The document analyzes the opening sequence of the film Gattaca through analyzing elements such as camera work, editing, sound, narrative and applying various narrative theories. It examines techniques used to create mystery around the main character and build tension through the use of extreme close-ups, slow pacing, and ominous non-diegetic music. Various theories on narrative such as those from Barthes and Levi-Strauss are applied to understand how the sequence engages viewers through posing enigmas and exploring themes through binary opposites.

1. Assignment 9: opening sequence
analysis.
Rosie
Helen
Marisha

2. Task 1 Task 2 Task 3
Marisha Purpose/conventio MES Barthes
ns
Helen CAM SAM sound Levis –Straus
Rosie Editing narrative Allan Cameron

3. Gattaca
Film details
Genre: Sci-fi, drama romance
Year: 1997
Director: Andrew Niccol
Main Uma Thurman
character Jude Law
s: Ethan Hawke

4. Film: Gattaca
Genre: sci-fi drama romance

5. The Purpose and conventions
• The purpose of the opening sequence of
Gattaca is to create an enigma as to what the
character is doing and why is he doing it.
• Only up and till the end the audience is able
to understand his actions.

6. Representation
Extreme close The
up of hair, this is representatio
shot is used to n of this is
create an that this male
enigma to what character is
it is. trying to
remove his
Close up shot identity by
of hair, this removing all
time the these things
audience is that contain
able to his DNA.
recognise
what is.

7. Camera shots
Close ups –Shot Extreme close up- Establishing Purpose
Shot-establishing shot gives you a idea of where the location is. OrShot scene is being set
Shot where
Shot –close up
Close upup usually focuses on a subject or a persons whole head in one frame.
Close usually Extreme close up Shot-establishing -no mid shots or
They used this shot to show main character emotion.
focuses on a are shot to show shot gives you a long shots
subject or a specific detail, up
Shot –extreme close idea of where the To create enigma
Extreme closewhole
persons up are shot to show specific detail, emotionemotion of a particular thing .
reaction or reaction or location is. Or where and mystery also
head in one frame. of a particular thing scene is being set. the character face
. is always hidden
which create
enigma .
The extreme
close –ups are
done to hide the
identity of the
character in order
to reflect what the
Showing in detail of film is about –
what he is doing . Hidden identity.
They used this

8. Camera angles
Point of view /high angle
• A point of view shot is positioned
between a shot and a object or
subject to show what the
character is looking at.
• This is done in this shot to show
what the character is reaching out
to get .This shot represents his
eyes.
Canted angle –this is camera angle
which is deliberately slanted to
one side.
• This is used in this scene for a
dramatic effect to portray dramatic

9. Camera movement
Tracking movement
• A tracking shot is a movement perpendicular to the camera lens axis.
• This is done in the sequence to slow steady motion of the long strand
of hair in detail on the grand .

10. Special effects
• Colour
• Looks like this has been saturated make it look
more like a early hours of the morning scene
or mid day scene. This effect is used to make it
look like a sunny bright day.

11. Mis-En-Scene : lighting
• Lighting
Lighting or illumination is the deliberate
application of light to achieve some practical or
visual effect.

12. The different types of lighting:
• The different types of lighting:
1. Natural lighting – is from a natural source
such as fire or sun.
2. Available lighting – is natural occurring light
on set.
3. Artificial light – not provided by natural or
available source such as fire or the sun and it
is man made.

13. Mis-En-Scene : lighting
Lighting in these
scenes determine
a mood of calm
and relaxation.
In this scene it uses
sepia which sets a
warm, calming and
bright mood.

14. MES – Characters (costume/prop/makeup/body
lang. etc.)
Dressed in a robe (costume)
Shows character using a bag of urine strapped to
his thigh (prop)
Syringe (prop) used to inject blood into finger prints.
Close up shot of character using a razor (prop)
Bag of bloods (prop) preserved in a fridge.

15. Cont.
Character is using a paintbrush
to securely place the finger
print of someone else’s over
his finger print.
Microscope, lamp, table and
office chair (props)
Test tubes filled with
dark liquid
Random jars filled with a
substance

16. Editing
• Diegesis
• Continuity editing
• Pace
• Time allocation
• Text/Titles
• Transitions

17. Diegesis
Diegesis – the internal world that the characters themselves experience.
The characters
home.
The character in his
car.
The character’s
workplace.

