Opening Sequence Analysis

The Supernatural-Tragic-Drama Genre

Shantelle Keech

http://
www.traileraddict.com/the-lovely-bones/first-5-min

Supernatural Genre themes and

ideas
Supernatural films have developed over time. They first
surfaced in around the 1930s earning 3.5 to 4.5 star
ratings. Like most films they began as hour and a half
productions and now last for almost 2 hours.
The genre centres around elements of ghosts, gods and
miracles.
They often integrate religious elements as they discuss
the unknown questions of the world we live in.
The characters are normally ordinary people who havent

The Lovely Bones

Release Date: November 24th 2009
The Lovely Bones is a supernatural drama film which is focusing on
the death of a young girl whos living in purgatory. Susie Salmon, is
killed and raped by her neighbour and is left to discover her own
death. The film presents her watching her parents suffering whilst
being confused about why they cant see her, whilst also seeing the
tragic effect that her death had on her family. We are shown how her
family manage and heal.
A similar film to this is The Invisible.

Mise-en-scene
Lighting and Colour
The film stock or filter thats been put over the opening sequence is golden,
accompanied by bright lighting. This is a technical code which allows the
audience to feel a sense of innocence and purity within the young girl.
The golden colour signifies a warm and nostalgic view of the past.

Mise-en-scene
Props and character
In the first scene of the opening sequence, the
first thing audiences see is a snow globe with a
penguin which the young girl describes as
trapped. This creates an enigma as audiences are
left to question why this inanimate object has
been given such importance within the entire film.

There is an old film camera later in the

opening sequence which signifies that
the film is set in the past. This further
emphasizes the nostalgic view which has
been adopted by the lighting and colour
in previous scenes.

Mise-en-scene
Costume and Make up
In the beginning of the opening sequence,
Susie Salmon is wearing red dungarees
and a white shirt. This is a clear signifier of
the past as through intertextuality,
audiences understand that this was the
fashion for children in the past.

Camera
These are the technical codes of The Lovely Bones.
Within the opening sequence of The Lovely Bones,
there is a scene which features the protagonist,
Susie Salmon, running around the house and
garden with her personal camera. There is a long
shot and fast paced track and dolly which signifies
that she's in a rush.
Susie Salmon later runs whilst crouching which
connotes the impression of a hunter, which
signifies that shes similar to a predator hunting its
prey. Within the scene shes running and hiding
whilst taking a picture of her neighbour.

Editing
Quick transitions between running scene to connote
excitement
Editing is used to suggest that a large amount of time has passed.
During the opening sequence there is a significant transition of 12
years. One way in which this is presented is when text is added which
reads 12 years later. This is an obvious indicator of time passing.
Another way its shown through editing is the transition between the
parents being young, the scene fades to black, and then fades back
in with the parents looking much older. This would therefore be a
mixture of both technical and physical features or indicators.

Sounds
There is up-beat non-diegetic sound throughout the beginning of the opening
scene which enhances and refers to the nostalgic and uplifting mood of the
film. The music transitions quickly from an the joyful music to a more gloomy
song. This connotes mystery and (darkness??) which creates an
Both of the non-diegetic sounds are ambienic as theyre creating the
different atmospheres of each scene.

Sound
There is a diegetic sound of a plate smashing whilst Susie
Salmon is rushing around. The plate smashing isnt actually
shown in the scene therefore audiences would use
intertextuality to believe that this would create tension
however it adds to the effect of nostalgia. There wasnt any
bad reactions to the plate which shows that the past was
believed to be perfect.
There is more non-diegetic throughout the entire opening
sequence. The sound is of the protagonists narration which
gives a back story and creates more emotion in each

If I Stay
If I Stay is an adaptation of the 4* Gayle Forman novel, directed by R. J. Cutler
and starring Chlo Grace Moretz. The opening sequence features many different
and effective camera shots; an establishing Ariel shot of snowy mountains and
scenery is used at the beginning of the sequence to create an enigma and
mystery. It makes audiences wonder why were being showed the environment
and what sort of significance it will have later on in the film. There is also a slow
pan of a car driving on the snowy road, creating an atmosphere of danger and
worry for audiences. The pure white, lightly lit colours of the environment
signifies innocence and beauty. The two factors could be indicators of something
that could happen later on. We then see an establishing shot and pan of the
house; its used to show audiences the location of the action going on in the
following scenes. A track/zoom is used inside whilst panning to each character;
this is complimented by the narration of the protagonist whos describing each
of her family members, giving a sense of narrative to them.
Editing:
Match on action of mum passing newspaper to her daughter

It's Kind of a Funny Story

'It's Kind of a Funny Story' is an adaptation of the 4.5* novel by Ned Vizzini. The opening
sequence features many different camera shots. It begins with a tilt which starts off focusing
on the sky and then going to do focus on the boy. There is an establishing shot,
complimented by a track of the protagonist riding his bike on the Brooklyn Bridge. This shot
also represents the use of proxemics and relationships in the text; nobody is around which
signifies that he's lonely and it allows audiences to focus on him only. We also see a wide
long shot of him when he's walking about the cars which is then followed by a tilt
transforming into a birds eye view/ariel shot. These shots connote danger and would worry
audiences quite a bit as we can see the massive distance that would create danger if he fell.
An enigma is created as audiences question why he's risking his life like this and why he's all
alone.
The use of sound and ambience added more emotion to the scenes; the non-diegetic sound
track was slow paced and very soft which would make audiences feel more relaxed. This
music was layered at the beginning with a single line of narration.

The use of narration creates a story-telling kind of feeling to a story, whilst implying that
everything will get better by the end of the story. The dream-like sounds cut off completely as
soon as the protagonist's sister said his name, signifying that his peace and personal dreamy
atmosphere had been cut off and he has to return to reality.
A mysterious atmosphere is created using lighting; to represent the isolation and lateness of the time
that the scene is set. The scene depends on its low-key lighting which creates a more mysterious and
moody mood for the audiences.
Finally there is a pulled focus point on the protagonist as the lights of Manhattan are blurred in the