Analysing and comparing the three opening sequences

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The Perks of being a Wallflower

The scene starts off in a diner where all 3 characters are sitting, the over the shoulder camera angle is used to show that they are having a conversation and are in close proximity. The use of the diner shows that they decided to meet there to deliver some kind of news and then to go somewhere afterwards. The girl, Sam, then has news to deliver to Charlie, she puts a tape down on the table. There is a close up on the tape to emphasize the importance of the tape. This shows the audience that there was some relation to the tape and their friendship. She calls it the ‘tunnel song’ and that she has found it. This allows the audience to understand the excitement the characters are feeling. The way Sam looks at Charlie also gives us an understanding of the importance of the song. We then see a long shot of the three characters almost running out of the diner with excitement. The long shot is used to show the energy in their bodies and the way they jump out and scream with excitement. The characters get into the car, which shows the audience they are going to do something that all the characters know about but the audience does not, this puts the audience in a wary state, not knowing what might happen next, however the music played at that exact moment is uplifting and hopeful, thus putting the audience at ease. There is then a close up on the right headlight turning on accompanied by the sound of the engine revving. We then follow the car from the side using a tracking shot and then a following shot as the camera angle changes to behind the vehicle, as Charlie’s monologue begins. As they enter the tunnel, because this moment is so important to Charlie’s character, there is a point of view shot. This puts the audience in the state of mind of Charlie and the way he feels about this moment, this is a vital moment. We then get a close up on each character in the car and they are all looking up into the tunnel with a feeling of awe. We then follow the truck from behind and start to zoom in when Charlie and Sam kiss. This gives the audience a feeling of getting closer to the emotions of the characters.

Chicago – Cell Block tango

 

In the beginning of this scene, there are very sharp shots accompanying the beat of song, with close ups on their faces. The lighting is very dim giving the feeling of a jail, making the audience feel very scared and vulnerable. There are spotlights straight on the individual women which makes them look bold and staring as their facial features create shadows on their faces.  When all the women sing together there is an extreme long shot, revealing to the audience that these women are all in individual cells and are dancing. Due to the fact that the change of shot is so quick it makes the audience uncomfortable and unaware of what happens next. This coincides with the perks of being a wallflower, where there is a moment of question in the audience, however in Chicago, unlike in the Perks of Being a Wallflower, the audience feels this way throughout the whole scene. There is a lot of playing with shadows and camera movements in this scene. Then when Velma sings her solo line, she is shot from a low angle to make her look powerful and more like a murderer. There is then a change in the scene where the lighting goes blue, which is usually used in theatre to establish that something is going to change (regarding sets as well as mood) or the attention is going to be drawn somewhere else. As Liz, the first soloist comes out, she steps into the spotlight in a very seductive yet manipulating way that almost scares the audience. Then the camera moves from behind the cells which gives the audience the impression that they are watching liz from inside the cell. This is repeated for all the other soloists.

Clueless


This opening scene begins with the institution presenting itself, that institution being paramount pictures. It opens with their symbol of the mountain and stars surrounding it. Then there is a high angle shot on the car driving by, with the main characters in it. This gives the audience a birds eyes view of the characters as the 'cool kids' drive by. There is then a mid shot on the main character as the walks out of a shop with a load of shopping bags, this activates the stereotypical judgements made by the audience. We immediately think she is the typical rich dumb blonde found in most movies. Then a canted angle shot is taken along with slow motion as the main character and her friend are partying, this could be a point of view shot where the person who is watching the girls is a little drunk and thus why the vision is somewhat blurred and moving from side to side. The next few shots are all close ups on the teen's faces and body parts as if someone was watching them very closely and we as the audience feel as though we are out of place, because we are closely examining these 'popular' kids. We then flip back and forth from the pool party to the car moving. We then have a dim on the sound as there is a close up on the main character as she flips back her hair and her speech begins in the background. This scene shows the environment that the girl lives in and sets the scene for the audience.