Assignment 9: Opening sequence analysis

Name 1: Monae

Name 2: Laura

Name 3: Chelsea

U Turn

Film: U TurnGenre: Crime Drama Thriller

Template notes

Purpose (opening sequence)

The purpose of this opening sequence is:

1. To captivate the audiences attention. In ‘U Turn’ the audience is faced with many enigmas through the restricted narrative.

2. To introduce this linear film as a medium pace and make the audience wonder what will be happening next.

3. To pull the audience in and introduce them to the character and settings in the film.

Crime

• Fast pace• Keep audience

in a suspense• Tension • Draws interest

Drama

• Emotion• Thoughts• In tense• Entertain

•

Thriller

• Creates fear• Suspense• Enigmas• Guessing game

of ‘who did it’• Cause

interaction with others

• Anticipation

PurposePurpose

Conventions Conventions

Conventions Conventions

Conventions Conventions

ConventionsConventions

CAMERA SHOTS: Wide

PURPOSE?The purpose of a wide shot is to show a large variety of information.

These shots are also considered as establishing shots.

CAMERA SHOTS: Overhead

PURPOSE?

The purpose of an overhead shot is to show beyond a character or an object.

CAMERA SHOTS: Close up

PURPOSE?

The purpose of close ups is to show a particular part of an object. In this case it will be the numbers on the radio station or the horse at the front of the car.

CAMERA SHOTS: POV

PURPOSE?

The purpose of a point of view shot is to show the character’s perspective.

CAMERA ANGLES: Low

PURPOSE?

The purpose of these angles are to make the character seem more bigger and dominant.

CAMERA SHOTS: High

PURPOSE?

The purpose of a high angle is to make the character/object seem smaller and vulnerable.

Mise-en-sceneMise-en-scene

• Isolated desert• Exterior area• Dusty road

• Harlins garage• Allot of broken cars

Mise-en-scene – SettingMise-en-scene – Setting

Screen grab

• Natural lighting throughout the opening sequence

Mise-en-scene – lightingMise-en-scene – lighting

Editing:

• Diegesis• Continuity Editing• Pace• Time• Cutting• Transitions• Special Effects

Diegesis

• Diegetic:- Lorry drives past- Vultures eating dead wolf- Empty road ahead of him

The world within the narrative of the film.

Diegesis

• Non-diegetic:- Text on screen- Film title

These are not part of the diegetic world within the film.

The characters cannot see or hear these elements.

Continuity Editing: Match On Action

The character turns the dial on the radio.

This action is continued in the next shot.

Multiple shots show one continuous action.

Continuity Editing: Eye-line Match

Shot A: Shows the character looking at something off-screen.

Shot B: shows the character looking at the road signs.

Following shot that shows what the character is looking at.

Continuity Editing: Insert shot

Close-up: the character turns the dial on the radio.(master shot)

Insert shot: the dial changing.

A shot as part of a scene, filmed from a different angle or focal point from the master shot.

Continuity Error

There are two vultures in this shot. In the next shot, there is

only one vulture.

Pace• Mid Paced• Average number of shots used• To make normal and comfortable• To show realism

However, the opening sequence also uses fast pace. These shots all happen in a

matter of seconds, one after the other, creating a sense of anxiety as to what will happen.

Time

• The man in the opening sequence (presumably the main character) has the most screen time.

• (He is the only human character seen within the opening sequence.)

Story time: there isn't a set time shown, but could be between minutes and hours.

Discourse time: 04:06

Time Allocation:

• Shows his importance in the film.

Transitions

• Straight cutting: shows realism

This shot cuts to the next shot Which straight

cuts to the next

Special Effects

• Colour- Black and white

(Often used to show a memory or time period)

Sound

Cat meows

-

Tyre bursts and engine exhaust fumes comes out

Lorry passing by

Music from the radio

Narrative

• Structure• Type• Enigmas

StructureLinear:The opening sequence moves in sequential order, starting with the man on is journey and ending with him reaching a destination.

Type

• Restricted:- Doesn’t share lots of information with the

audience- Holds back information to create enigmas.

Enigmas

• Where is he?

• Where is he going?

• How did he get his hand injury?

• Which road will he take?

• Who is he?

Includes:• Equilibrium • Disequilibrium • Recognition of disequilibrium• Attempt to repair damage• New equilibrium

Narrative theory: TodorovNarrative theory: Todorov

EquilibriumEquilibrium

DisequilibriumDisequilibrium

Attempt to repair damageAttempt to repair damage

Cameron

N/A

Narrative Theory: Barthes

Barthes theory of codes encourages the audience to seek answers and clues to make them anticipate outcomes.

Identified by these codes:

• Enigma Code

• Action Code

• Semantic Code

• Symbolic Code

• Cultural Code

Barthes Codes.Enigma Code:- The audience are not told anything about this character or where is

is/where he came from.

-

Action Code:- We would expect the character to begin to hallucinate or see things unclearly after taking pills.

Barthes Codes – cont.

Semantic Code:- Shot of vultures eating at the carcass off a wild dog connotes death.

- Isolated landscape connotes loneliness.

Symbolic Code:- (opposition and antithesis) isolation vs civilisation

By: MonaeLaura

Chelsea