Film Opening Analysis Comparison

The Theory of Everything & The Invisible Woman

Audiences would be engaged with the opening of The Theory of Everything as it starts with characters that are significantly blurred, which creates enigma because they cannot be identified. The audience may assume that they are a family. This may make the audience interested as to who the characters are and how they ended up in the location that they are in, as they are wearing formal clothes and the child seems quite excitable. The non-diegetic, asynchronous soundtrack accompanying this scene is also quite hopeful and positive which may interest the audience as to why the sound and characters are so cheerful. The camera then uses a high angle shot above a character in a wheelchair, which is spinning around. This could connote going back in time, or possibly that something is going wrong or about to go wrong. The scene then fades to two young men riding their bikes and they seem to be having fun; the date is also shown. 
The audience may wonder whether the med are friends or is they are related to each other. They may also be interested as to what the date is in the very beginning compared to when the date is shown later on. The film’s USP would be that it is about Stephen Hawking's romantic life, which has not been seen before through this media text, so the audience would be intrigued. The films genre is a romantic-drama, which is reinforced by the fact that the opening involves a family, and also the two young men walk into a party after they ride their bikes and as soon as this happens, the two characters that the love story is about automatically have a connection. 

The opening of The Invisible Woman begins with a quote, which already engages the audience because of the dramatic nature that this creates. The quote then fades straight to a clear, blue sky. The camera then tilts down from the sky to a beach and a woman appears to be walking across it wearing a big, black dress. The colour black is significant here because it could connote that she is the antagonist or perhaps that she is a dangerous or angry character. This creates confusion, which may interest the audience because they are interested by the fact that this woman is not wearing suitable clothes to be on a beach. 
The diegetic, synchronous sound of her panting as she walks is also audible; she may have been walking for a long period of time, which could be the reason why she is tired, which may make the reader question how long she has actually been walking. Her face is also not shown straight away, which makes the audience curious to her identity. The woman's face is then shown and she walks into a school. Her name is not said throughout the scene; she is still unfamiliar to the audience. She is shown directing a school play and is quite strict about it being perfect for "Mr Darwin". This suggests that he is an important character because he is not seen; however, characters are still acknowledging him. Additionally, he is referred to as “Mr Darwin”, not “Charles”, which creates a personal barrier between him and the other characters. The film's USP is the fact that it is about Charles Darwin's love affair, which a lot of people, including some of the audience were not aware of. The fact that the woman wants the play to be perfect for Darwin reinforces the genre, as it is a romantic-drama, and the romance is evident. 
Both 

Overall both films are romantic-dramas about real events that have happened to real people. This makes the films relatable, as the audience can sympathise with the people which the films are based on. Audiences may also want to just be informed about events that they have previously heard about. Both films also include the date and location in the opening scenes, since the events in the films are quite popular and historic. The leading female role in both films is also the same (Felicity Jones), which links the films so the fans of The Theory of Everything may therefore watch The Invisible Woman. Both films also start with sound effects or a soundtrack instead of speech, which creates a dramatic effect because none of the characters are established at first. This helps to engage the audiences and make them more interested in the film

CORALINE - Opening Sequence Analysis

How does the director use media techniques to make the “Coraline” opening sequence effective? 

The mise-en-scene of this opening sequence plays a huge role in making it effective for the audience. To begin, the opening titles are a sewn font, which automatically makes the audience compare the film to children because sewing and knitting can relate to dolls of some sort. As well as this, the font is bold and easy to read; this is effective because it makes the connection to children for the audience and supports the certificate of the film, which is a PG. When the name of the film is shown, the 'O' is replaced with a button, which adds to the film's effectiveness because buttons are often associated with dolls as well. The lighting of the opening is also low key, which can relate to a night light and also supports the genre of the film because it related to night time and children sleeping; the genre is fantasy. 

Furthermore, when the scene starts, the audience sees a doll float into the room with a background of a night sky as the establishing shot. This connotes a dream as well because of the setting being night and filled with stars. As well as this, the doll floats into the room, which may interest the audience as they will most likely be young children. Therefore, this is a pleasant sight for the audience and is an effective technique for capturing the audience's interest. Additionally, the colours used within the sequence may also be attractive because they are very light and involve light pinks and browns, which aren't very harsh colours. However, the opening gives a somewhat creepy tone because the doll is being taken apart by a hand made of sewing needles. This could connote that there will be danger within the film or a child may come to harm. This could concern the audience and create enigma because they do not know who, or what, is actually controlling the doll and redecorating it.  

