The document provides analysis of the openings of two films: 1) Hunger Games: Catching Fire establishes Katniss as the protagonist and Gale as the helper through their actions and representations. It also shows the themes of rebellion, death, and strong female characters. 2) House at the End of the Street initially represents the young girl as innocent but later as psychotic. It establishes the father as vulnerable and the mother as the first victim. Both openings create tension through unexpected violence and exposing character emotions.

1. Macro Analysis
HUNGER GAMES CATCHING FIRE
HOUSE AT THE END OF THE STREET

2. Hunger Games: Catching Fire
The film genre is action, this is shown through the fast
pace and series of events that occurs throughout the
opening. There is violence, a central character and a
motive.
The genre of the film: action, is shown through various
conventions throughout the opening. Non-diegetic
music is fast paced linking it to the genre. An action
movie contains a series of fast paced events and so the
fast paced music adds extra momentum to the
opening creating a feeling of tension within the
audience. This tension occurs due to the low pitch
which creates a build up of suspense within the
atmosphere.
The genre is aimed at teenagers due to the characters
used. The two characters used are also teenagers, this
therefore enables them to relate to the characters as
they can relate to the morals and values that they
have.
Representation- Genre-
There is a representation created within the opening of
women. There is a mid shot of a girl aiming a bow and
arrow. This creates the representation that women are
strong and powerful. The bow connotes danger
suggesting that although she may be vulnerable to
danger she herself is a danger as she has the ability to
cause destruction creating the representation that she
is strong and powerful. This representation is created to
establish that she is the hero within the film and
therefore she will be a more dominant person.
There is a representation of men. Gale is seen in the
background of a mid shot with Katniss in the
foreground. This represents him as a less dominant
figure due to the visualisation that Katniss is the main
focus of the shot, therefore he looks weaker and less
dominant within the opening sequence. This
representation is created to establish that he is the
helper character within the film and therefore shall
have less power than a more important role such as the
hero.

3. Hunger Games: Catching Fire
There is an ideology that
teenagers/younger people are rebellious.
This ideology is supported in the film
opening. There is a long shot of the two
characters emerging from a fence with a
sign saying ‘no access beyond this point.’
This creates the connotation that they are
reckless, mischievous and always up to no
good due to the vision that they have
disobeyed the rules and done what they
wish to. This therefore supports the ideology
that young people are rebellious.
Narrative- Ideology-
There is diegetic sound of a stick breaking. Katniss turns the
bow ready to attack but finds her friend Gale. This represents
Katniss’ character in different ways. Her quick reaction
represents her as both powerful and also vulnerable. Her
bow and her ability to attack shows she is a powerful
character but, her assumptions that she needs to attack
makes the audience believe she is vulnerable to danger. This
mixed representation portrays her as the heroine within the
narrative (linking to Vladimir Propp’s character theory) as
heroines are powerful characters that are susceptible to
danger.
There is a straight cut to Katniss holding a rabbit in a trap
from a low angle. The close up used on the rabbit creates a
significance about the theme of death within the narrative; it
promotes the idea that death is a key theme within the film.
The non-diegetic sound of the music creates an alarming
feeling. This due to the music being one pitch throughout the
shot. This makes it seem like a siren is playing which is what
gives the alarming and tense atmosphere within the shot.
The alarming feeling almost warns the audience about the
significance of death within the narrative.

4. Hunger Games: Catching Fire
 Vladimir Propp’s character theory can be applied.
Katniss is the hero/protagonist in the film due to the characters intentions
within the opening.
Gale is the helper, this is established from the characters intention to assist
the other character.
 The uses and gratification theory can be applied:
People watch this film in order to get a feeling of entertainment and
pleasure. As the film contains the genre of fantasy it is implied that viewers
watch the film as an ‘escapism’ from the real world and their busy lives.
The product can also cause for social interaction- People will talk about
the movie and discuss/debate what they thought about the film.
 The film has use due to identity- People can watch the film and relate to
the characters morals/values, they may even aspire to be like them.
Theories/Theorists-

5. House at the End of the Street
Representation- Ideology-
There is a representation created within the opening
about younger people. There is a mid shot of a
young girl stood in a plain white nightgown. The initial
representation is that she is a innocent and pure, the
purity links to the white nightgown due to the
connotations between purity and the colour white.
However as the opening sequence continues this
representation changes, the girl is then represented
as reckless due to the mid shot of her running to
attack her dad with a hammer. This shows her as
psychotic and unpure creating a juxtaposition
between her costume and the representation of her
character.
There is a representation that men are weak and
vulnerable. A high angle shot of the man just before
he is attacked exposes his emotions making him look
fearful representing him as vulnerable due to his
inability to defend himself.
There is an ideology that women are weak
and vulnerable.
This ideology is portrayed in the opening
scene. There is a close-up shot of the woman
being attacked and killed. This close-up
exposes her vulnerability due to her exposed
emotions that are portrayed from the close
up. Her fear is exposed during the attack due
to the close up shot emphasising her
vulnerability.
The narrative also supports this ideology.
Within the narrative the woman is the first
person to be attacked this therefore shows
her as the weaker, more feeble gender due
to the implication that women are more
vulnerable to being attacked or hurt.

6. House at the End of the Street
Narrative- Genre-
Todorov’s narrative theory has been used to
create tension within the audience. The
narrative breaks the equilibrium in order to
create tension. The break in equilibrium
causes suspense and tension due to the
psychological aspect of the audience. The
audience are constantly trying to solve the
equilibrium and repair it to return the story to
equilibrium. As a result tension builds up as
they try to figure out the narrative as it
progresses.
Victims are established due to the use of
camera shots. High angles shots and close-
ups expose the characters emotions making
them appear as weak and vulnerable
establishing them as the victims.
 The genre is thriller, this is shown through the conventions of:
tension, suspense, unexpected events, violence/conflict.
 The genre is shown through the fast pace and tension
conveyed in the film presented in the mise-en-scene. A
psychotic girl is presented in a mid shot as she attacks a
man. This occurs with little knowledge creating a tense
atmosphere due to the rush of adrenaline from the
unexpected event that occurs.
 The use of music helps reassert the genre; the music
changes starts off at a slow tempo and then increases as
the story progresses. This adds tension to the audience as
the increased tempo adds momentum to the already fast
pace.
 The villain helps to establish the genre of the film. This
establishes the thriller genre due to the representation
created of the young girl: she is a psychotic girl who kills
her family. This establishes the genre as the villain
creates the tension and suspense throughout the
opening.

7.  Todorov’s narrative theory can be applied to the opening.
The theory suggests that a film has three stages
1. Equilibrium, 2. A break in equilibrium, 3. Return to equilibrium.
 The opening begins with equilibrium, there is a birds eye shot of a
family sleeping, everything is calm.
There is soon after a break in the equilibrium when a girl attacks her
family and so the films plot is intended to restore the equilibrium that
has been broken within the opening.
 Vladimir Propp’s character theory applies to the opening.
The villain is established by the audience due to the characters
intentions within the opening.
The victim is established due to the outcome of the narrative within
the opening sequence.
House at the End of the Street
Theorists/Theories-