The opening sequence of 'Easy A' sets the scene in Ojai, California, using various shots to establish the film's location and themes. It introduces the protagonist and her social dynamics through voiceover narration and visual contrasts, highlighting her struggles and relationships with peers. The sequence employs different camera angles and typography consistently to engage the audience and foreshadow character developments.

1. Opening sequence of Easy A
By Stephanie Batty
TEXTUAL ANALYSIS

2. The shot then pans down into a long shot,
showing the location of the film with the institution
‘Screen Gems’ appearing on the left of the shot,
this connotes the importance of the institution as it
is repeated again.
The first thing that the audience will see when
they are watching Easy A is the shot of the
institution ‘Screen Gems’ which is set in the
middle of the screen and blends into the blue sky
connotes a calm feeling but automatically
connotes that the film is situated in a hot setting.

3. Furthermore the next shot cuts away to an
American and California Republic flag,
blowing in the wind. This also tells the
audience where the film is situated and
they know that Ojai is a city in California.
Furthermore ‘Olive bridge entertainment
production’ appears on the top right of the
shot, in the same white typography as the
previous production company ‘Screen
Gems’.
The previous shot cuts away into a mid-
shot and cut-away of a sign saying ‘Ojai,
City Limit’. This gives the audience
additional information to understand the
setting of the film.

4. Another cut away is used to show the next
shot of an Orange orchard and then again
to a close up of an orange, this connotes
the season/ time the film is situated in.
Furthermore the same typography is used
to introduce Will Gluck film.

5. The shot cuts into a shot of some trainers
and then the film title appears. In this shot
the colour red and white is used which
appeal to both sexes, but also white
connotes purity whereas red connotes
death, so the colours contrast together.
Moreover the shot cuts into a
shot of High school sign which
tells the audience more of the
setting of the film being at ‘Ojai
north high school’.

6. The camera pans down and then zooms in and
where the cast names appear on the floor in the
same white typography.
A voice over starts and the camera is filming various
people in the grounds of the high school and shows
the audience the students and how they look and
dress according to their age. Also more cast names
appeal in the same white typography on the floor.
The voice over is a female explaining to the
audience her life at the moment, this gives the
audience more information about the characters
before she is introduced.
The camera zooms and focuses on certain people
rather than others; this tells the audience which
people are likely to play more a part of the film.

7. A mid shot is used to show the audience a
protagonist of the film, which is the girl which is
positioned at the front of the group of friends,
wearing a white top. As the group of friends
disappear and go different directions, the camera
stays focus on the girl in the white top could suggest
that the voice over which is heard is her, but this is
mistaken when a girl walks into her and takes her
place as the protagonist.
A high angle shot used, causes the audience to
feel more superior over the protagonist and
presenting her as a weak character as she is on
the floor. Furthermore this could also connote
that the protagonist has problems throughout the
film and is always knock down and unpopular

8. The next shot shows the audience their friendship
and that they are not great friends because the
protagonist is on the floor whilst her friends is talking
and not helping pick her papers up on the floor.
Furthermore a low angle is used to show that the
blonde character is more superior over the
protagonist.
The shot cuts into a shot of the
protagonist and is of the girl
speaking in the voice over. She
explains to the audience what is to
come in the film using the enigma
code.

9. Then a point of view shot is used to give the audience the feeling as if
they are the main character. But also builds suspense because they
don’t know whose have stood on the piece of paper that has been
stopped from blowing away in the wind.
A worms eye view is used to show the importance of the male
character and his attire and age tells the audience that he is a
teacher.

10. Moreover a shot reverse shot is used due to the
conversation they are having but then an over the
shoulder shot is used to introduce the audience to
more characters and give the sense of involvement
in the conversation with the teacher.

11. A over the shoulder is used to show where the
characters is looking and then a voice over starts
again, explaining to the audience what the
protagonist is thinking.
The opening sequence ends of a 2 shot of the main
protagonists, this shows their friendship and the
voice over carries on explaining about her friend.
Furthermore in the background of the 2 shot is the
final typography which is the same font and colour
that is has been throughout the opening sequence.