Film openings – Teen Comedy
Never Been Kissed
Mise en scène
· Pink Jacket – Pink is a feminine colour and it could be attributed with weakness, due to the dominant ideology of patriarchy. The female character is seen wearing a pink jacket in a work environment and this could be interpreted she is aware of her place in society as a woman. Furthermore, it could also be considered a pink jacket has been chosen to wear for the character because it provides empowerment for the female audience interested in the comedy genre to venture into a male oriented work setting.
· Back light – Mystery has been created from the incorporation of a back light, there is a shadow created that creates an isolated shadow covering the females back. From the back light a dark light is produced and this connotes vulnerability. Therefore, the female character could be interpreted as a vulnerable and the positioning of the light which showcases her in shadows reinforces this.
Editing
· Blue Blocks- The colour blue is generally associated with peace, in the opening title there are blue rectangular blocks present which transition changing their location. The change of location could be perceived as contradictory to the nature of the colour blue because change occurs frequently. Furthermore, the pace of transition from block to block is fast paced and it follows the rhythm of the upbeat sound. It is suggestive the blue blocks have been edited to have a constant change of direction, in order to encapsulate the idea that teenagers are always changing.
· Fade – Text in the opening title credits fades in and fades out, the use of fade enables the audience to have a slow transition between frames. The slow transitions between frames is effective to the audience because they are able to relate the use of edit to the ideology that teenagers are trouble and have no real place in society, therefore they fade in and out.
· Font colour – The text present in the credits has a feminine nature. The font colour of the text is pink and this colour is generally associated with females. It is suggestive the colour pink has been used because it is typical of teen comedy to feature a female character who is challenging and exploring their femininity.
Camera shot/movement
· Pan – Throughout the opening of the film there is a lot of camera pans present in frames. The camera pans from the baseball crowd to a crowd of people in the city. The transition also allows the audience to feel like they are involved in following the action taking place. Following on, it could be considered the camera pan has been added to show the audience a contrast of people in society in order to explore and enforce the message that we are all different. Exploration is a common element in a teen comedy and it could be considered the camera pan has achieved this.
· Jump Cut- Jump cuts are prominent within the opening titles; there is a jump cut from the score board to the cheering crowd. It could be interpreted jump cuts have been prominently used within the opening titles to increase tension and pace. In addition, pace is important in teen comedy because it is reliant on timing to covey a comedia aspect.
· Mid shot – In the opening frame a mid-shot introduces the female character, the character is framed central and this suggest the character is of importance. However, the mid-shot also enable the audience to form a connection with the character. Furthermore, the character appears to be isolated because she is standing on her alone and this reinforces the urge to form a connection with the character.
Sound
· Non-diegetic sound – There is non-diegetic sound used in the form of background music. The background music has lyrics which include the phrase ‘catch a falling star’. Stars are associated with good fortune and it could be interpreted the background music has been chosen in order to convey the general outcome of a teen comedy genre.
Furthermore, the non-diegetic sound fades into a diegetic sound. The diegetic sound being the dialogue of the female character becomes entwined with the non-diegetic background music and this allows the audience to believe the character is going to have good fortune because of her association with the background music.
13 Going on 30
Mise en scène
· Braces – Braces are commonly linked to the experience of being a teenager, however they are often viewed in a comedic nature. The female character in the opening titles wears braces and it suggestive the incorporation of braces has been used for a comedic purpose because a geeky character is a common convention of a teen comedy.
· School environment- To set a teen comedy in a school environment it allows a showcase of different personalities. An example of this is the main female character shown in the opening frame that is stereotyped as a geek because she wears braces and appears intellectual due to the incorporation of books.
Editing
· Font colour – The text colour has a feminine nature, the colour of the text is pink and it could be interpreted the colour pink has been used in order to relate to the lead character and her exploration of being a teenage female.
· Dissolve – The dark background of the opening titles dissolves into a light cloud backdrop within the film. The transition of the dissolve enables the audience to gradually progress from the opening credits to the film. In addition, it is effective to the audience because the transition is done at a slow pace so the audience is allowed to see the contrast between the dark opening credits to the light clouds which could be considered as a depiction of hope and further events in the story line.
