3. UNIVERSAL AN MCA
COMPANY
At the beginning of the movie, we
can see the earth slowly appearing
in a galaxy, accompanied by the
large words "UNIVERSAL" in the
middle of the screen. The word
"universal" means "Omnipresent".
Combined with the galaxies and
planets in the front, this may also
mean that movies are everywhere
in life.
4. Shots
(extremely close-up shots and establishing shot)
The film uses fade-ins to connect the opening credits, and many
close-ups of rooms use pans, tilts, and dolly shots to present the
scene. The constantly flowing water, the constantly playing TV, the
constantly running bread machine, and the constantly running fully
automatic dog food machine all indicate that no one has lived in
this home for a long time. Especially when the news came on the
television and we learned that the nuclear material plutonium had
been stolen, this sat up the plot. A boy comes in and the camera
pans to the bottom of the bed with a slide, allowing us to discover
that the nuclear material plutonium is under the doctor's bed. After
shooting all these close-ups, we started shooting the establishing
shots. When the camera cuts to a laboratory-like location, the boy
turns the power of a piece of equipment to maximum and starts it
up with an instrument. This image makes the audience understand
that this is an over-the-top comedy about scientific and
experimental products, and also makes the audience curious about
the follow-up film and want to continue watching.
5.
6. Editing
It uses fade-ins and J-cuts to connect plot and movie
titles. The title of the movie uses jumping colors and a
metal frame to make the audience feel that this is a
futuristic movie. The sound of the clock represents
"travel in time" and also serves as a metaphor for the
following "BACK TO THE FUTURE". It deliberately uses
the sound of a clock as a J-cut to make the audience
curious and interested in continuing to watch. It also
connects the first scene very well to the story that needs
to be presented next.
7. MISE EN SCENE
• In the opening sequence, there are many clocks of all kinds, and they are shaking constantly, which also sets the stage for the
next plot. The clocks that keep shaking mean that time has passed and also shows that this is a movie about time. . The
camera pans across newspapers from 19th century with a clock in the headline which goes along with the pan over many
clocks in the room; therefore it is clear that time is a theme. Contrary to the newspapers, the setting in the room tell us that
the story takes place in the United States at the end of the 20th century. There are almost different styles of clocks in every
frame, thus emphasizing that this is a movie about time, emphasizing that the audience will always have a strong impression
of this foreshadowing. Also, there is an interesting device for opening dog food cans so the theme covers inventions too. The
entry of a boy turned on all the switches. From the establishing shot, we saw a huge speaker, like an unfinished experimental
product, which also made the audience feel bright and curious when they saw this. The boy plucked the bass and was
bounced away, which also amused the audience, entertaining and alleviating the sense of mystery created earlier. A messy
room is also very consistent with a laboratory, the personality of a scientist, and aspects of life.
color
• The overall opening sequence colors are almost all low-key, which gives the picture a
mysterious feeling and makes the audience curious to continue watching. The clocks
we mentioned vary in style, but they all work well together. They come in many
different low-saturation colors, which does not make the viewer feel uncomfortable
due to sudden colors. The overall TV screen appears blue and has a muddy texture,
which is very consistent with the setting of the late 20th century, when color TV was
just available. The yellow guitar and a handsome boy wearing a blue denim suit also
let the audience know that this is an adolescent bassist boy who loves music. The
yellow color also shows the boy is cheerful.
8. Props， costume and
character
We can see that the first prop used by the protagonist is a skateboard. The protagonist opens
the door and pushes the skateboard under the bed. Skateboarding is a sport that students
often play. Even if we don't see the face, these small details can portray the protagonist more
deeply. The following musical instrument, the bass, can also let the audience know that the
protagonist is a bassist, possibly the bassist of a band. Bass is often used in rock music, and it
can also let the audience know that the protagonist loves rock music.
9. SOUNDS
The opening uses the sound of clocks, news broadcast on TV, and the sound of
machines operating to show that this is a house that has been unoccupied and
unkempt for many days. Then when the protagonist goes out, the sound moves
from diegetic sound to non- diegetic sounds, the music changes into cheerful,
relaxed, youthful music.
