8. Conventions
*Input table*
Colum 1: General conventions of genre
2: Conventions in U TURN (reinforce or challenge)
3: Similar Films
And how many ever rows u think u need
9. Camera Shots
The extreme
close up of the
horse could
symbolise the
journey of life
and time passing
quickly.
The extreme
close up of
the radio
could suggest
his sense of
comfort
Extreme close ups
Close ups
Purpose
There was the shot of the
dead animal which creates
enigma. This is because it
could foreshadow a death
within the movie
The close up of his
face could portray
he emotionally
feels.
The close up of his
injured hand could
suggest that this man is
exposed to a lot of
danger
The idea of cards
could suggest a
gamble in life and
that he is choosing
between life and
death
The close up of seeing
a dead animal and a
bird eating the animal
could forebode the
mans death
10. Camera Angles
Low angles
This low angle
could suggest that
this deserted area
has hidden
dangerous places.
High angles
Purpose
The purpose of this allows us
to think how he has the
courage to be alone in such
an abandoned place.
This high angle
could suggest his
isolation and
vulnerability of
being alone in a
deserted place.
The sunset
from a low
angle could
symbolise
danger as the
dark is
approaching.
This low angle could
also portray the fact
that he has the
power and the
strength to be in this
place on his own.
This conveys him as
being dominant
This also symbolises his
isolation of being
surrounded by nature
which shows us he is
exposed to a lot of
danger especially being
alone with no help.
11. Camera Movements
Track
Tracking in this
scene could
suggest that he
has a long
journey to
reach his
destination.
This could
also establish
the setting
around him
showing he is
in a deserted
location.
This long
journey could
represent his life
and time
moving quickly.
Panning
Purpose
This creates enigma because
when he reaches to the end
we want to know whether he
keeps on going or not.
Being surrounded by
beautiful nature and
being on his own
could portray
confusion and
isolation.
This portrays the
act that he is
isolated within
nature (deserted
place)
This portrays his
journey taking a
lot of time but
also establishing
through nature
what may happen
to him.
12. Mise-en-scene: setting
The opening sequence is set in a type of dessert and an open high road.
This setting could symbolise the fact that he is
on a journey somewhere and the fact that he
is alone could symbolise running away from a
problem.
This setting of the mountains could
symbolise the obstacles that he has to
take during his life time.
The train on its track could symbolise
that this is a path that he has taken
before and is taking again on his own.
The car in the distance going through the
dry unsteady road could symbolise how
his life is going at the moment or
throughout his life.
13. Mise-en-scene: Lighting
Most of the time in this opening sequence it has a naturalistic lighting but at some points
it has a tinted orange colour that could represent different timing.
The orange tinted colour could represent
timing that he has been on the road for a
long time portraying that he is trying to
travel really far.
The mid key lighting could represent the
foreshadowing and mystery in his life at the
moment. That fact that the shadows and
light are split means they are balanced or
he is trying to balance them out.
The high key lighting could represent how he
seems to feel that the way he is going is going to
bring him the peace that he is trying to find or
the answers to his questions.
14. Mise-en-scene: Character
Term
Screen grab
Annotation
Representation
The character is an angry tempered
person who has a problem in his life at
the moment. He is also a careless
person.
Body language
His body language is very unsettled and uneasy.
Also a trying to keep calm type of body language.
When he shakes his head out of distress.
Costume
His costumes is very messy and scruffy
representing his stress and his
tempered state.
Props
the red car= representing his anger.
Grave stone= foreshadowing death.
bandage-= representing the wounds in his
life.
Medicine and cigar= establishing his stress.
Sun glasses= trying to run away from life.
15. Editing: Text/Titles
The type of text used throughout the opening sequence looks hand written.
The way the titles move are in four different main ways:
1) Move closer to each other
slowly (Jump)
1
2
2) In a firework like way
(Fireworks/spark like)
3) Slide down the screen
4) Flash like
1
2
16. Editing: Continuity Editing
Match On Action
Match on action is used
when the man hits the cat
with his car.
Cat running
across road.
Eye-line Match
Insert Shot
In the opening sequence a
few eye-line matches are
used.
There’s a few insert shots
used.
For example this one is where he
is looking at the carcass.
This one is of his car key.
Characters
reaction.
Cats
reaction.
Cat gets hit.
Remains of
cat.
This one is of a caveman drawing
in the beginning.
17. Editing: Pace
There are two paces seen within the opening sequence, medium and fast.
Medium
This is the pace used through out the opening
sequence.
In these screen
shots the pace
isn’t as dramatic
and fast.
Its quite relaxing
as its at a
medium pace
and no tension is
created.
Fast
This is the other pace used within the opening
sequence.
The fast pace is parallel with the upbeat music in
the opening sequence which makes the
audience feel excited.
The music in this
scene of a truck
driving by really fast
was parallel with the
pace as the pace of
the editing
increased.
18. Editing: Time
Types of time used in the opening sequence
Flash-forward
A flash-forward is used to
show the birds eating the
carcass and then the main
character witness’ the birds
eating it.
