Main Task - 5a - Macro/Micro analysis of an opening sequence from your genre

Macro/Micro analysis of comedy film openings.

Film 1: Monty Python: The Life of Brian

Macro

Narrative - The narrative appears to be that of a bystander talking about the main character of the film and his life, AFTER the film itself. The song that plays in the opening mentions the name of Brian multiple times, from the view of a third person. The special effects of the opening, the comic style animation, alludes the audience to the narrative of Brian's life, the human body that is shown throughout begins as a baby and grows into a young boy, then a young adult and so on, until his death; then proceeding to show his after death experience, until his is shot while rising to heaven (a comedic action in relation to the film).

Representation - The representation of the time period of the movie setting is shown in the movie, images of Roman brickwork and buildings, the animation is given the design of old and ruined. Another representation of religion is an aspect of the opening that can be seen, during the ending and the angelic images.

Genre - Through both the comedic timing and actions that occur during this opening, the genre is evidently comedy. The music fits to the actions in the opening.

Micro

Sound - The song of the opening introduces the audience to the main character, whom the film is named after, and sings about his life.

Mise-en-scene - The mise-en-scene of the opening animation orientates to audience to the time period and setting of the film, the old appearance of the buildings, the Roman design of the environment etc.

Editing - The jump cuts between scenes work in time with the music, for example, as the lyrics 'and he started to grow' are sung, there is a jump cut between the animation of Brian falling as a young boy to him falling as a teenager. The editing continues to consist of 'jump cuts' through-out, moving between scenes. The editing of adding the Cast and Crew's names is within the animation, thus meaning there would be no editing required.

Special Effects - The entire opening is animation, thus is 'special effects'. The opening uses this animation to set out the plot of the film and orientate the audience into the setting and time period of the film. The animation also includes the names of the actors and crew of the film, these names appear as part of the animation, rather than just appearing over the opening itself.

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Film 2: The Naked Gun

Macro

Narrative - The narrative of the opening is questionable, while there is no character which the narrative consists of, the narrative could be seen as the car itself or the siren itself, showing the viewpoint of the car during a possible police chase. However, the fact that there is no evidently specific narrative, I personally just see it as the narrative of the car.

Representation - The opening sequence repesents the main characters in the movie, the film is of copy genre, along with comedy, so the opening represents the features of the movie which are these. The police siren is the cops and the actions of the car and the mise-en-scene is comedic.

Genre - The comedic nature of the opening, the driving up on the pavement, the car going into a house and driving around it, the driving into a girls locker room, and the car going onto a roller-coaster, all emphasis that the film is a comedy, along with this, the music chosen is comedic as well, somewhat 'silly' in comparison to what audiences would expect from a police film. 

Micro

Camera - The entire opening consists of one camera placement. On top of a police car with a siren in front of the camera. This is one of the comedic elements of the opening.

Sound - The theme song of the film opens with the music sounding similar to that of a police siren and the fast pace of the tune throughout the opening matches that of the action that is occurring  As the opening draws to a close, the music slows 

Mise-en-scene - As the opening sequence starts, the siren on top of the car is the main focus. As it continues, the locations and scenery are shown to be evidently different areas, the house, the gas station etc. The mise-en-scene of these locations seperates them and provides objects which are manipulated by the camera/police car, such as running into people/objects.

Editing - The editing in relation to the camera consists of jump cuts between the difference locations that the cars enters, this sudden change keeps the pace of the opening fast and creates the humourous element.