2. Super imposed graphics – Production Company
• From 0.03 seconds to 0.11 seconds, we are immediately aware on
who produced the film with the animated Disney logo. The logo is
made up of sparkles and a castle, connoting that this film may
hold a theme of magic with the intended target audience of
children.
• The sound we hear is the same Disney sound we hear with all
Disney movies with the logo, creating a sense familiarity, thus
the audience will be expecting a cartoon film because the
producer has a reputation for this.
3. Producer/Director
• At 0.21 we have a black out title telling us who is
presenting this film. This tells us that the institution
is only one company – Walt Disney. They are the only
company recognised and given credit to. It is an
important convention to make it clear who produced
the film as well as who directed or wrote it, and this
opening sequence does it straight away with a black
out title.
4. Establishing shot – The location
• At 0.30 seconds , we denote sunlight glittering off trees and lots of
greenary.This establishing shot is connoting that this film is set in a
forest of some sort. This in turn, makes the audience expect to see
animals or something to do with a forest in general. The genre of
beauty is represented here as we are shown the positive side to nature.
The sound we hear is a soundtrack depicting a sense of innocence
because its classical esque and magical theme fits the shot. The camera
is slowly panning which suggests to the audience that there is something
hiding. This creates enigma as the audience question who...or what... is
hiding. The romantic theme is also suggested from the use of diegetic
sound of the birds tweeting in the background along with branches of
roses which symbolises love.
5. Characters and themes
• At 0.57 we denote a glass window with paintings of a powerful prince in his
kingdom. This connotes to the audience that there is a theme of wealth and
royalty. The powerful mid shot of the glass window represents how his power
breaks just as easily as glass. The narrator says “The prince was spoilt , selfish ,
and unkind”. The camera begins to zoom closer to the Prince’s face on the glass
window as he is spoken about. This tells the audience what to expect for the
main character, the Prince ,as he represented through these words. This
introduces the ideology to the audience that this film could be about morals and
change for the character. It is important to hint at some themes in an opening
sequence so the audience know what to expect.
• We also see the fairytale style connoted through phrases such as “There once
was a prince” and through the presence of a forest and a castle which are
typical conventions in fairytales.
6. Introducing narrative – Non linear
• At 1:03 we begin to hear the narrative forming which
establishes the characters further. We learn about
the old Beggar and the Prince and the curse. The
narrative is also given in a style intended for children
with its terminology and characters. Princes are seen
as a symbol in fairytales so the opening sequence
delivers this clearly. The editing is made up of fades
from this point to give a dream like feel as the
opening is based on the past (making it non-linear) and
adds to the story like feel.
7. Themes, Actors
• At 1:55 we denote a pair of claws ripping a portrait. This is
connoting the Beast destroying his own painting , in a fit of fury.
This highlights the theme of self image and represents the
Beast to be an aggressive character. We also denote low-key
lighting suggesting the atmosphere will be dark in such a
beautiful castle. The audience feel intrigued onto what will
happen next as we are finally broken away from the glass window
images to the actual characters. As this film is a cartoon film,
there are no actors but there are people who voice the
characters.
8. Engaging music and introducing a motif
• At 2:07 we denote a glass protecting a rose with a hand-held mirror
beside it. The music becomes higher at this point to draw more
attention to the rose and mirror. The rose and mirror are extremely
important motifs in this film and are introduced from the opening
sequence. We also hear the narrator above the music to inform us of
the narrative on what part they play. This tells the audience to expect
to see the mirror and rose throughout the film and establishes the
genre of beauty much further; the mirror is used to see your own
reflection in, and the rose petals that will fall represents the of true
love. These themes and symbols are popular in the fairytale genre and
fit the style well.
9. Establishing shot - Location
• At 2:25 we denote an extreme long shot of a balcony on a castle. This
extreme long shot is connoting how far away this castle is in the
forest, thus creating a sense of loneliness and represents the Beast to
be a recluse. This shot contrasts well to other locations in this film
because it truly represents how the Beast’s distance from everyone
else has seemed to form him. The audience begins to depict the setting
to be beautiful and fits the theme of royalty. The camera highlights
the large scale of the castle as it zooms out. Zooming is an old
technique used in much older films and would seem quite amateur if
used today, yet this film is intended for children so the stark camera
movement works well.
10. Film title / Graphic
• The film title is shown at the very end of the opening sequence
at 2:45.This allows the opening to flow nicely and advocate the
narrative, rather than making it jarring with black out graphics.
The title is big and draws attention to itself as it uses
typography that represents the characters. A beautiful red
ribbon for Belle as she is beauty and cold stone for the Beast. I
think in my own production, I will add the film title at the end of
the opening sequence so my footage can be edited with
continuity like this. The title has also inspired me to create
typography/graphics to represent the themes in my BSR film
work.