The room that the doll is in looks very old and as if it has not been used in a long time. This is because the room is filled with cobwebs and the fact that the lighting is low key could suggest that the light is weak because it has been on for a long time. To support this, when the doll is first introduced, it wears an outdated doll dress and when it leaves, it has a more modern look. These characteristics make the setting of the scene effective because it adds to the creepy factor and also create enigma codes because the audience may wonder how long it has been since the room was used and where this room is.  

Regarding the editing of the film, it is shown in animation. This makes the film effective straight away because it automatically appeals to kids and interests them in this new fantasy world that does not exist. This effectively helps the audience become immersed in the film and enjoy it more. The editing is also slow paced and compares to a story being told with the doll but through a film instead; time is taken to make the doll look perfect. During the opening sequence, a close-up is also shown of the button that is sewn onto the doll. This connotes that the button is an important part of the film and may be of significance later on in the film. Therefore, the audience wants to know more about the button and why it is an important factor of the film. 

Overall, all of these factors make the opening sequence of the film effective, but the sound of the film is one of the biggest factors of all. Although it is subtle, the non-diegetic asynchronous music being played gives a child-like effect. This is because children are heard singing, in a different language, and the song resembles a nursery rhyme. If the audience do not understand this language, enigma is created because they may wonder what is actually being said in the song. The singers also have very soft voices, which makes the audience relate the film more to a story because of the fact it sounds like the voices are singing to a child. Therefore, altogether the use of factors such as colour, and the pace of the sequence help to make it effective for the audience so they can gage what is going on in the sequence. 

I AM LEGEND - Opening Sequence Analysis

How does the director use media techniques to make the “I Am Legend” opening sequence effective? 

The opening sequence of I Am Legend is unique, as the non-diegetic, asynchronous sound begins whilst the film institution idents are being shown on screen (Warner Bros). A male news reporter is heard speaking about sports news, which then cuts to the establishing shot; a woman news reporter addressing the recent news of recent vaccines with diegetic synchronous sound. A shot-reverse-shot is then shown as the news reporter speaks to the other woman scientist. As they converse, the audience may wonder why they are speaking about such issues so enigma is created. The reporter says "so you have actually cured cancer?" And the scientist replies with "yes, yes we have". This quote also creates enigma because the audience is wondering how they have cured cancer and why it is significant. After this dialogue takes place, there is a loud non-diegetic, asynchronous bang with a black background, which is effective because it emphasises the fact a significant event has just taken place.  

In regards to mise-en-scene of the sequence, the women shown having a conversation are dressed formally and are wearing smart clothing. This could connote to the audience that they are important people and may be of a high class. To highlight this, they are also on TV, which shows that they have respected jobs and may therefore be respected people that are looked up to by the audience in the film. When the loud bang stops, a long shot of an empty city is shown, along with the text "three years later".The camera then tilts upwards to display the extent of the situation. This creates enigma because the audience becomes curious as to why the city is so empty because it is not a normal sight to see. Piles of cars are shown along with building which look very run-down; the setting doesn't look very safe. The audience may be wondering where this place is and where any characters are. The sound accompanying this scene involves diegetic asynchronous birds and other animals. Only nature is heard and there are no people seen or heard. This could connote the loss of humanity, which is effective because it may make the audience think that something has happened to the human race, as the previous part of the scene involved two women talking about curing cancer. An effect is created that nature has taken over and have control over the town. 

A sign is shown in the town that has clearly been there for a long time due to the old brown colour of it and the fact that it is somewhat torn. The sign shows the message "contagious disease", which makes the audience assume that the reason why there are no humans is because they may have been harmed by this "disease". The streets displayed are dirty and the lighting is natural, however it is also shaded by the very tall buildings. The sun is barely shown. Which connotes that there is no hope left or that when the humans left, hope left as well. During the scene, one slither of sun is shown on one of the roads, which implies that there may be one small hope left for the human race. Additionally, there are grass patches all over the town, therefore nature may be slowly taking over what was once controlled by people. However, the patches are inconsistent, which may also be an indication of hope for humans because nature and animals have not fully taken over yet. The whole setting seems very unnatural and inhumane, which effectively interests the audience and creates enigma. As well as this, editing is also slow during this opening sequence because it emphasises the drama and severity of the damage that has been done in the town. 

The news has an old-fashioned effect and isn't viewed in very high quality. This shows the contrast between the old nature of the diegesis and gives the audience a chance to compare the news how they see it to how its seen in the film. As well as this, they can also compare the town seen in the film (New York) to the town in real life; they can truly see the effects that have been used to make the setting of the film. Overall, many long shots are seen of the town, which communicate to the audience that something has seriously gone wrong in the world and make the sequence effective in helping the audience relate to the world in the film.