18. Continuity editing
• Continuity editing – makes the scene look continuous
In this shot the
man is wearing
a white robe.
In the next shot the
man is wearing the
same robe.

19. Pace
• Slow pace – cuts are longer + not many shots
• Medium pace – average number of shots
• Fast pace – cuts are short + lots of shots
The pace in
this clip is slow
and this is to
create a calm
yet
suspenseful
atmosphere.
This shot in the clip
lasts for about 11
seconds.

20. Time allocation
At the beginning about 17
seconds are used to show
these two quotes, which
could mean they are
important in understanding
the movie.
The credits take about 1
minute and 32 seconds
and mention most of the
main characters.

21. Text/Titles
• The text fades in and out

22. Text/Titles
When the names appear there are
letters which appear faster and
more bright than the rest.
These letters are ‘G’, ’A’, ’T’ and ‘C’
which also make up the name of
the film ‘Gattaca’.
These letters also appear in
a different font than the
rest of the letters that make
up the name.

23. Transitions
• Fade in/out
• Overlap/Dissolve

24. Fade in/out
Fade in/out – one shot gets lighter or darker. Lighter = fade in. Darker = fade
out.
This shot is an example of a fade out.

25. Overlap/ dissolve
• This is where one shot overlaps another – as we can see in this shot we can see
the character in the background and the new shot coming through.
Old shot New shot

26. Sound
Non –diegetic
• At the beginning of the sequence non diagetic sounds
stats off very calm and relaxed
• It then gradually builds tension
• Instrument used sound like a piano(intense soft music)
playing throughout.
Diegetic
• halfway through the sequence I could hear diagetic
sounds of him shaving his hair off his skin
• There was diagetic sounds of him washing himself
• There was also sound of the shower

27. Sound
• Score (music)- music arranged and played
specifically for the open sequence. The
purpose is to sets mood and atmospheres
to the scene.
• Volume control –the control of how quite or
loud sound is this is set to emphasize
mood/atmosphere in the opening
sequence of gattca

28. Special effects
• Colour
• Looks like this has been saturated make it
look more like a early hours of the morning
scene or mid day scene. This effect is
used to make it look like a sunny bright
day.

29. Narrative
• This narrative is restricted and unrestricted. This is because it does
give the audience information about who is in the film and who
created it, but it doesn't give any information as to what the film is
about.
• The narrative depth is subjective in this opening sequence as we
do not see anything in the characters point of view and towards the
end of the clip we see other characters.
• There are enigmas within the opening sequence which are:
Who is the man and what is he doing?
Why was he removing traces of his identity?
What was he burning and why?

30. Narrative theory :
Barthes
•Barthe says that the audiences experiences of narrative involves
anticipation and experience.
•Barthe identified this by codes:
•Enigma code
•Action code
•Semantic code
•Symbolic code
•Cultural code.

31. Narrative Theory
• Enigma code (Barthes Theory) is used in the
opening sequence of Gattaca as narrative is
set as a puzzle/mystery as they are extreme
close ups.
This may allow the audience to feel puzzled
because of the characters actions.

32. Cont.
Furthermore, at the beginning of the opening
sequence it poses a bible verse and a quote.
- creates more mystery
- makes the audience wonder whether it has any
relation to the film.

33. Levi-Strauss
• Levi-Strauss theory
talks about our world is
described in binary
opposites .When we
look at themes within
stories and real life we
realise they consist In this place the
differences. lighting is much
Good Bad darker and isolated.
Night Day
Male Female uyiiy87uo
Dark Light
In this place the lighting is
much more brighter.

34. Narrative theory:
Allan Cameron
•Allan Cameron identified four types of modular
narratives which are:
• Forking path
• Episodic
• Anachronic
• Split screen

35. Cameron’s theory in relation to Gattaca
Forking path Episodic Anachronic Split screen
Does this No Yes and No No No
apply to the
sequence? Abstract.
Explanation: There is no There are different shots There are no There is no split
alternative to without the character in it. flashbacks or screen in the
the story shown flash forwards. opening
in the opening sequence.
sequence.
Evidence none none none