrors the frantic running and suggest drama to follow. The laid back tone of the music also suggests the men do not take the police seriously. 

3. Saving Private Ryan

Genre: Action/History

• It is clear the film revolves around war, which is something most commonly associated with history. The uniforms the men are wearing make it clear they are at war and the boat environment shows the hardship of their job.
• There is diegetic conversation about the enemy suggesting that people could be killed due to conflict and shooting.
• There are titles at the beginning of the film which signify the setting and time period of which the film is set - this makes it clear it is set in the past and is a historic event. 
• There is only diegetic sound heard throughout which adds to the sense of realism and intensifies the plot line. 

4. Terminator 2

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RcisPdJVNl8

Genre: Sci-Fi/Action

• The scenes of cars and children playing shows normal everyday life but as it goes into slow motion it signifies a change of the norm and that something bad is to happen. 
• Scenes of wreckage and destruction
• The silence at the start of the opening is very intense and makes it seem as if all is not right - showing something abnormal. 
• The voice helps to explain to the audience what is happening and also sets the scene and introduces the genre. 
• The bombs that are seen going off and the diegetic sound of shooting shows the destruction that these machines have caused and suggests they have wiped out human life. This also adds to the action side of the genre. 
• The machines that are seen make it clear that it is a sci-fi and also fit with the futuristic style of the film.
• The titles that appear to show the setting and date show that it is set int he future creating the sci-fi effect. 

5.  Hitch

Genre: Comedy/Romance

• Upbeat non-diegetic background music creates a happy, light-hearted atmosphere which is common in comedies. 
• Using the character (played by Will Smith) as someone to talk directly to the audience adds a comic appeal.
• The scenes of different scenarios between and men and women suggests the romantic side of the film.
• The lighting is very high key and naturalistic making it seem positive and light-hearted.
• The scene of the man saving the dog adds humour to the opening which signifies this will be the feel throughout.

6.  Meet The Fockers


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=htx66cWcsS4

Genre: Comedy

• The upbeat non-diegetic background music creates a happy, lively atmosphere and sets the tone of the film. The lyrics also mention about getting married indicating a possible element to the plotline.
• The actor Ben Stiller is well-known for his roles in comedies, so he is a clear signifier of the comedy genre.
• The exaggerated hospital scene opens the film with a comical feel which is assumed to follow throughout.
• The lighting is very naturalistic throughout making is feel light and positive.

G321: Analysing 'I Am Legend' Opening

I have decided to analyse the opening of 'I Am Legend' as it gives me the opportunity to explore the methods used for an opening within a genre different to any other I have previously analysed.



In order to analyse this opening title sequence, I will again use the 8 main areas of discussion:

• Narrative
• Setting
• Sound
• Titles
• Atmosphere
• Genre
• Character
• Theme

The title sequence of I Am Legend (2007) is an open narrative, however if looked at in conjunction with the entire film it would become a closed narrative. The film as whole would be described as a fragmented narrative as the plot line jumps between the past and present in order to explain the sequence of events that led up to and impacted the present situation. The title sequence is also in a fragmented narrative style, making it harder for the audience to follow and understand right away. The opening is ambiguous in its meaning and it is not directly clear what has happened - which leaves the audience questioning and wanting to continue watching. The news report heard at the start of the opening is assumed to be present time, however after the words 'Three years later' appears it is clear that that was a past event and the audience are now in the present time frame of the story.

Throughout the opening Francis Lawrence (Director) establishes the main features of the film: the genre, the location, the atmosphere and also possible themes. We can gather that something has caused New York City to become abandoned. As the opening cuts straight from the news report to the abandoned city we can assume that there two things are linked in some way, leading the audience to believe that this so called 'cancer cure' may have caused the abandonment. A range of camera shots are used to show various places in New York City - this could be a indication of settings that may be used in significant parts later on in the storyline.

