Film Opening Analysis Guidance

Consider the following key questions about mise-en-scene and camera composition to analyse film openings: What costume do characters wear and what are the key connotations? What body language is used by characters and to what effect? What are we shown by proxemics (how far apart characters are) and what is communicated to the audience? How is lighting used and what effect does it have? What settings are there and how are they established? What is said and how does it make the audience think or feel? What key shots are used and to what effect? Aim to analyse three film openings using key terms and concepts learned in your G321 and G322 studies.

Boy in the Striped Pyjamas 2 minutes

The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas (2008) Drama and War

Camera shots and angles:

To begin with the background is extreme close up of just the red of the swastika flag, this could connote blood and death which is an important issue in this film. Then the camera slowly begins to zoom out so you have a close up of the flag which is a symbol of the Nazi’s and therefore highlights to the audience that this film is going to be based around the Germans during the time of war. Then you have a high angle long shot to set the scene, which is based in a German town, this also helps to portray the period as there is swastikas hanging from the buildings. Then the film begins to zoom into the town and we can see four boys running across the square pretending to be planes, in this we have a close up on one particular boy’s face which implies to the audience that he is the main character of the film. We can see from the multiple close up on the young boy's face that he is very happy, enjoying all the time with his friends and is unaware of all the world problems happening around him. When the boy is running through the town there is a clear juxtapose between the boys having fun and the soldiers sat in the back of there van, positive and negative both so clearly divided in one scene.

Sound and Editing:

The film starts with the quote ‘Childhood is measured out by sounds and smells and sights, before the dark hour of reason grows’ John Betjeman this suggests to the audience that the film is about childhood innocence but also that something very negative is going to be portrayed in this film. Behind the credits is a very quiet piano music, classical, which depicts that the film is going to be sad and begins to set the correct time frame to the audience. The piano continues to play throughout the whole of the opening two minutes which allows the audience to focus on the images on the screen rather than what is being said.

Mise-en-scene:

In the first establishing shot we can see flags and armed soldiers standing around a building this illustrates to the audience that it is set in Germany during the war. This is also confirmed by the old fashioned clothing and cars that we can also see in the frame. Then we are taken to a very old fashioned house with maids and housekeepers cleaning the house suggesting that the little boy we have just seen comes from an upper class German family.

Yours, Mine and Ours Opening two minutes

Yours, Mine and Ours (2005)

Camera Shots and Angles:

The film starts with a close up of the male actor, Dennis Quaid, blowing a whistle, this suggests to the audience that this character is that main character and plays a very important role in the films. The next shot roles down the father’s body and then focuses close up on his young sons face. This shocks the audience as they expect the man to be working on a military camp with the language and clothes that he is wearing. The director uses an over the shoulder high angle shot when the father is talking to his children so he appears higher up than them. This suggests that the father is superior as he is much larger in the fame.

Sound:

The film starts with a very upbeat tempo which from the get go implies it is going to be a comical film that you are able to watch with all members of the family. As he is blowing a whistle in a set rhyme it illustrates him as being very controlling and wanting everything perfect. When he finishes whistle blowing he starts shouting ‘Let’s go, let’s go, let’s go’ which may imply to the audience that he is working on a military camp where discipline is very important. . As his son, Ethan, calls him sir it connotes the father as being very respected by his children and his children understand that he is the one in charge. This representation is further elaborated as his children respond to him in a very structured fashion.

Mise-en-scene:

The father is dressed very smart wearing a uniform which would further imply to the audience that he is working in a military style. Also as he is holding a clipboard and pen it suggests that he is controlling and likes to do everything in an ordered fashion. All of his children are dressed similarly to him illustrating the fact that they are a very ordered family and plan what they are doing, including this usually stressful time of moving house.  This film is set in a New England kind of American neighbourhood representing the fact that they are just a normal family despite the fact that there is so many of them.

