OPENING SEQUENCE ANALYSIS

Abbie Shuttleworth

THE BOX I have chosen to use ‘The box’ as my

first opening sequence. The film was released in 2009. The film is a hybrid of drama, mystery, sci-fi and thriller according to IMDB.

I chose to analyse this as I think it introduces the characters well. When analysing this I will be looking at the DVD.

How the narrative is set upIn this sequence the shot shows a basic story.

The shot shows a text display of the story, this is to help the audience get a slight idea of the film before it starts so the audience isn’t confused.

We learn where the film is set and what year it is based in.

The shot is a text shot to show where the film is set and what year. This is so the audience expect the settings to be based in Virginia, also the props used would be expected to link to the time period. For example if the film was set in 1976 then you wouldn’t expect top see modern television.

We learn the identification on the two main characters.

The mid shot of the two main characters, this suggests that they are a couple as they are asleep together. We can also tell that the couple have an average wage as the setting of the bedroom shows that they don’t have anything really expensive however it isn’t run down.

The location is shown though an establishing shot.

The establishing shot is shown to the audience to show the location of where the film is set. The shot shows a massive, elegant building in which could reflect the types of characters and the wealth. The establishing shot also reflects the time period in which it could be set in.

How the characters are introducedThe two main characters are a couple.

The mid shot of the two main characters, this suggests that they are a couple as they are asleep together. We can also tell that the couple have an average wage as the setting of the bedroom shows that they don’t have anything really expensive however it isn’t run down.

The time shows that the character may work.

The shot shows us that the characters may have a normal life of getting up early for work at 5:44 to go to work. It shows us that the character isn’t lazy and doesn’t always sleep all the time.

This shows that the character has a well paid job.

The shot shows us that the main character has a well paid job. It also shows that they could have an above average wage as the school looks like a posh school.

This shot shows us that the character has a nice house.

The shot supports that the character does have a well paid job as the house shown in which she is walking out of is fairly posh. The character also is shown to be fairly wealthy as in looking at her appearance. For example as the film is set in 1976 she is seen to have a ‘posh’ appearance.