The document provides an analysis of the opening sequence of the film Forrest Gump. It notes that the sequence follows a white feather as it floats through a town and lands at the feet of Forrest Gump. It analyzes the cinematography, lighting, music, costumes, and props in the opening scene. The feather is identified as the most important visual element, representing ideas of fate, destiny, freedom, and Forrest Gump himself. The sequence introduces Forrest as childlike and giving and sets up the small-town setting and romantic tone of the film.

1. By Chloe Abraham

2. Forrest Gump is a drama/romance film released
in 1994. The director of Forrest Gump is Robert
Zemeckis.
In the opening sequence of Forrest Gump, it
follows the path of a white feather floating
around a town and finally landing at Forrest’s
feet.

3. The whole opening sequence consists of wide
shots and medium close ups of the feather and
then of Forrest. The scene starts of with wide
shots as the feather is floating down and
eventually when the feather lands at Forrest’s
feet, we start to get medium close ups of the
feather but mostly of Forrest. The camera pans
and tracks as the feather floats around and down.
The camera follows the movement of the feather.

5. In the opening sequence there is no artificial lighting
used, all the lighting is natural. The opening sequence
was filmed on what looks like an overcast day. You
do not see the sun during the opening sequence.
During the opening sequence, when the music starts,
the lighting appears to get brighter. This may have
been a happy accident or it could have been done on
purpose. When the light gets brighter, it shows the
audience that something special is going to happen to
this town. The lighting sets the scene of opening
sequence to the audience by showing them that the
setting is just an ordinary place and anything can
happen in the most ordinary places.

6. The only sound in the opening sequence is the
background music which is played throughout
the opening sequence. To me the music is very
magical. Also the music reminded me at points of
twinkling stars. This ironic because the opening
sequence is set during the day. The music makes
me feel happy and free just like the feather in the
opening sequence. The music tells the audience
that the setting and in the narrative of Forrest
Gump, something out of the ordinary and
magical is going to happen

7. The whole of the opening scene is one single shot.
The camera angle does not change until the bus
arrives at the bus stop. There are two different
feathers being used, the feather that is being
followed has been filmed on a blue screen and has
been edited into the shot and the feather which is
on Forrest’s foot has been edited out and then
replaced. The editing of the opening sequence
allows the audience to focus on the
representations of the feather.

8. In the opening sequence we see a few people in
the background and Forrest. All the characters we
see are dressed in smart modern clothing which
suggests that the area is a good and pleasant area.
The male characters; including Forrest; are
wearing suits and the females are wearing more
casual (but still smart) outfits. The costumes set
the scene for the audience by showing them it is
just an ordinary place much like where they live.

9. There are many props in the opening sequence of
Forrest Gump but I am going to concentrate on
the three main props which are the feather,
Forrest’s suitcase and Forrest’s box of chocolates.

10. The feather is the main prop which is used since it
is the main focus of the opening sequence. The
feather itself is white which to me represents that
it is pure and untainted. I believe that the feather
represents fate and destiny because that feather
could have landed anywhere, but it landed on
Forrest. The feather is floating freely and I also
believe that it represents freedom. In my opinion,
the feather represents Forrest. The feather makes
the audience think about what it could represent
and what part does it play in the narrative of the
entire film.

11. There are many things in Forrest’s suitcase such
as a children’s book. This implies to me that
Forrest maybe very childish and still enjoys
reading children’s stories. Also in Forrest’s
suitcase, there are many everyday essential items
such as a tube of toothpaste and clothes. This
implies to me that he has been on a long journey.
The suitcase makes the audience think about the
narrative of Forrest Gump because they decode
from the suitcase and its contents that he has been
on a long journey, and the narrative is going to be
his journey.

12. The box of chocolates have a bow on them which
implies that they are a present. Chocolates are
usually a gift given to a female which tells me that
Forrest is meeting up with a female friend. The
box of chocolates focus on the characterisation of
Forrest. They show that he is a giving and loving
person because he is giving someone a nicely
wrapped gift.

14. We do not learn much about Forrest from the
opening sequence but what we do learn is that he
is childish and he is giving. Forrest has a
children’s book in his suitcase which shows that
he still enjoys reading children’s books. Forrest
also has a box of chocolates with him which have
been decorated with a bow so they can be given
to someone as a gift. This shows that Forrest is
very giving because he likes to do things to make
other people happy.

15. As the feather floats around freely, we get to see the
setting of the film. The setting of them film looks to
be a small new town. The buildings in the area are
modern and well kept which suggests to me that the
people care about the place they live in and it is a
lovely place to live. I think the setting is a town
because there are some big buildings which are seen
during the opening sequence, but also there are not
many people in the opening, this suggests to me that
it is a very small area with not that many people.
There is a lot of greenery (plants) seen in the opening
sequence which suggests it is a rural area, but there
are bus links in the area so it is not completely
remote.

16. From the opening sequence Forrest Gump sounds
like a romantic film. The music is very soft and
romantic which gave me the impression that it is
a romance film. Also, Forrest himself is well
dressed (except for his old trainers) and has a gift
wrapped box of chocolates, which implies that he
may be going to meet a lover.

17. The narrative of the opening sequence is we start
of by watching a feather floating. We follow the
feather as is floats around and down until it
finally reaches the ground at Forrest’s feet. He
picks up the feather and opens his suitcase and
puts it into a children’s book. He then closes his
suitcase and continues to sit and wait for his bus.
The opening sequence gives us an idea about the
film which we will only understand once we have
watched the film. It gives us a few clues to what
the film may be about.

18. The feather is the most important factor in the
opening sequence of Forrest Gump. The great
thing about the feather is that it means so many
different things to so many different people, but
to me the feather represents fate and destiny,
freedom and Forrest himself.