Production Context

What is an Opening Sequence?

Feedback - TJ - Feb 23

Isabelle,

WWW
Your presentation is good, the content and evaluation that you do provide is good and insightful. Overall with what you have here a good start. Well done for removing the photos of yourself.

EBI
There is a distinct lack of posts here, you should have a minimum of 10 by now. I do notice that you have a number of drafts which will need to be completed. Check the AS media blog to find the list of what work should be on your blog.


Blog Grade: D

Mood Board

Romance

I added iconic landmarks such as the eiffel tower and empire state building as these are often seen within romance films to determine the setting and also as they're seen as a romantic symbol and siting.

 I added a lot of expensive looking jewellery and diamonds, particular rings as these are often seen as a romantic gesture and rings are obviously a symbol of either engagement or marriage. I added watches to my mood board to represent time and how romance is often built up over a period of time and also is fairly symbolic in the way of films such as 'Cinderella'. 

I kept to a colour scheme of reds, pinks and pastel colours as these are often linked with romance. I added pictures of flowers, specifically roses and orchids and also a blossom tree as these are though as to be a romantic gesture which would be given perhaps on valentines day.

My pictures which include people are noticeably not very contemporary and of an older date which is due to romance being thought as being lost throughout the recent years and so this is why my film is going to be set in the past. These years are often thought as being more romantic as the method of communication isn't as modern through the use of phone calls for example but instead letters and arranging to meet.

I have included props such as the ballet shoes which are in fact pointe shoes as ballet is often considered a romantic style of dance and also the pale colour of ballet shoes linked to my theme. The masquerade mask was another prop which I believe is considered romantic as they're often used in films such as 'A Cinderella Story' and even slightly in 'Romeo And Juliet' and are used between two lovers meeting.

Influences

Audrey Hepburn in 'How to Steal a Million' (1966)

Films such as 'How to Steal a Million' and 'The Notebook' along with others guided my decision in choosing to do a romance as they often include iconic buildings set in famous places such as Paris and New York where scenes will contain an eye catching New York skyline background which many people will recognise and link to the film. I also noticed that particularly in romance films the use of mise on scene played an important part within determining the character and making the film look more magical. For example the shot of Audrey Hepburn in 'How to Steal a Million' shows she is wearing distinctive eye make up and light lipstick against a cream outfit which is likely to influence the audience into doing the same and also looks eye catching, fresh, and pure which is possibly the image which the director was trying to capture.

The majority of romance films are usually fairly obvious as to what they're going to be about if you already have background knowledge on the film such as an advantage through knowing it is a romance film. However, when watching the opening scene to a film such as 'The Last Song' which is a romance film, it is a fairly enigmatic sequence. There is no clue as to who the person being dragged out of the fire is or who caused it or where it is but you assume that it's going to be related to or is the protagonist as otherwise it would be irrelevant.



'The Notebook' is another example as it also contains no dialogue in the first few seconds and so the audience sees it as a bit of a mystery to where the location is, who the people are within the scene, what the relevance of this is to the movie,.

However, the opening to 'Dear John' is fairly more obvious through containing a narrating over a scene and once this scene ends and Channing Tatum says 'You' the film goes through a non-chronological order and shows John played by Channing Tatum and his first meeting with Savanna played by Amanda Seyfried and so it is fairly obvious that the romance within the film will be based on these two characters. However, it also leaves the audience wondering whether Channing Tatum survives from the first scene with the narrating over the top.

Opening Sequence Analysis

Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961)
Romance/Comedy/Drama
Director: Blake Edwards

In the opening scene we immediately discover that Paramount had some contribution to the film as it is the first thing that appears on the screen and then shortly after sets the scene in New York using an iconic yellow Taxi and the famous New York skyline. Within 30 seconds we are introduced to the protagonist as the scene is entirely focused on Audrey Hepburn who is playing Holly Golightly and to begin with there's no other people around. Before even seeing her face the audience is captivated by a low angle shot which shows that she is outside Tiffany's and then Audrey Hepburns name appears and we see her eating breakfast. I think this opening scene is effective as it explains the title of the film almost immediately and we do not see the front of Audrey Hepburns face until all of the cast have been credited for. The use of music at the beginning which she later sings in the film is also effective as the audience will be familiar to it later on in the film and link it to the character of Holly Golightly. The director cleverly places his name as the last name to be placed on the screen so that it's the last thing the audience will remember and rounds off the entire scene also making him seem important. I like the use of the music as it's fairly chilled out and relaxed which mirrors that of the main character, Holly Golightlys personality throughout the film.

No Strings Attached (2011)
Romance/Comedy
Director: Ivan Reitman

The opening scene first sets the location by showing that they're at some sort of camp through the use of a prop with camp printed on it. A piece of text them comes up on the screen saying '15 years ago' so that the audience can understand. Paramount pictures is first to be credited with 'A Viacom Company' being printed below it therefore crediting the conglomerate owning Paramount. Then other comapanies are credited after such as Montecito Picture Company and underneath in capitals it says production so that the audience know what department they should be credited for when watching the film. The use of the 90s song is possibly to suggest what time the scene in the film is as the song begins playing before any image to do with the film comes up and so this gives the audience a feel for how old the characters are. The scene takes a long time setting the scene as the camera seems to pan in on the moment so that the audience can acknowledge the surroundings of the area. The use of mise en scene plays a significant role in determining the film in the opening as it presents three different time eras where both costume and make up are portrayed differently depending on what was in fashion at specific times.



Forrest Gump (1994)
Drama/Romance
Director: Robert Zemeckis

The opening scene takes a while to set the scene before it shows any characters. The camera points to the sky to give the audience an idea on what type of day it is which appears to be a typical cloudy day where 'Paramount Pictures' then appears on the screen to highlight the importance of the production company, it then follows a feather. This enables the director to give the audience an idea of the location and whereabouts of the filming and a sort of background knowledge to the film. As the camera tracks following the feather beginning to fall to the centre where everything is going on and as it gets lower the audience are able to get an idea for what time it is set due to the older looking cars. The feather sets on a mans shoulder for a second but then the music lifts up as does the feather to signify that the feather shall continue on it's journey this is effective because it links to the storyline of the film and how just when you think your journey is over another one will begin. The feather sets next to someones dirty old trainers, due to the camera being entirely focused on this it is obvious to the audience that this is the main character and the filthy trainers against the pristine feather may be symbolic later on in the film. When he puts the feather into his case which is perfectly packed the audience have already got an idea of what kind of person he is before he has he even said a word. I think this opening scene is good because it creates a sort of climax as it takes its time before introducing the protagonist, Tom Hanks. The use of music has quite a feelgood tune about it and through the gradual build up in the music.