This document provides a detailed analysis of the opening sequence of the film Blue Velvet. It summarizes that the opening sequence establishes the setting of a seemingly idyllic 1950s suburban neighborhood, but then takes a sinister turn when an elderly man gardening suddenly suffers a heart attack. Through the use of camera shots, sounds, and representations, the opening subverts the ideal of the perfect suburb and hints at underlying flaws and darkness.

1. Blue Velvet
Introduction
Blue velvet is a mixture of psychological horror and drama. Directed by David
Lynch, it has a running time of 121 minutes. Produced by Fred Caruso and
Written by David Lynch. It stars such actors as; Kyle MacLachlan, Isabella
Rossellini, Dennis Hopper, Laura Dern, Hope Lange, George Dickerson,
Dean Stockwell. Music arrangement by Angelo Badalamenti and
Cinematography Frederick Elmes Distributed by De Laurentiis Entertainment
Group. Released September 12th
1986. In the box office blue velvet grossed
over $8.6 million. The target audience for this movie as any would be people
that are into horror and drama movies, there are themes throughout this
movie that mean it is not suitable for those aged under fifteen.
Media language
The setting of this opening sequence is a perfect community with white
picket fences and house wifes with quiet childing. A very seren and
peaceful enviroment. As there are a lot of people within this opening
sequence the costume varies a lot; we see a group of school children all
wearing casual clothing, we also see an elderly women again wearing casual house clothing
the last person in this opening sequence is they elderly man that eventually suffers
a heart attack and dies although he is doing gardening he is pretty well dressed he
is wearing s and a white vest with a hat all the clothing although most casual is
clearly from a different era, just from looking at they overall opening sequence we
can tell that it is most likely set in the 50’s we can tell this from looking at a range of
things; The scenery, the clothing choices and the characters used here.
Low key lighting is used within this opening sequence this lighing gets
across the atmosphe that Lynch was looking for when dirrecting this
opening squence it fits with his genre and themes.
Although low key lighting is used the mergority of the time
in a couple of frames in the opening sequeune high key
lighing and normal lighing are used Lynch tactically placed these in the
happpier points of the opening sequence.
In this opening sequence we hear both diegetic sounds and non-diegetic sounds; right at the
very start we hear the song ‘Blue Velvet’ by Bobby Vinton this continues throughout the
whole opening sequence (2:05 minutes). Soon after this we hear diegetic sounds ; A fire
engire driving through the shot, at the same time we hear some birds tweeting. Another
diegetic sound we hear in this opening sequence is the sound of the old man watering the
grass, the next sound is they old man suffering a heart attcack and finally the last diegetic
sound is the old mans dog barking at the old man whilst hes dying, throughout this when the
man is dying we also hear the sound of the hose contining to disperce water. All of these
sounds link in with the genre and what Lynch was trying to portray with this opeing sequence
in the happier parts of the opening sequence we hear the happy sounds with the birds
happily singing and then as the opening seqeunce takes a sinister turn so does the sounds
Lycnh has used.

2. Camera Angles/Shots/Movements
We see a wide shot being used this can also be called an
estableshing shot this as its name suggests is to help the
audience get an idea of the souroundings and where the opening
sequence is based.
Lynch also uses a point of view shot in this opening sequences this is so that
the audience feel involved in the action and see what they would be seeing if
they were there live.
This shot is called a long shot, This allows the viewer to understand the
relationship between the characters and their environment. This shows the
whole person and other characters, but the background dominates the
shot.
We then see a midium shot. This shot is favouited in sequences where
there are a small amount of people are featured this allows the viewer a
look at the body language of the actor as well as being able to see what is
happening in the rest of the scene.
Representation
Within this opening sequence the idea of the perfect surburbier is being represneted we
know this because of how David Lynch has choosen to set out the opening sequence. At the
start of they opening sequence it is a possitive representation however roughly half way
through we see it take a turn for the worst and suddenly its not the perfect sububier anymore
it’s a horror show where we have people dropping dead. I do believe this is a fair
representation of not only American sububier but of life, there is no such thing as the pefect
neighbourhood although it may look perfect to outsiders people within that ‘perfect suberbier’
are aware of its flaws and imperfections. The representaions in this opening sequence are
Subversive; Lynch is trying to break the barriers exposing the idea of the perfect
neighbourhood. This representaion links in witht the target audience.
Narritive
The narritive is linear meaning it is all in cronological order and makes sence to the viewer.It
shows us suberbier and the idea of the perfect neighbourhood with the white picket fence
but then suddently the oepning sequence takes a sinister turn and the old man watering the
grass suddenly has a heart attack. Binary opposites we see here include; Innocence Vs
Violence, Life Vs Death and Happiness Vs Filth. In this opening sequence we have a
protagonist (a main character) this is the old man we build a fondness for while watching the
opening sequence. We also have the elderly lady she is they observer in this we only see
her for a minuite and she doesn’t speak but she contrubutes to the overall feel of the
opening sequence.They enigma code is quite obviously present in this opening sequence
when the old man we see at the start and form a relationship with dies we as the viewers
want to then watch the film to see what happened to the man and what will contuine to
happen throughout the actual film.