Textual analysis of opening sequences from romantic comedy films

10 Things I Hate About You

A variety of different shot sizes including an establishing shot, the location was established by a crane shot at the beginning of the opening sequence. There appeared to be diegetic sound whilst the characters where in the car. Whilst the opening credits are on the screen there is non-diegetic sound, the music is played whilst there is an establishing shot of the houses. It then alters to diegetic sound as another sound overlaps. As the characters arrive at the school the sound is non-diegetic. The credits of the film are superimposed over the filming. Throughout the opening sequence there is natural lighting and basic character movement, this helps define what stereotype of people the characters fit into and their role in the film. The macro helps build up the meanings from the information portrayed throughout the micro. The location and place of the film is established by the variety of shots used throughout the opening sequence, during these shots we can set up a scenario of what is going to happen during the film in our heads. During “10 things I hate about you” there was an establishing shot of an American high school, this information gives us knowledge that the film will be based in or around a school, including the people who attend the school. The representation of the characters is established as they are first introduced; the very first appearances of the characters allow the audience to work how much of an impact they think they will have throughout the remaining film. As the credits develop the text is superimposed over the footage, this text gives the vital informaiton of the films cast and crew for the production.

Mean Girls

Whilst the opening credits are being played throughout the opening sequence of the film “Mean Girls” there appears to be non-diegetic sound. The first piece of music (non-diegetic) becomes a diegetic radio which is then interrupted with the second cars diegetic radio. As the titles appear on the screen the sound is synchronised, meaning the sound is in sync or in time. The first camera shot introduces two characters, the sound changes to diegetic. Part of the opening sequence is shot reverse shot; this allows the audience to establish the characters and the surrounding areas. The lighting in the opening sequence is natural and basic character movement, this helps establish the personality of the characters in the film. The lighting is mainly generated from natural sources, such as the sun. The sun implies it is a sunny day; the mood at this stage in the film is happy due to the positive attitudes in the surroundings. The location is established by a brief introduction from the characters, we have a brief synopsis of the characters back ground before the film initially starts. A variety of iconic monuments are shown to show the settings, these include the large schools and yellow taxi's these all show that the film is set in the USA. During the opening sequence of “Mean Girls” there was an establishing shot of the variety of characters included in the films. There also appears to be what is described as a map of the variety of clicks in the film. This gives an indication of the sort of characters that are going to appear in the film.

The lighting in the opening sequence is natural and basic character movement, this helps establish the personality of the characters in the film. The lighting is mainly generated from natural sources, such as the sun. The sun implies it is a sunny day; the mood at this stage in the film is happy due to the positive attitudes in the surroundings. Macro:The location is established by a brief introduction from the characters, we have a brief synopsis of the characters back ground before the film initially starts. During the opening sequence of “Mean Girls” there was an establishing shot of the variety of characters included in the films. There also appears to be what is described as a map of the variety of clicks in the film. This gives an indication of the sort of characters that are going to appear in the film.