· Background – The background of the opening titles is dark, however it allows the audience to believe that something good is going to happen later on in the plot. It could be interpreted the background is a galaxy; there are stars present and a multitude of vibrant colours which have been used softly. The background is mysterious because it is not verisimilitude to the audience however it features stars which symbolises good luck which reinforces something positive is going to occur. Following on from this, in a teen comedy is it typical for good luck to occur, therefore the background could be considered to reinforce this point.
· The camera zooms out to a long shot of a geeky female character; the use of camera shot and movement allows the audience to establish the character is a typical stock character in a teen comedy. By using a stock character it is verisimilitude and reinforces realism.
Sound
· Non-Diegetic – There is non-Diegetic sound in the opening titles of the film and the sound featured is upbeat. There are drums present which gives the sound a catchy rhythm. Therefore, it is suggestive the sound has been used in order to relate to a teenager audience due to the catchy nature of the sound.
Grease
Stock settings
· The opening of Grease does not follow the typical conventions of a stock setting of a teen comedy because the opening is not set in a typical school setting; it follows the stock characters in their own personal environments such at their homes and places of work. However, the environments shown do relate to a teenage audience because they are realistic. It could be considered by not following the typical stock settings it has allowed the audience to understand the backgrounds of the characters before they are placed in their conventional teenage comedy role.
Stock characters
· The characters in the opening credits are introduced to the audience without a clear differentiation to their classic codes and conventions in a teen comedy genre. The character portrayal relies on a gender stereotype; a female wearing a pink jumper which connotes femininity is evidence of this. However, a collective of characters wear black jackets which appears to be similar to a uniform and therefore suggests they are a group which is a convention of a stock character in a teen comedy. It is suggestive the ‘Grease opening’ is allowing the audience to become familiar with the characters and feel integrated into a yet undefined social group.
Themes
· The main theme presented in the opening could be perceived as exploration. The teenagers are presented in a variety of environments which allows the audience to gain an insight into the lives of the teenagers and to understand what is expected in a teen genre.
Iconography
· There is a conventional use of iconography present in the opening of ‘Grease’. The costume consisting of a leather jacket, worn by the collective of males is reflective of the teenage fashion during the era of ‘Grease’. Furthermore, the iconography used is effective because of its verisimilitude nature.
Angus Thongs and Perfect Snogging
Stock settings and themes
· The opening of ‘Angus Thongs and Perfect Snogging’ features the codes and conventions of teenage comedy stock setting. A female character is seen in an outdoor environment; however she is not portrayed as a stereotypical teenager because she is accompanied by her Father. The accompaniment could be considered as a countertype of the dominant ideology in society that teenagers are uncontrolled trouble. Following on from this countertype it is suggestive to the audience the theme of parental guidance is followed throughout the film, although it is not a prominent feature generally in the teen comedy genre.
Stock characters
· In the opening of the film there is presence of a divide based on social groups, which is a common feature to the teenage comedy genre. The popular social group of girls are contrasted by another group of girls who appear lower in the social spectrum. The positioning of the girls reinforces this because the girls who appear popular are framed centrally, whereas the less popular girls are framed intimately in a corner with dark lighting which suggests vulnerability.
Iconography
· There is a party shown in the opening of ‘Angus Thongs and Perfect Snogging’ and this follows the codes and conventions of a teen comedy genre. However, the party appears controlled and this is a counter type of the general representation of the teenage attitude.
10 Things I Hate About You
Stock settings
· In 10 ‘Things I Hate About You’ the conventional stock settings of a film in the teenage comedy genre is present. There is a place of education and an outdoor environment. The use of the conventional stock settings is verisimilitude to the audience and it establishes a sense of place.
Stock characters
· There is a divide shown between two social groups and this is typical in a teen comedy genre. Presented in the opening credits are a group of girls who appears to be of high social status and an individual girl, who could be deemed as a loner. Both of these characters are stereotypes usually founded in a teenage comedy and these stereotypes could be construed as negative however they enable the audience to divulge into the different characteristics of a teenager.
Themes
· The main theme present in the opening credits could be interpreted as segregation because there is a clear divide present between two social groups. Segregation is a common theme in the teenage comedy genre; it highlights the difference between people and social groups. On the other hand, it allows the audience to explore different social groups that they have yet to embrace.
Iconography
· The iconography of ‘10 Things I Hate About You’ posses a sense of realism because it is set in a real life situation and this is typical to the teen comedy genre. Following on from this, the use of iconography allows the audience to form a relation because they are shown an environment that they are familiar to.
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