The setting of the opening sequence is indicated from the American accent and conversation of the news reporters right at the beginning of the clip. This is later re-inforced by the cinematography of the iconic New York skyline. The iconograpahy of Time Square is also important as it is shown to be completely abandoned, which is strange for the audience as Time Square is a famous landmark usually over crowded with people. This leads further questions is the audiences mind.

All sounds heard in the opening sequence are diegetic - this adds a natural and desolate feel of the text -anything other than natural sounds would not be fitting with the style of the opening. The absence of sound not only sets the audience up for the eerie tone of the rest of the film, but also the introduction of the single car driving along the road. It makes this sound stand out, signifying its importance. The diegetic sound of birds and other natural beings highlights the barren setting and the isolation of the city. It also emphasises how different the setting is to what the audience would conventionally expect.

Within the opening of the film (the first 3 minutes) the only titles shown are they production company - Warner Bros. - and other companies involved in the production of the film. No titles about the director or actors are shown and, more significantly, neither is the title of the film. Even though this is not conventional of opening sequences I think it works well for this film in particular. Without the titles it gives the film a sense of realism and adds to the intensity of the sequence. Perhaps Lawence felt that by introducing a credited institution such as Warner Bros. it would be enough to assure the audience that the film would be one worth seeing. It also builds up the anticipation from the awaiting audience.

The atmosphere of the opening switches very quickly between the beginning and end of the opening sequence. We are introduced to a news report about sports which is a very normal, everyday occurrence giving a comfortable, relatable atmosphere. The opening then develops and we hear about a supposed cure for cancer - which is a very positive thing to hear and creates a happy atmosphere. However, this positive tone juxtaposed with the silent, seemingly dead, city dramatically alters the atmosphere of the text. The tone becomes very somber and seems disturbingly bizarre to the audience. The absence of sound also increases the prominence of the uncertain atmosphere here.

Many genres could be suggested for the opening sequence due to its ambiguity. The idea of medicine that is introduced and the word 'disease' seen on a wall in the city signifies a sci-fi genre, however the added scenes of shattered streets and suggested previous chaos implies a drama/action genre. The fragmented narrative and the obscure setting is very fitting with the sci-fi genre as it adds a complexity to the plot line.

No main characters are introduced in the first three minutes of the opening which again adds to the uncertainty of the situation. We hear the voices of two men talking on a television programme but as we never see their identity it is assumed they are not significant characters. The two women talking about the cancer cure are also introduced to the audience, however this is purely to set the scene and the fact that they are in a past event shows that's they are unlikely to feature in the rest of the film. The lack of characters further adds to the confusion of the narrative and the overall atmosphere of the text.

Many themes are suggested throughout the opening titles such as: medicine, death conflict and destruction. Most of these are indicated through the mise en scene. The complete devastation of the city suggests conflict and destruction whilst the mention of the cancer cure and the word 'disease' indicates the medicine theme. The fragmented narrative allows the audience to predict and assume other themes throughout and come up with a explanation for the abandoned city.

The opening sequence of 'I Am Legend' is very effective in hinting at different aspects of the film. Nothing is directly told to the audience, only implied, which leaves them questioning a lot of things. The ambiguity of the events allows the audience to create their own take on the film and predict the future events of the plot line. The lack of sound and the iconography of the New York City buildings strongly accents abnormality of the situation.

G321: Analysing 'Juno' Opening

I have decided to analyse the opening of Juno as it is another type of genre that is possible for my own film. The opening sequence features both real life and animation integrated together, which is something I have not come across before. In this way, it will enable me to consider another method of presenting my film opening which may be more interesting and appealing to a certain target audience. Juno is also one of the re-makes of a film opening I am doing so it will more useful to analyse the effectiveness of the opening whilst also re-creating it myself.



