AnalysisBy Alex Strein

This screenshot is the first thing that the viewer will see at the beginning of the opening sequence, the text appears in a quick fade in after a second and half of a pure blank black background, this creates an intense emotion as you have no idea what the first scene will be. Eventually, it shows a textual theory of the Butterfly Effect could be ‘A butterflies wings can cause a typhoon halfway around the world’. This is actually a metaphor in fiction of the scenarios of Time Travel. They include ‘Typhoon halfway around the world’ which can implicate that the phrase ‘The Butterfly Effect’ links to the idea that the wings can create changes in the atmosphere.

This uses Enigma Codes as it gets the viewer questioning on the theme of the film and it’s also a quote which sticks into the mind and creates an interest and a mystery of the rest of the film. The text lasts for 10 seconds which then fades out very smoothly to the next scene.The music playing during the text appears to be added as a sound effect which fades in as a heartbeat in at 24 seconds to 27 seconds, and it lasts for 3 seconds. The heartbeat fades in and gradually lowers in volume, then another sound effect is added at 26 seconds and ends at 28 seconds, this sound effect could represent a butterflies wings as it’s very chaotic with the sound pitch because it is very sharp and very quick in speed. The use of the heartbeat which again is an added sound effect still plays through very vaguely to the next scene.

The use of edit to move from the previous scene to this scene is a Fade In. This scene starts off being very confusing and it makes you feel quite disorientated due to the effect of the blind which makes them look like they’re moving, which is also added in by the lighting that is used. The lighting which has been used is highly contrasted with that one space in the middle of the frame which appears to be the part where the only light is on, making the viewer think that something may appear from that light. This has the effect that you have no idea what this scene is or what that certain light spot is. I think that the use of lighting in this scene makes your eyes feel very wary as the pattern of the blinds and the use of the lights combined, makes it feel like it’s moving and also the use of the blinds, which where the light appears to be, can imply that the identity of the character is hidden.. This creates a higher use of Enigma as it draws the viewer in, making them wait for the identity of the character.

This screenshot shows a slight figure which could be the first character, this scene follows on from the previous image. The blinds then become more focused where you can start to see the use of dull colours on it, the colours portray the mood of this entire scene which could be an effect on the viewer, especially with the use of sound which follows on through. The lighting has increased with use of brightness with possibly another light added, however the lighting still remains quite morbid and dark which shows only a little amount of light, this little amount of light could resemble to a spotlight, which trails the viewers focus on this moving subject which however, appears to be blurred which could implicate that the subject is moving quickly.

In this scene, you can start to see the character and their body movement. The use of their arm being slightly back shows that they are running which evidentially shows that the ‘subject’ was moving at a quick pace. The camera angle for this scene shows a PAN MOVEMENT as from the 2nd screenshot shown in slide 3 tells us that the camera has been following the character. The effect of this camera movement is so that the viewer does not lose the character at any point during the opening sequence as it appears that the character is a protagonist as the action is following it. The use of costume starts become more clear as it appears that the protagonist is wearing something white. The use of the white clothing can portray many meanings to a viewer such as; sterility, calmness etc…the costume also includes a blue jacket which could stand for many things such as; faith, health, healing, cleanliness etc… but with further research blue could also represent a small blue butterfly of the family Lycaenidae, which is ironic to the movie title.

In this screenshot, the viewer is slowly introduced to a white text . (explanation on next slide)The protagonist is yet again in a blurred motion which shows that their speed has increased or that the camera has slowed down, because at this point of the screenshot, the protagonist, the camera AND the text all move relatively slow. This also shows that again the camera movement is at a Pan Movement because we are following the protagonist as the previous image looks as they are centred of the frame.The text however, stays in place so it seems that the protagonist is running to the text. The use of the incidental music which is played at 0.40 seconds is a parallel sound as it matches with the atmosphere of the scene which is very creepy and mysterious. It creates a suspense which relates to the faint sound effect of a heartbeat.