TRANSFORMERS: DARK OF THE MOON - Opening Sequence Analysis

How does the director use media techniques to make the “Transformers: Dark of the Moon” opening sequence effective? 

The director of the film uses mise en scene to create the image of destruction and demolition throughout the opening sequence to make it effective. He does this through making the scene take place in the setting of a dark sky, which is filled with miniscule stars that barely shine. The fact that the sequence is set in this location gives an idea that the film genre will be some sort of sci-fi or fantasy to the audience. Therefore, the sequence creates fear because of the idea of the unknown; the location is not Earth. Space is dark and endless and can be seen as a frightening setting by the audience. The fact that the robots that are involved in the war are also seen to be metal and be coloured in dark, grey tones emphasises the damage that is being done, due to the fact that the only bright colours seen are the bright lights from the guns being shot and the fires being started. The orange colour of the lights from the guns being fired connotes danger because they flash very quickly. These factors help the director to communicate that this is not a safe setting and that there is harm involved within the diegesis. This makes if effective because it helps to link in with the genre of the film so engage the audience. 

As well as this, the camera work helps to communicate destruction to the audience, as it seems a crane is being used to cover all the broken ships and guns that are being shot in this war of the autobots and decepticons. The crane goes around and over the different ships that are flying around the war as well. Also, the camera is seen tracking the ship as it flies through the war, making the audience more excited and immersed into the film as if they were there. At one point during the opening sequence, multiple missiles are seen following the main ship in a long shot until it inevitably blows it up. This helps to shock the audience, as they can see the severity of the war and the whole view of the missiles that spiral up to it, which builds the tension. The tension creates enigma, which makes the sequence effective because it means the audience want to continue and find out more. 

The sound of the opening sequence is mainly made up of one Optimus Prime, of the main characters’, voice over. The non-diegetic asynchronous sound contrasts the war going on because his voice is not aggressive; it is somewhat peaceful and confident. It resembles a parent telling a child a story and may give the idea that Optimus Prime is telling the story of the war through the voice over to the audience. As he is telling the story, the non-diegetic asynchronous sound of the triumphant music also plays in the background, which helps to distinguish the drama and action of the scene. As the main ship gets demolished during the sequence, Optimus Prime says the like "a hope that vanished". Before he says this, there is a pause, which also creates enigma. The line itself suggests that all hell has broken loose and it's the end of the world; the idea of no hope may initiate concern for the audience. 

Overall, the editing of the sequence aids the director in constructing an effective and enjoyable opening scene for the audience to view. It shows clear use on continuity editing, which is very fast-paced to emphasise the tension and panic that is within the characters and which the audience relates to whilst watching. The speedy-pace can also make the audience disoriented and confused about what is going on 100% of the time. They can therefore understand the characters and may feel as if they are also a part of the media text, which makes it effective. Mise-en-scene, camera work, sound and editing all come together perfectly to help make this opening sequence effective by creating a catastrophic atmosphere, which the audience can appreciate and immerse themselves in.

Opening Sequence Analysis - Plan

Preliminary Task - Storyboard

Here is the storyboard of the preliminary task:

Preliminary Task - Shot List

Preliminary Task - Planning

Whilst my group were planning our preliminary task, we mind mapped and brainstormed a few ideas that we could have possibly used in order to complete it. My group consists of myself and Tinika. Listed below are the ideas that we have discussed:

• Teacher and student confrontation
• Failed exam
• Bully confrontation
• Group of friends

In the end, we decided upon the idea of a teacher and student confrontation. We would use fellow media studies students as the characters, and we wouldn't have to do anything drastic in terms of setting and costumes.

We decided to take a double lesson of our media class to film our task around the school,as it is a convenient place that fits our idea. For characters, we asked out friends Monique and Lauren to play the teacher and student, and Tinika played another student who had found out about their secret.

Preliminary Task - Mind Map

This is a mind map of the ideas that me and Tinika have discussed when deciding our final story for our preliminary task.

The Brief

An overview of what we will be working on for our AS Media coursework.


Preliminary exercise: continuity task involving filming and editing a character opening a door,
walking across and sitting down in a chair opposite another character, with whom she/he then
exchanges a couple of lines of dialogue. The Preliminary task must include a match on action,
shot-reverse-shot and adhere to the 180 degree rule to ensure continuity.


Main task: the titles and opening of a new fiction film, to last a maximum of two minutes.
All video and audio material must be original, produced by the candidate(s), with the exception of
music or audio effects from a copyright-free source. Both preliminary and main tasks may be done
individually or as a group. Maximum four members in a group.