I will use the 8 main areas of focus in order to analyse this opening successfully:

• Narrative
• Setting
• Sound
• Titles
• Atmosphere
• Genre
• Character
• Theme

The main purpose of an opening sequence is introduce the audience to the overall style of the film including the main themes, the genre, the main character and the setting. Within the first two and half minutes of the film Jason Reitman (Director) has managed to do just that.  The opening itself is an open narrative, but when looked at along with the entire film it becomes a closed narrative. We can gather from the opening that this female character is the main character and she is simply walking along the street drinking her drink. The concept of the narrative is very simple is its essence which reflects the simple and naive character of Juno.

The setting of the opening is not directly given away, however judging by the style of houses and the mise of the 'Sunny D' we can assume it is an American setting.  The animated style of the opening also alludes to the iconography of American comic strips. The non-diegetic background music by Bob Dylan further indicates the American setting and also gives a laid back feel. The lyrics seem to flow effortlessly and phrases such as 'All I want is you, will you stay with me, take me by the arms and sway me like the sea' portray Juno as innocent and signify the romance and coming of age plot to follow. The shops that are featured in the opening such as the drug store and the music store are all relevant in the plot line of the film and are featured later on in the narrative. These act as signifies to the audience and give them a hint of what is to come. The leaves falling from tress during the sequence are also important in indicating the time of year which becomes important to the progression of the story when Juno becomes pregnant. The guitar shop and retro TV that she passes also reinforce the interests and lifestyle of the teenager.

The main point of the opening is to bring in the opening titles. In Juno these are seen as block 3-D capital letters. They look as if they have been hand drawn - carrying on the animated theme throughout. They are not dissimilar to doodles typically found in teenagers notebooks etc. This is again a reminder of Juno's young as and what the film centres around. They are fully integrated into the sequence, which is pleasing to the eye. They after often seen appearing fro behind bit of set which balances them nicely in the frame. An example is the title that appears to be written on the fence using perspective. Juno also walks in front of a number of the titles which gives the sequence its playful, natural tone. These techniques help to integrate the titles effectively into the opening. The first titles introduce the production company and other institutions involved in the production of the film. The title appears quite early on in the sequence (within 25 seconds), which is conventional of opening titles. The next title to appear is the main actress (Ellen Page) which appears next to the character of Juno as she is featured in a close up walking towards the camera - this signifies that this is the character she plays and is the central character.

The atmosphere of the opening is very happy and laid back which suggests the rom-com genre of the film. The upbeat music and animation keeps up the pace of the sequence; while the hand drawn like cartoon animation emphasises the teen focus of the narrative. The playful edits and transitions also highlight the comedy genre. A lot of the time Juno is on the screen two different shots simultaneously, this signifies her central role in the film and alludes to her dominant personality.

Juno costume within the opening is very important. It would traditionally be viewed as a 'tom-boy' type outfit with the simple jeans, hoody and canvas shoes. Not only does this indicate the type of character she is but also reinforces that she is just a 'normal person' from a presumed middle class American family (common for films of this genre).

Many themes are suggested throughout. The iconography of the guitar connotes a musical element, whilst the drug store suggests themes of illness or, as we know, pregnancy. The male college running team that are seen running past Juno also indicate a love theme within the film.

Overall, I think the opening of Juno is successful its in portrayal of the main elements of the film. It is clear to the audience that the genre is romantic-comedy. The main character is introduced and the background music sets the audience up for the overall tone of the film.

G321: Analysing 'Reservoir Dogs' Film Opening

I have decided to use Reservoir Dogs as part of my film opening analysis as it is in a linear format much like my own film opening will be. This will give me a better idea of how to structure my opening rather than looking at a fractured narrative for example.



In order to analyse the opening of Reservoir dogs I will focus to the 8 main areas of discussion:

• Narrative
• Setting
• Sound
• Titles
• Atmosphere
• Genre
• Character
• Theme

The purpose of an opening sequence is to establish the style of the film, for example: themes, characters, location and genre. The opening scene of the 1992 film Reservoir Dogs is very linear in its narrative and, when looked at on it's own, would be an open narrative. However, when part of the film as whole it becomes a closed narrative. Due to the openings linear format it enables the audience to easily understand what is going on within the text. It also allows the producers to simply imply the genre of the film and establish the overall style for the audience - as mentioned above. It is clear that this group of eight men have just met up and going somewhere to do something. The mise en scene used within the scene, including the urban setting, aids in hinting at the genre of the film. The cigarette, the black sunglasses and the gold chain are all signifies of the gangster genre of the text. Adding to this gangster image is the group culture of the men, which comes across as quite intimidating to the audience - further highlighting their status.