As the protagonist approaches this part, the viewers are then introduced to the text that the protagonist was running towards. This text as you can see, presents the production company of the film which has the effect that the viewer now has an idea what company produced this film. This part of the screenshot creates a very creepy emotion which could portray on the viewer due to the quick disappearance of the protagonist at 00.43 seconds. The incidental music is then overpowered with a drum symbol which has a high-pitched noise to it and in my opinion it relates to a nail on a chalkboard because it creates that sudden shiver to the viewer. The use of this location is that the blinds are literally hiding our sight of the protagonist and it plays with our sight and mind as we want to identify the protagonist. It also makes the viewers think of what certain location they are in, which could be the directors intention with the use of Enigma, so the protagonists identity still remains unknown and disguised. At around 00.45 seconds in, the Incidental Music fades lower in volume and continues on with the very high pitched sound which creates a shiver when hearing. The effect of this certain high pitch noise is to make the viewer very wary of the entire opening sequence and film. The incidental music then gradually increases in volume at 00.50 seconds onto the next scene.

The lighting in this scene has gradually increased much more than the previous screenshots, the intention for the effect upon the viewer is that the protagonist is slowly developing through the light as he/she runs closer to the lighted area, making the viewer feel threatened as they camera remains in the room, whilst the viewer watches from the inside.

At the first screenshot (00.49) the protagonist’s identity is soon to be revealed which creates a very intense activity of high and strong emotions as the viewer can become baffled with the protagonist and their further actions.The viewer at this point can then start to identify the character as we have a much more clearer and closer view of them. The use of clothing again relates back to Slide: 4, Screenshot: 4 revealing the use of blue and white which the viewers may get the purpose that he is actually a patient as these colours are only recognised in one place, a hospital.

At this screenshot, the protagonist then disappears for a fraction of a second which relates back to the viewers emotion of this scene as it creates a sudden suspicion on what could happen next and where the protagonist could be.

In these two scenes (00.54-00.57) the incidental music is still again parallel but with a mass increase of the high pitched noise creating the dramatic action of the protagonist. The high pitched noise which before I resembled as a ‘Nail on a chalk board’ has been again used to show the viewer that the scene will reveal the character and his body language, and further on action. In the first screenshot, it shows the protagonist kicking the door open, this tells us that the protagonist should not enter this room due to the secureness of the door and that the forbiddances of the room and protagonist will continue further on with possibly a consequence, especially with the use of body language, For example: the first screenshot shows when he kicks the door open which reveals the frustration of the blockage between himself and the room, it shows the viewer that he has a desire or a mission to enter the room as at the beginning of the opening scene, he’s running towards it. Also, the use of the costume shows that he is possibly a patient with the use of the white top and the blue overalls. In the second screenshot when the protagonist slams the door shut, a sounds effect is used to create a loud and intense emotion of the door being slammed shut. The use of the door slamming [sound effect] is to show the viewer that the closure of the door is final, how it gives the effect of being final is that it represents a person being disposed to avoid social contact by locking themselves into a room, or even to finalize that the protagonist himself, is locked in that room with no intention of escaping.

In this scene, we start to feel more intense where we as the viewer feel that we shouldn’t be in the room with the protagonist, especially with the increased pace of music which remains parallel and incidental, the music adds the intensity of this scene as when it picks up pace the protagonist follows along with the music, which shows his pace has also picked up. At 1.00, the sound of the sofa being moved and the squeak really overpowers the room for a second which tells the viewer that he is in more of a rush than anything else, due to the quickness of moving the sofa to block the door and when the protagonist moves the sofa, You can see that he shows a little bit of a struggle as he disturbs the orderliness of the room.

In the first screenshot, I think it can confuse the viewer as he picks up this box without the intention of looking at what it is and if that box it actually his. But, the way he picks up the box shows he is familiar with the box as he holds it quite close to his body. Two different types of shots are used in these screenshots. Screenshot 1 is a medium long shot, this shot has been used to frame the protagonist and the box as the main subject on the screen, this has the effect on the viewer that the box and the emotion on the characters face is crucial to understand the relation to the film.Screenshot 2 is a medium shot which shows only the waist and head, this is used to show more of the protagonist and his facial emotions, it creates a much more understanding for what emotion the viewer should be feeling, for example; in the second screenshot, it makes me feel concerned for what the protagonist is up to, because previously we saw him running and locking himself into a room, using violent actions (kicking the door open) before to this point where we see a powerless emotion in his face as the use of the mouth being slightly open shows he’s out of breath and speechless on his next move. The use of the incidental music changes as it moves into a sound that creates an adrenaline rush, it almost sounds like that the beats mimics his footsteps as he tip-toes.