Here is the flash-forward of the bids
eating the carcass and then in the
second photo the man witness’ it and we
see it through his glasses/ point of view.
Ellipsis
Ellipsis is used as we don’t
see him driving from the
moment he gets in the car
and we don’t see the whole
of the car journey but
random snippets.
We follow the main
character around in
his car. However
different shots of
him in different
places driving are
used therefore
there's ellipsis as we
don’t see the one
whole straight
journey but random
parts of it.
Time Allocation
Time allocation is mainly on the main
character which is the only character
within the opening sequence, as
throughout the opening sequence we are
introduced to him.
Through out the opening sequence he is the only
character we are introduced to so most of the time
allocation is on him. If not him then its usually of
insert shots.
19. Editing: Transitions
The two transitions used are: fade out and straight cut.
Fade Out
Fade out is used a few times within the
opening sequence.
One scene fades
out as the other
overlaps it.
Straight Cut
Most of the transitions are straight cuts
within the opening sequence this is
probably to create realism.
Here we
are looking
at the key
hole in the
car and
then at the
man driving
the car.
20. Editing: Special Effects
Blurr
Black & White
Fisheye
The blurr effect is used one
or twice within the opening
sequence.
Here in these photos a
blurring effect is used on the
dashboard of the car.
In the opening sequence the
black and white effect is only
used once.
A sort of fisheye effect is
used for a glasses effect.
As if the audience is viewing
from the main characters
point of view.
It is used when filming in this
low angle shot.
22. Sound: Non-diegetic
• In the background the music seems to be calm
and a happy type of atmosphere. When he
reaches the signs the volume control
decreases and allows us to hear the diegetic
sound of him turning off the car.
23. Leticia Silva
Narrative
STRUCTURE
TYPE
ENIGMA
The structure in non-linear
because it has moments
where the opening
sequence has a scene from
2 birds eating a wolf and
then when he drives past he
sees it. So the timings are
placed to go back and forth
but to still link together.
The type is restricted
(implicit) because you don’t
know what is going on in the
opening sequence and it
doesn’t give away to much
which causes the audience
to have their own theory of
what is the meaning behind
this opening sequence and
by being restricted it helps
to capture the audiences
attention id order to keep
them interested in the
opening sequence.
The enigmas are :
Who is he?
What is he doing out in the
middle of the road on his
own?
Why is he in the middle of
the high road on his own
and why is he so stressed
out?
Why the cigars and
medicines?
Where is he going?
What is he doing and what
did he do?
24. Narrative Theory
Todorov
Is it equilibrium, disequilibrium or new
equilibrium in the opening sequence? Why?
If you don’t know, why do you think this is?
25. Narrative Theory
Propp
Hero
dispatcher
Villain
Donor
Helper
False Hero
Heroine
The man on
the search
probably
looking for
someone
(psychologicall
y)
There is no
dispatcher.
There is no villain
but he could
possibly be the
villain at the same
time.
He drank
medicine
which could
give him the
power energy
for strength
There is no
helper he is
just isolated
and alone in
a car in a
deserted
place.
There is
no false
hero.
There is no
Heroine.
26. Narrative Theory
Barthes
Enigma
Action
Semantic
Symbolic
Cultural
The enigma is that
he is driving on
the high road as if
he is running away
which creates the
question for the
audience of what
he is doing in the
middle of the high
road and why is he
there.
The actions code
is that he is
smoking cigarettes
and taking
medicine which
leads the audience
to think that he
has a serious
condition. Also
when he shakes
his head as if in
distress and
having a mental
issue. Which could
lead the audience
to think that he is
crazy.
The semantic code
here is the colour
red on his car
which could
symbolise his
anger and a
warning of his
dangerous
behaviours.
The symbolic code
here is when the 2
birds are eating
the wolf. Usually
the wolf would eat
the birds. This
could be a
symbolic of the
fact that he is in
serious danger
and that he is the
wolf and whatever
he is running from
is the bird trying
to eat him.
The cultural code
is that usually
when the person
is on a high road
on their own it
suggests isolation
or a sense of
wanting to run
away enhancing
the possibility of
him having a
mental problem.
27. Judy Ibelgauptiene
Narrative Theory
Cameron
Anachronic
Forking Path
Split Screen
Within this opening
sequence we see
flash-forwards of
the birds eating the
dead carcass and
then the character
sees it. This is
evidence for an
anachronic
narrative.
There is no use of
forking path in the
first sequence as
we only meet one
character who is
probably the main
character and we
see him living his
life in the present
moment with no
repetitions of his
day from the start.
There is no split
screen present as
we follow one
character for the
whole of the
opening sequence
and the screen
doesn't’t split and
show any other
characters or what
they’re doing. This
is probably is
because the focus
is on one character.
Episodic
The opening
sequence for U
TURN has no
episodic narrative
as there seems to
be no abstract or
anthology
narrative. The
opening sequence
is too brief to
establish anything
episodic about it.