The setting of the opening is not made directly clear, however you can see it is a city environment due to the cars and concrete buildings. This setting is fitting with the genre and the urban feel connotes crime. The cars featured in the scene also act as signifies for the 1970's time period of the film. Adding to this 1970's feel is the music featured throughout the scene. The Little Green Bag song was released in 1969 and actually comes across as incongruous with the genre. However, the strong beat and soft rock genre is fitting with the 'swarve' style of the opening.

The main objective for an opening sequence is to display the opening titles. In Reservoir Dogs these are in a simple font and equally appear in a simple fade in and out manor on the screen. This is fitting with the linear narrative and reflects the 'no-nonsense' feel we gain from the gang of men. The titles are in no way integrated into the film, which gives it a regimented and structured portrayal. The name of the actor appears under each character as almost in introduction to each of them in turn. This method of titling indicates a theme of identity within the film and gives each character his own identity - suggesting this may be explored throughout the film.

The atmosphere of the opening has a very cool tone about it. The slow motion adds a relaxed feel and overall style of the text makes it smooth. Adding to this, the suits worn by most of the characters add to this sophisticated atmosphere. Adding this cool undertone to a gangster film glorifies the gangster life and image. The overall genre of the opening is gangster. This is made clear from the various mise used. For example the gold chain, the sunglasses and the cigarette. These are all items stereotypically associated with gangs. Also, the fact that the characters are introduced as a large group is a strong signifier of the gangster genre.

Throughout the opening sequence the main characters are introduced. There are eight males altogether however only six are wearing suits - this could indicate their more superior status within the film compared to the other two in everyday casual wear. This signifies that perhaps the six men in suits are part of the main gang and the other two males are 'helpers' within the piece. Their role in the film may be just as important, however within the plot line they may be seen as less important. This suggests themes of conflict between groups and a sense of 'in-group' loyalties. Another theme that is hinted at throughout the opening credits is the idea of crime which stems from the overall theme of gangs. Other connotations of gang culture include money, conflict and competition. All of which could be explored throughout the film.

The opening sequence of Reservoir Dogs portrays a now old fashioned take on a gangster film - something very different from the modern day perception of gangs. The gangster life is portrayed as cool and is almost glorified in the laid back nature of the text. It would give a modern day audience a very different perspective of gangs from what we are exposed to in the media today. However, for the time period it is set in, it illustrates a very true representation of how people viewed gangs at that time.

G321: Analysing the Difference Between a Film Opening and a Film Trailer

Film Trailer: Casino Royale



Genre: Action

Narrative: Battle between 2 enemies, idea of deception and competition, love romance between a man and woman.

Character: Male introduced as '007' at the beginning giving the impression he is James Bond, lots people shown to be fighting (enemies), female introduced - presumed to be a love interest/ally. Lots of other characters seen supposed 'teams'.

Atmosphere: Fast-paced, suspense, escape, panic

Themes: Action, love, war, enemies, government, money, sex, competition, death

Setting: Casino (usually abroad), hotel, beaches (exotic), war zone (terror threats?), very modern - lots of fast cars and technology. We here from the speech of characters that the casino game takes place at Montenegro.

Sound: Crashes and bursts of sound throughout that coincide with the action in the film and act as sound effects to enhance the effect. Iconic theme tune used at the end of the trailer which is immediately recognised.

Titles: Title of the film comes right at the end - use of iconography of the well-know '007' fitting into the title.

Film Opening: Casino Royale

Genre: Action

Narrative: Two figures shown to be fighting (enemies), people dying.