In this scene, It creates an Enigma because it has the shows intention that the viewer wants to continue watching to find out what will happen next and why the protagonist is hiding. In these screenshots, it shows a range of different movements which all happen in a matter of a second, which tells the viewer that he is in a rush but, this will confuse the viewer as many rhetorical questions enter our minds, ‘why is he in a rush?’. But in the third screenshot, he quickly reaches for a notepad which may reveal his intention. In the fourth screenshot, we can then start to see what is inside the box, it appears to be a camera. This scene then creates MANY questions through the viewers minds such as, ‘why does he need a camera’ and ‘what is he writing’ … we as the viewer will start to have many unanswered questions which is the directors intention.

In this scene, dialogue has been introduced in a breathless way as he words ‘if anybody finds this, it means that my plan didn’t work’. This tells the viewer that the distance he ran to this room was very long and that what is being said out loud is very vital for us as the viewer to hear. The use of dialogue creates the effect on the viewer that we are involved and that we learn more about the protagonist as the sense of tone within his voice is very rushed in speed, as someone is looking for him but it’s also very calm which tells the viewer that he has a plan, hence the camera and notepad. The use of dialogue also stuns a viewer as most opening sequences are basic with uses of text whereas, this opening sequence involves barely any text and use of dialogue.

In this scene, the dialogue continues on further ‘and I’m already dead’ within the time to the dialogue a voiceover is introduced which startles him in the second screenshot and then the protagonist continues writing and reading out loud ‘but if I can somehow go back…’ (Continues on the next slide).This scene is very interesting, especially for the viewer because with the use of Medium Close Up, we start to grasp all the different emotions of the protagonist, especially with screenshot 2 & 3. Screenshot 2, shows that something has startled him which judging by the wideness of his eyes, he is starting to feel scared and what is strange is that in screenshot 3-4, he moves back to the notepad which tells the viewer that, whatever he is writing, it’s VERY important.The use of the protagonist's costume remains with the blue overalls etc… however, now we have this medium close up we can see much more of his facial features, which reflect on his costume and character; The use of the messy hair and facial hair, it tells the viewer that he’s been in hospital for a very long time, however.. Because in the previous scenes it shows he has no medical problems as he has the ability to run, push objects etc… he must be in a different type of hospital, rather than a hospital for the physically ill.

The protagonist is also centre-frame. This tells us that it’s important for us to capture his emotion and that he is our main focus.

This scene plays through the time where the protagonist is writing on the notepad and continuing to read out loud. However, this scene could represent an Eyeline match of what the situation the protagonist was running away from, possibly from an antagonist. The Incidental music still continues but at a very low volume. But, it changes at 1.13 (Slide 13) to a very mellow but nerve-wreaking tune which creates such an overwhelming emotion because it’s a massive change from the action type of sound to a slow and mellow sound, which mimics the body language of the protagonist. However, the use of this sound still remains parallel because the mood that it contrasts reflects on the actions which are happening within the scene. The use of the changing of sounds creates the feeling that the scene is about to change because the fadedness from one sound to another.

From slide 12, 13, this slide and the next.. The protagonist still continues to catch his breath whilst writing and speaking very quickly, he continues from ‘but if I can somehow go back…’ ‘to the beginning all this…’ (continues on to slide 15)

However, in the background.. The antagonists are outside of the room and trying to work their way in, the use of the door trying to be opened is a key feature which represents why he was running and why he locked himself in the room.

In the first screenshot, it shows a bright light, preferably a torch which could explain why the protagonist is hiding underneath a desk. The use of him hiding under the desk and locked this room shows the viewer that he may be in some sort of trouble, and what would confuse the viewer is that the protagonist is locked in a small room, under a desk, this would create many questions within the viewers head to why he has locked himself in a ‘dead end’ area.

