Analyzing film openings in Media Studies.

1. FILM OPENINGS
Genre, Semiotics & Buscombe’s theory.

2. FILM GENRE: ROMANTIC
COMEDY
10 Things I hate about you

3. BUSCOMBES THEORY
Buscombes theory states that one genre is different from another, by the icons
associated with it, this is the physical objects or symbols which we see on the screen
(Mise-en-scene) It is split up into categories, these categories are:
• Location
• Appearance
• Tools
• Miscellaneous

4. LOCATION
The first image we see is an establishing shot of the city which pans horizontally until
we reach a street, where we see a blue car full of girls. When the audience see the
busy city/street and car full of excited girls we assume that the film is going to include
stereotypical feminine themes such as love, playfulness and romance. The centre
focus of the opening scene automatically connotes that the target audience will
general be teenage girls/young women who are able to associate better for the
characters.

5. APPEARENCE
The girls in the car are stereotypically dressed as an average American teenage girl,
this contrasts against the girl in the other car who is dressed in a more casual way
with her hair wet and thrown up and a plain t-shirt on and trousers – the music is also
changed to ‘bad reputation’ to reinforce that this girl is an outcast. We then enter the
school here we see a group of boys with hockey sticks hitting the floor, they are
wearing typical ‘jock clothing’. This includes baggy t-shirts, jeans and hockey boots.

6. The camera zooms out from the cars, showing one to be a opened top blue car and
one to be a rusty red car – this is also reinforces the contrast between the girls
driving. The lack of tools suggests the film is going to be concentrated on something
else rather then weaponry or technology.
Tools

7. At the end of the opening scene, the more casually dressed girl walks up to a blue
poster stuck on the wall and angrily rips it off. This suggests that this girl is generally
unhappy/annoyed.
Miscellaneous

8. SEMIOTICS & SIGNIFIERS
Semiotics are the studies of signs they examine how symbolic, written and technical
signs construct a meaning.
A signifier is the sign, e.g. a Barbie
Signified is the associations that the sign refers to e.g. children, freedom, playfulness
3 Types of codes:
• Symbolic/Visual codes
• Written
• Technical

9. Symbolic/Visual codes
In the opening scene, high-key lighting is used to show that the film is bringing
warmth or happiness, it makes the scene brighter and seem more energetic. The
colour red on her car is used as a symbolic code to show anger and could
foreshadow passion/love. A yellow sign with a picture of a stickman walking, shows
warning against people crossing the road although could symbolise that the girl
should stay away from boys as they’re a hazard, the colour yellow symbolises
warning or hazardous. In contrast, the other car is blue. This shows that this group
of girls is ‘cool’ or even popular as the colour blue suggests cool, cold or even the
state of being calm. Later on in the opening scene a group of boys are shown, their
jeans are bright blue this also symbolises cool/cold and contrasts against the girl.
The hills and grass is shown as bright green, this symbolises the summer months
which contains happiness and young people being carefree.

10. The titles are the only written codes, this is important because it shows me that they
are using the images to draw the audience in rather then any written codes.
Written codes

11. The camera movement ‘Zoom’ is used to show the girl to be feeling more alone as
she is being ‘left’. A slow panning movement is also used to show the entire city and
to move onto the scene the editor wanted the audience to look at. The shot/reverse
shot is used to show the two females looking at each other and making eye contact.
No-diegetic music is used throughout the whole of the opening scene.
Technical codes

12. FILM GENRE: HORRORThe purge

13. LOCATION
The opening scene is in a majority of different locations, it is shown as cctv footage so
is in green/black. Some of the locations involve warehouses, alleyways, a house and
in the streets of a city

14. APPEARENCE
The people are wearing casual clothes. Some are wearing hats or wearing their
hoods up. This shows the audience that what they're doing (beating people up, hitting
people with bats and shooting people) is a normal thing in this place because people
usually dress up in protective clothing when murdering people etc. in order to not get
hurt or found out.

15. The most commonly used tool in the purge opening scene is a gun, this signifies
violence and hurt. There are also other tools used to represent violence, these are
bats and an axe. There are a few cars shown, which aren't being driven – this
shows the audience that the are they're in is busy and they don’t care about being
seen being violent.
Tools

16. Fire is shown often in this opening scene, this represents pain and hurt. There is
also an office desk shown, this shows profession and wealth.
Miscellaneous

17. Symbolic/Visual codes
In the opening scene, low-key lighting is used to show that the film is about
darkness and aggression, it makes the scene darker and seem more sinister. The
colour yellow is often shown on barriers and clothing and in fire, this is used as a
symbolic code to show danger and can foreshadow a warning. A boy in a blue
hooded jumper is shown, this shows a state of calm which firstly contrasts against
the scene and contrasts against the feeling he should be feeling. The cctv footage is
often shown as green, this symbolises nature, this contrasts against the urban
location.

18. The only written codes included are the ones from the cctv footage, showing the
time, date and location. This is important to realise as it shows me that they are
using their images to intrigue the audience rather then words.
Written codes

19. The camera movement is often still as it is far out from the scene and can catch all
the movement. Although, the camera uses a zoom, inwards and outwards, to make
the scene feel more personal to the audience.
Technical codes

20. FILM GENRE: ACTIONThe Dark Knight Rises

21. LOCATION
The opening scene is on a plane flying over some mountains. The plane contrasts
against the mountains as it is man made, and the mountains are natural.

22. APPEARENCE
The main characters are dressed in casual clothing to show the audience that this is a
daily thing they do. The other people in the scene are dressed in military outfits, this
shows authority and pride.

23. The only tools used in this opening scene is a gun and the plane. The gun shows
pain and violence, this could foreshadow the events that are going to follow.
Tools

24. There is nothing else in the scene.
Miscellaneous

25. Symbolic/Visual codes
In the opening scene, low-key lighting is used to show that the film is about
darkness and aggression, it makes the scene darker and seem more sinister. The
colour blue is shown on the mans top, and on the plane. This shows a calm state of
mind, which contrasts against the situation. Green is also shown on the military
clothing and on the hills, this signifies nature and envy, this could foreshadow the
events that are going to follow further along in the film.

26. There are no written codes, this shows me that they don’t need to pull in the
audience with words and can do it with the images.
Written codes

27. The camera movement is shot/reverse shot, this is used to show the two characters
in a conversation. The tracking shot is also used to follow the main character when
walking to the door of the plane. Zoom is used to make the scene become personal
to the audience.
Technical codes