Top 4 favourite genres

My top four favourite genres are:

1.       Comedy

2.       Drama

3.       Documentary

4.       Science fiction

What’s not to love about comedy they are funny and easy to watch with any type of audience. Although it is difficult for directors to alter their movies to everyone’s taste there is at least a few that will appeal to everyone. One of my favourite comedy films is Grown Ups and Grown Ups 2, this is about a group of men that used to play in the basketball team at school together. When their old coach passes away they decide to get their families together and go away as a group. The film follows the family and the adventures that they get through together. The cast of Grown Ups includes Adam Sandler who plays Lenny, Kevin James who plays Eric, Chris Rock who plays Kurt, David Spade who plays Marcus and Rob Schneider who plays Rob. The actors all work well together making the film more comical and also as Adam Sandler has previously been in comedy films he works well in this genre.

 

Another one of my favourite comedy films is We’re the Millers which was made in 2013. This film is about a group of people who make a fake family in order to smuggle drugs across the border, the film follows the group as they get used to family life together. This film has lots of famous actors in including Jennifer Aniston, Jason Sudeikis, Emma Roberts and Will Poulter which I believe improves the humour of the film as they all bounce off each other. My favourite scene in this movie is when they travelling in the camper van and Kenny sings along to Waterfalls as it just seems very relaxed and natural.

 

Genre Table

Genre	Conventions/Genre Indicators	Film Titles
Romance	From a romance movie I expect the two people to meet but something goes wrong for them. Eventually they overcome these barriers and will doing so they realise how much they love each other.  Romance films do not always have a happy ending but aim to make the viewer feel towards them.	The Fault in Our Stars (2014) Titanic (1998) Love Actually (2003) Valentine’s Day (2010)
Horror	In a horror movie you expect to see vulnerable who are usually young. They are set in abandoned areas sometimes in a more rural location. Weapons like knifes, saws, guns are normally used as props.	Annabelle(2014) The Conjuring(2013) The Cabin in the Woods(2012) The Purge(2013)
Science Fiction	Main characters are not always masculine men as they usually have something different about them. Set in more of an obscure setting involving magic and gadgets.	The Hunger Games(2012) Fantastic Four(2015) Avatar(2009) Godzilla(2014)
Comedy	Tends to involve a comical main character usually a male, not following a set storyline. The main character usually has troubles that he needs to overcome. These movies are particularly good for families.	22 Jump Street(2014) Pitch Perfect(2012) Meet The Fockers(2004) We’re The Millers(2013)
Action	Usually has a very masculine strong male main character who has to save the damsel in distress. Involves fires, fights, explosions. He is not prepared to let anyone get in his way so is prepared to kill for his success.	Iron Man 3(2013) Taken 3(2015) The Maze Runner(2014) The Dark Knight Rises(2012)

The Journey Begins

Congratulations on starting your journey towards becoming a creative and reflective film producer! Start your journey by commenting on your favourite genres and your reasons for being a fan - aim to explore conventions of genre and profile a notable director!

Favourite film

My favourite film is 'Grown Ups' this is because it is a very light hearted comedy that you can watch with any audience. This film is funny and has multiple different characters which would appeal to all members of a family, due to the mixture of characters it is very easy to watch with any audience. Also I like the actors and actresses in this film which is why my attention was originally drawn to it. However, I also enjoy much deeper films like the 'Boy In The Stripped Pyjamas' and 'Anna Frank's diary' although these films are very sad they are educational and allow you to really put things in your own life into perspective. These are not enjoyed by everyone and although I do not enjoy what is taking place, the idea of educating people about the suffering that people went through is extraordinary. Overall, I would say that my favourite genre of film is comedy despite the fact it is very hard to get comedy right as its hard to relate to different peoples humour.

Steven Spielberg is my favourite director particularly with the film 'War Horse'. This film is directed so well and it really brings out the emotion in the film and the connection between the boy and the horse. Although the story line is very gripping and heart warming if it was poorly directed it would not have had the phenomenal response it did. Also he directed E.T, Shrek and The Lovely Bones which are different genres but each one of them is incredible and unique. There is not one of his films that I have not enjoyed and I would recommend them all to my friends.



The last film I watched was 'Pete's Dragon' which is a Disney cartoon made in 1977. As this film was made such a long time ago the animations are not the best quality but it just reminds me of being a child and all the songs are so fantastic. This film is an old classic and is a good child's film, the fact that it was made so long ago just adds to the beauty of the film.