Easy a opening sequence analysis
- 1. Easy A opening sequence analysis The first thing to appear into the shot is the institution 'Screen Gems'. This spins into the shot, centre of the page in a large type face to catch the audience's attention due to the production company being an important thing. The audience may see the 'Screen Gems' logo and may enjoy their other films, already having high expectations for this one. The blue logo in the blue sky connote a calm feeling to the audience and automatically suggest this film will be set in a hot place. The shot then pans down, away from the first logo and to a wide shot of the setting, with 'Screen Gems presents' appearing to the left of the screen. This is in a white skinny typography and therefore does not detract from the background of buildings and mountains due to the setting being important at this point. The institution is repeated again in this shot to emphasise the importance of it.
- 2. This mid-shot is identifying the place in which this film is set. We automatically know it is a city due to the 'city limit' link on the sign, even if we do not know where Ojai is. The trees and bushes in the background are slightly moving which suggests it is a windy city which will bring the audience further into the film. We transition to the next shot as the American flag and Californian flag are moving in the wind just as the bushes were. This creates a consistent feeling along with the same blue sky to create a warming feeling. This is stating that 'Ojai' is in California where this film is set. 'Olive Bridge Entertainment Production' appears on screen in the same white typography as in the previous production company, this is bought out by the white on the flags and the clouds. A close up shot of an orange establishes the setting again due to the fact of California being known as the 'Orange County'. It is subtle but is presenting the setting and area to the audience to involve them. The wind is creating
- 3. the leaves to move in this shot as the same typography appears with 'A Will Gluck Film'. This long shot establishes more of the setting as this is the high school which is the majority of the setting in the film and therefore holds great importance. It is also stating that it is a 'Californian school' to finalise that this is set in Ojai, California. The title of the film appears here in a long shot which pans down. The colours of white are red are unisex and therefore appeal to both sexes. The colours contrast with each other as white connotes purity and red connotes death. This is presenting throughout the film as the main theme is loss of innocence and purity. The way the text is presented is seen as an orange in the tree, mirroring the setting of the film. It is also mirroring the shoes hanging in the tree which suggests childish behaviour in a school.
- 4. As the camera pans down to this shot and then zooms in, cast names are presenting on the floor under the trees. The typography is the same white, skinny typeface as it was previously creating it to be consistent. The white colour connotes purity which is taken away in this film and appeals to both genders. We then get a POV shot, as if we are the camera walking with the people in this shot and the walking past the cast names. This gives the audience a feeling of involvement in the film as they feel as if they are really there. The typography is in upper case letters creating it to stand out more as they are important roles. The camera shot continues following students of the school as more cast member's names appear on the floor as if they are the people standing there among the crowd. We get an incite to what the people at the school look
- 5. like and their age as we can tell they are the older ones in high school due to the way they look. Many groups are presented in this short space of time but allows the audience to identify with this characters as it is likely they relate to them (uses and gratification theory.) The text is very subtly on the ground, as it is white on a lighter background. This wide shot establishes the school building in the background so although we inferred before that it was set at a school, we know for definite now.
- 6. This mid-shot introduces another different group to the audience as it is as if the audience are walking past them. This also adds to the school setting as American high schools are stereotypically known for cliques, which we would like to include in our film. This mid-shot of these characters suggest that the girl in the white top is the main girl as she is walking at the front. As the camera follows her and remains on her longer than the previous people we assume the voice over is her and this will be our main character, however we are wrong. The main character is knocked onto the floor in the high angle shot. The high angle shot causes the audience to feel superior to the main character and
- 7. suggests that as she is on the floor she has problems throughout the film as if she is constantly being knocked down. As she is knocked on the floor is presents her as a weak character within her school and as if she is unpopular, suggesting that she will try to become popular. This head shot confirms the fact that the girl who got knocked on the floor is the girl speaking. This shot also explains what is to come in the film, creating the audience to want to watch on as they want to know what really happened using the enigma code. The idea of 'virginity' which is stated on the paper can be viewed as a taboo thing in some societies and therefore causing teenagers to want to carry on watching as they may be able to identify with parts of this. We get a mid-shot of another main character in the film, speaking to the other main character previously shown. This suggests they are friends, as they are speaking however she is not helping her friend pick up her things which suggests she is not a great friend.
- 8. This low angle shot gives the audience an idea that the blonde character is superior to the main character as she is presented as taller than her and as if she is towering over her. This close up POV shot gives the audience a feeling as if they are the main character and creates some suspense to who this person is. However it is lighthearted due to the dialogue in the background with the mention of sex. This low angle shot represents this character as an superior character which is true as he is a teacher and therefore higher up than the students.
- 9. This two-shot presents the two characters as now equal and now good friends, This over the shoulder shot introduces more characters with the same white typography included. This shot gives the feeling as if the audience are looking over the two girl's shoulders and focused on the other characters giving a sense of involvement. The last shot is a long shot of the two main characters who are equal again with the final typography of the crew disappearing into the background as they walk on the pavement passing the text. The opening sequence then ends. From this film, I would use the POV shots and panning in my own opening sequence as it will create the audience to feel as if they are involved in the film and walking into the school while introducing characters and groups. The use of white typography would also be good to use to represent the purity or the idea of purity to the students.
- 10. This two-shot presents the two characters as now equal and now good friends, This over the shoulder shot introduces more characters with the same white typography included. This shot gives the feeling as if the audience are looking over the two girl's shoulders and focused on the other characters giving a sense of involvement. The last shot is a long shot of the two main characters who are equal again with the final typography of the crew disappearing into the background as they walk on the pavement passing the text. The opening sequence then ends. From this film, I would use the POV shots and panning in my own opening sequence as it will create the audience to feel as if they are involved in the film and walking into the school while introducing characters and groups. The use of white typography would also be good to use to represent the purity or the idea of purity to the students.