Character: First character to appear is assumed to be the lead (James Bond) wearing a white shirt connoting goodness - this signifies his protagonist label as oppose to being the antagonist.

Atmosphere: Dramatic, confusing.

Themes: Death, 'seeking out the opposition', targeting, money, gambling and games - iconography of the casino playing cards and suits.

Setting: No direct setting, however the casino features and playing cards lead you to believe it will revolve around a casino type setting.

Sound: Constant background music throughout, serious tone and words reflect the actions of the opening in some areas.

Titles: Main star (box office appeal) first to appear 'Daniel Craig', the gives the title of the film straight after (within the first 20 seconds), other supporting characters are then displayed.

Comparing the Opening and Trailer

Film openings and trailers are very different for all films. Most trailers reveal a lot of the storyline of the film - although this is often disjointed and unchronilogical. They normally feature most or all of the key scenes of the plot line (these are normally the most significant scenes or most action packed scenes). For example with the James Bond trailer it includes the car chases and gun fights and also important lines said by characters. With most trailers the title of the film actually appears right at the very end of the trailer as the sequence builds up to revealing the names of the film. Also, within the trailer, most of the main themes are outlined and referred to in order to give the audience an overall impression of the film and what they can expect. The main difference between a film trailer and opening is the title sequence. Within a film opening the title of the film appears, normally, within the first 30 seconds of the opening; compared to the title appearing right at the end of a trailer. Film openings follow very strict rules for the title sequence, the order goes: details of cast and institution and then the film title. An opening will then tend to give subtle hints and indications of character traits and setting of the plot line. Often only one to two characters are initially introduced (usually the main star). The overall tone/mood of the film is set which signifies the genre of the film and prepares the audience for what they can expect throughout. Elements of mise and cinematography are also  featured that will later be echoes throughout the text.

Overall, trailers give away a lot more information about the film in order to entice the audience, whereas film openings give away little hints about aspects of the film that leave the audience questioning the rest of the film - making them want to carry on watching it.

G321: Analysing Film Openings

Film Opening: Catch Me If You Can



Genre: Mystery, detective, action chase

Narrative: Chases (clear from the title of the film)

Character: Someone being chased, the detective and person being chased are both introduced in the opening. These characters are pointed at using the airport signs using their actor names - making it clear who each of them is. The use of airport signs is an example of iconography.

Atmosphere: Excitement, suspense, chase, thrill

Themes: Imitation, wealth, brains, 'loner'

Setting: Retro feel as oppose to modern. Set in the USA (made clear by the yellow taxi caps in the opening sequence, airports, doctors, city setting as oppose to a rural environment.

Sound: Retro music, upbeat, fast paced to keep up the pace of the animation.

Titles: Integrated into the animation of the opening. Film title comes in really early showing a range of jobs and people who worked on the film.

Film Opening: My Best Friend's Wedding



Genre: Love, romance.

Narrative: Preparing for a wedding, friends being bridesmaids, imitate walking down the isle, irony of the bride catching her own bouquet, indication that something is going to go wrong (can tell from the lyrics of the song they are singing)

Character: Bride figure introduced (makes you assume there will be a Groom) bridesmaids introduced.

Atmosphere: Upbeat, light, airy, 'loved-dovey', not very modern, feminine (very pink and flowery).

Themes: Love, wedding, friendship, happiness, iconography of the wedding setting.

Setting: Shot in a studio - comes across as a 'tongue-in-cheek', shot as if they are on stage - reminiscent of a 1950's cheesy musical.

Sound: Upbeat, light, airy, love, a lot of the lyrics give away an indication of the storyline

Titles: Hand written font style - similar to that of a wedding invitation (fits theme well). Main star, Julia Roberts, and the supporting actress Cameron Diaz appear very early on in the title sequence (within 16 seconds). Julia Roberts would have had a massive box office appeal. The actual title of the film appears within the first 40 seconds of the opening.