This scene is the most important part of the entire opening sequence because, we saw the protagonist running to the office where he locked himself in, he was out of breath which tells us as the viewer that ‘I might be able to save her’. This Eyeline Match of the notepad reveals what the viewer has been waiting for, however, it still creates many questions ‘save her?’ ‘Who’s her’.. This tells the viewer that this movie will be full of questions/Enigma but will be answered at the end. The use of the Eyeline match puts us in the eye of the protagonist which creates an exciting and more engaging effect for the viewer. The camera then ZOOMS IN to the text ‘save her’. The effect of the zoom in tells the viewer that the scene which will reveal ‘her’ is soon to begin.

In this screenshot, using an edit ‘Dissolve’, it transitions from this scene to another. This has the effect of being a smooth transition from each scenes in order to blend them all together.

This screenshot is where you can quickly see the transition of the dissolve come into the frame, capturing the text and invading the screen with another scene. The use of background texture looks to be a butterfly wing which is relevant to the entire film.

In this screenshot, you can see the text fading out, personally I think that this screenshot represents the Butterfly effect on how the wings can create a typhoon, as it warps the text away as it’s reversing backwards, with the use of the textured background swallowing it as well as the fadedness and blurry-ness

As the texts fades out and the background becomes more visualized, the entire screen is then invaded by these next 6 screenshots, however, the images within the scene are a lot more blurred than the other screenshots previously. This gives the viewer the struggle to trying to identify what this new scene is all about. In most of the screenshots, the subjects or images are massively blurred due to the closeness of the camera, this could be caused when the lens focus are not fully adjusted, but the use of the blurred subjects creates more questions for the viewers mind. The use of music has changed which remains parallel and incidental, however the use of the music is a lot more cheerful and mystical – almost magical which really emphasises what is happening within the scene, The tune of the music sounds like the sound of glass music because it’s very light on tension which calms the viewer down with after the high use of tension previously. In the screenshots, the background is pure black which emphasises the blue toned images/subjects which glows within the scene. The use of the glow could represent a scan, as x-rays have this kind of negative glow (looks very medical type). This could represent the protagonist because the use of blue and white, which reflects on his costume which was very medical looking. HOWEVER, the screenshot all of the subjects are moving in a very chaotic kind of way which could represent a fly or even a butterfly, because of the wings and how manic and rapidly they flutter. In the 5th and 6th screenshot, the butterflies become more enhanced and more identifiable as the shape and form of a butterfly are presented.

As the butterflies fly away from the camera, they start to become much more clear although more transparent. The use of the transparency however, reveals what it appears to be a very blurred text behind the butterfly. This is an interesting feature to the opening sequence because the viewer will start to become more intrigued for what that text may say.

This is a very interesting shot because the viewer now has the evidence that the blurred subjects are in fact butterfly wings. This could technically be a medium close up of the butterfly’s wing. because the viewer could be fascinated with the texture and detail of the wing.

This screenshot shows the butterflies flying towards a certain object within the scene, very vaguely the viewer are able to see some sort of text which also glows like the butterflies. The use of sound within this scene and so on, still continues as this chaotic sound which highly emphasises the butterflies at they all flutter in a group at a fast pace.

The more this scene continues, the more butterflies appear on the screen which still reflects on the use of sound as it increases with the chaotic-ness. However, in the scene, only one butterfly really stands out the most which the butterfly that is in the shot of Medium Close Up. This shot really relates to the viewer at our eyes remain on this one butterfly because it’s use of brightness is more advanced than the others, it also has a much more use of glow than the others. It also tells the viewer that this one butterfly is the most important subject within this scene and that our eyes should never leave it, and it wont.

The two screenshots which are circled are the first introduction to the film title, this for the viewers creates a sense of excitement because it shows that the film is about to begin.The butterfly starts of being quite bold but as it approaches the text, it starts become very transparent, this shows that the butterfly is over-laid on the text like it is a body in an x-ray.

The butterfly which is on the right side of the frame shows that the chaotic-ness of the sound relates to the actions of the butterfly. This effects the viewer in a way that this scene is quite chaotic.

This butterfly proves to the viewer that the use of the medium close up evidences that this particular butterfly will play a main role within the scene. The first screenshot (left) shows that the butterfly has formed behind the text because the text has dominated the butterfly.

