How I used features of "Blue Valentine" in my film opening

1. How I used features of “BlueValentine” in my opening

2. 2 characters
• In BlueValentine there are only 2 characters in the opening.These are a father and
daughter and it allows the viewers to get to know the close relationship shared
between the two of them and get to know the characters individually. Only using 2
characters in the opening makes it easier for the viewers to start to connect with
the characters (conforming to the drama genre convention of ‘purpose is to move
viewers emotionally’) and it makes it clear to the viewers who the film is going to
be based around.
• Therefore I used this when planning my opening. I chose to only include Emily and
Poppy in my opening and not introduce the characters of the father and mother
because I think it creates mystery as the viewers are able to make their own
assumptions and it also makes it easier for the viewer to see the relationship
between the sisters as they are the main focus through the whole opening.

3. Scene Setting
• In BlueValentine lots of shots of the surrounding woodland, road and garden are
used in the opening to introduce the viewers to the setting and set the film up.
This is something that the viewers were keen to see in my opening as it is a
popular expectation that scene setting takes place in the opening so that the
viewers are able to place the characters in the world and make sense of where
they are.Therefore BlueValentine conforms to the stereotypical film opening and
meets the viewers expectations
• I used scene setting in the opening of my film at the start when I use a tracking
shot of Emily walking home, the wide shots in the hallway and basing the rest of
the opening in Poppy’s room.This allows the viewers to start to make assumptions
of the family ie their class, wealth and the type of life they lead. Using scene
setting also met my audience research as my respondents said they expected
scene setting at the start and it was something they liked when they watched the
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows film opening

4. Shows the close relationship between the
characters
• BlueValentine uses the opening of the film to show the close bond between the
father and daughter.This is done through the shot variety and dialogue when the
father jokes about “eating your finger” to the girl.This conforms with the drama
genre convention of ‘intense social interaction between the characters so that its
easier for the viewers to be moved emotionally’.The closeness of the relationship
was also shown through the physical closeness of the characters, almost as if they
were protecting each other which is something that I took into my opening
• In my film opening I wanted to portray the close relationship of the sisters as it
allows the viewers to get to know the characters and create sympathy for the
situation they are in, which will lead to the viewers being moved emotionally. I
showed their close relationship through Emily refusing to put Poppy in any more
danger and encouraging them to leave. I also showed their close relationship by
placing my characters close together and through Emily giving multiple hugs to
her sister which stereotypically is a sign of comfort and support

5. The dog is missing
• At the start of BlueValentine you learn that the family’s dog has gone missing.
Although this isn’t a crime, it is a situation that needs to be solved and figured out.
The dog going missing leads to the little girl shouting desperately and running to
get her dad which shows that she is worried.The situation conforms to the
mystery genre convention that ‘ a crime usually needs solving ‘. Although its not a
crime, it is something that needs to be solved and placing the situation at the start
at the film makes viewers aware that it is central to the plot. It also conforms to
the convention that ‘the crime/situation needs to be believable’
• My film is based around the sisters trying to escape from their abusive
father/parents and what happens after they leave the house.This conforms to the
genre convention that ‘the crime/situation needs to be believable’ as child abuse is
something that is quite prominent in modern day society however it isn’t spoken
about much. I also conformed to the genre convention that a ‘crime usually needs
solving’ because people aren’t aware what the girls are dealing with and therefore
they need to make people aware and get the justice they deserve