The opening sequence of the crime thriller film "U Turn" introduces the main character driving alone through an isolated desert. Several enigmas are presented about who he is and where he is going. Various film techniques like camera shots, lighting, editing, and sound are used to set the scene and build intrigue. Narrative theories of Todorov and Barthes help analyze how the sequence creates disequilibrium and codes that prompt the audience to seek answers and anticipate outcomes.

1. Assignment 9: Opening sequence
analysis
Name 1: Monae
Name 2: Laura
Name 3: Chelsea

3. U Turn

4. Film: U Turn
Genre: Crime Drama Thriller

5. Template notes

6. Purpose (opening sequence)
The purpose of this opening sequence is:
1. To captivate the
audiences attention.
In ‘U Turn’ the 3. To pull the audience in
audience is faced with and introduce them to the
many enigmas character and settings in
through the restricted the film.
narrative.
2. To introduce this linear film
as a medium pace and make
the audience wonder what
will be happening next.

7. Purpose
Crime Drama Thriller
• Fast pace • Emotion • Creates fear
• Keep audience • Thoughts • Suspense
in a suspense • In tense • Enigmas
• Tension • Entertain • Guessing game
• Draws interest • of ‘who did it’
• Cause
interaction
with others
• Anticipation

8. Conventions

9. Conventions

10. Conventions

11. Conventions

12. CAMERA SHOTS: Wide
These shots are also
considered as establishing
shots.
PURPOSE?
The purpose of a wide
shot is to show a large
variety of information.

13. CAMERA SHOTS: Overhead
The purpose of an
PURPOSE? overhead shot is to
show beyond a
character or an object.

14. CAMERA SHOTS: Close up
The purpose of close ups
is to show a particular
part of an object. In this
PURPOSE? case it will be the
numbers on the radio
station or the horse at
the front of the car.

15. CAMERA SHOTS: POV
PURPOSE?
The purpose of a point of view
shot is to show the character’s
perspective.

16. CAMERA ANGLES: Low
The purpose of these
angles are to make the
PURPOSE? character seem more
bigger and dominant.

17. CAMERA SHOTS: High
The purpose of a high
angle is to make the
PURPOSE? character/object seem
smaller and vulnerable.

18. Mise-en-scene

19. Mise-en-scene – Setting
• Isolated desert
• Exterior area
• Dusty road
• Harlins garage
• Allot of broken cars

20. Mise-en-scene – lighting
Screen grab
• Natural lighting
throughout
the opening
sequence

21. Editing:
• Diegesis
• Continuity Editing
• Pace
• Time
• Cutting
• Transitions
• Special Effects

22. Diegesis
• Diegetic:
- Lorry drives past
- Vultures eating dead wolf
- Empty road ahead of him
The world within
the narrative of
the film.

23. Diegesis
• Non-diegetic:
- Text on screen
- Film title
These are not part of the
diegetic world within the
film.
The characters
cannot see or hear
these elements.

24. Continuity Editing: Match On
Action
Multiple shots
show one
continuous
action.
This action is continued in
The character turns the the next shot.
dial on the radio.

25. Continuity Editing: Eye-line Match
Shot A: Shows the
character looking at
something off-
screen.
Following shot
that shows what
the character is
looking at.
Shot B: shows
the character
looking at the
road signs.

26. Continuity Editing: Insert shot
Close-up: the character
turns the dial on the radio.
(master shot)
Insert shot: the dial
changing.
A shot as part of a
scene, filmed from
a different angle or
focal point from
the master shot.

27. Continuity Error
There are two vultures
in this shot. In the next shot, there is
only one vulture.

28. Pace
• Mid Paced However, the
opening sequence
• Average number of shots used also uses fast
• To make normal and comfortable pace. These shots all happen in a
• matter of seconds, one after
To show realism
the other, creating a sense
of anxiety as to what will
happen.

29. Time
Story time: there isn't a set
time shown, but could be
Time Allocation:
between minutes and • The man in the opening
hours.
sequence (presumably the
Discourse time: 04:06
main character) has the most
screen time.
• Shows his importance in
the film.
• (He is the only human
character seen within
the opening
sequence.)

30. Transitions
• Straight cutting: shows realism
This shot cuts to the
next shot Which straight
cuts to the next

31. Special Effects
• Colour
- Black and white
(Often used to show a
memory or time period)

32. Sound
Tyre bursts and engine
Cat meows
exhaust fumes comes out
-
Lorry passing by
Music from the radio

33. Narrative
• Structure
• Enigmas
• Type

34. Type
• Restricted:
- Doesn’t share lots of information with the
audience
- Holds back information to create enigmas.

35. Enigmas
• Where is he?
• Who is he?
• Where is he going?
• How did he get his hand
injury?
• Which road will he take?

36. Narrative theory: Todorov
Includes:
• Equilibrium
• Disequilibrium
• Recognition of disequilibrium
• Attempt to repair damage
• New equilibrium

37. Equilibrium

38. Disequilibrium

39. Attempt to repair damage

40. Cameron
N/A

41. Narrative Theory: Barthes
Barthes theory of codes encourages the audience to
seek answers and clues to make them anticipate
outcomes.
Identified by these codes:
• Enigma Code
• Action Code
• Semantic Code
• Symbolic Code
• Cultural Code

42. Barthes Codes.
Enigma Code:
- The audience are not told anything about this character or where is
is/where he came from.
-
Action Code:
- We would expect the character to begin to hallucinate or see things
unclearly after taking pills.

43. Barthes Codes – cont.
Semantic Code:
- Shot of vultures eating at the carcass off a wild dog connotes death.
- Isolated landscape connotes loneliness.
Symbolic Code:
- (opposition and antithesis) isolation vs civilisation

44. By: Monae
Laura
Chelsea