Around the edge of the butterfly, there’s an odd shape which starts to form as the butterfly flutters. The text also becomes more enhanced with the use of glow as this happens. The effect of this on the viewer is that we as the viewer are watching the odd shape forming. This includes the audience in some way as we’re intrigued for the shape which is starting to appear.

In this screenshot which follows on a second after the previous one, it shows that the odd shape has now formed which tells the viewer that the butterfly has an impact on this. The shape is actually a brain, which proves what I said previously in slide 16 that it’s in a negative form which could resemble to an x-ray, and as you see this x-ray of a brain, it starts to also form questions in the viewers mind ‘is this the protagonists brain?’

In these 3 screenshots, it shows the viewer more of the butterfly which is fluttering in the brain. This relates to the Butterfly Effect itself and the use of the quote at the beginning (how the butterflies wing can ultimately create a typhoon halfway around the world) because the use of this quote and the title sequence here, it links them both together which then makes starts to make sense of the quote.

The second screenshot shows the brain itself, which could possibly be the protagonist’s brain. This then refers back to the use of costume (slide 16) and the use of colour motif of sterility and health because we as the viewer are seeing a brain scan.

The text on all three screenshots all remain quite dominant of the brain scan and the butterfly. This tells us as the viewer that the text is the main title and it’s vital for us to see the butterfly fluttering around inside the brain so we can then grasp the knowledge of the title and what is happening.

In these two screenshots, the butterfly and the wings have transformed within the brain, this tells the viewer that the butterfly effect in the film will effect the protagonist. This means that the theory at the beginning of the opening sequence is very vital within the whole film because it reflects back on Chaos’ theory of time travel.

The text has also lost the use of glow as it fades out, this tells the viewer that the opening sequence is about to finish because the use of the neon glow throughout these last scene has remained quite dominate and eye-catching and now the text is quite bland.

However, in this last screenshot, all the fluttering and use of glow etc.. Has stopped which tells the viewer that all the chaotic-ness has finished and that ‘Butterfly effect’ has stopped fluttering in the brain.

This scene then uses an edit of ‘Fade out’ to reinsure the viewer that the opening sequence has ended as well as the Incidental music .The use of the fade out only fades the image of the brain and the music, whereas the title text remains onto the next scene for a couple of more seconds, this is so the viewer is familiar with the title and that it sticks into their heads.

This opening sequence in my opinion has been the most interesting one so far, because it’s very intense and it creates many questions within the head of the viewer.

The character who I have referred to as a Protagonist is played by Ashton Kutcher. The use of the filming company using him as the main character shows a Gledhill theory which means that the viewer will be more interested in watching this movie with a well known actor, whereas if this film included an actor who are not famously known, the filming rates will be lower than one with a famous actor in, this is because the viewer will have to adapt to a new personality of acting, whereas Ashton Kutcher is famously known for his style of acting. (Another name for Gledhill Theory is ‘Star Factor’)

This opening sequence has been the most challenging one to analyse because it’s an opening sequence which purposely creates confusion to the viewer, however, it also made me understand further more about the use of the movie title and the relevant scenes within the opening sequence because the more I watched it and annotated it, it became a lot more clearer. The reason why it was very challenging was because I have viewed this film many times as well as the opening sequence so, analysing it gave me the chance to concentrate much more on something I’ve seen many times.

The use of the colour motif works in the opening sequence as the use of the blue on the costume does evidentially refers to sterility and health because the protagonist himself was in a hospital which backs up health. The film production were very smart when using all the colour motifs, lighting, costume etc… The lighting worked well to create the intensity within the opening sequence as it remained dull and morbid all the way through. It made me as the viewer feel quite intense as the use of Incidental Music did make me feel nervous of the scenes because the music just built up the tension which I never would have had before if I wasn’t fully analysing it.

I fully enjoyed analysing this opening sequences although it did take my many weeks to analyse with many extensions, however, it helped me grasp the knowledge of why the production companies uses Mise en Scene to create effects on the viewer. I’ve seen this movie many times before Media Studies and never thought much of the opening sequence, but now with knowledge of all the different types of shots etc… it creates a higher depth of understanding of the opening sequence and why they have been used.

REVIEW