Film Opening Research #1- Me Before You

 

Film Opening Research for the Movie"Me Before You"

How many titles are displayed during the opening sequences of the film? 

Only one title is displayed during the opening sequence. The title "Me Before You" is displayed to the audience at the end of the opening sequence. The title is displayed word by word slowly and sequentially. This method creates and builds tension and suspense as the audience watches the words of the title pop up on screen in a uneasy fashion anxiously awaiting to see what happens following the unexpected and heart-tugging opening sequence.  The slow display of the title alone helps in creating this sad and ominous feel to the beginning of the movie.

What images are prioritized in the opening sequence? 

The images prioritized in the opening sequence are different elements of the character's life in order to showcases who he is. Through each element prioritized the audience is able to better depict the life style and subsequently the type of character they are watching. For example, the opening sequence begins with the main character and a women wrapped with thick white sheets in bed. The color white conveys a sense of cleanliness and assumingly wealth. Furthermore, as the opening sequence continues the film shares more elements such as the charcaters clean and modern bathroom, his clean cut hair, the zoomed in, and therefore, emphasized shot of his formal and assumingly expensive shoes, his formal work attire, which suggests he has a presitgious or high income job, and even images of his motorcycle helmet which suggests he can be deemed or seen as cool, darring or adventurous. Through the images the audience can get a relatively clear understanding of this young, wealthy, upper-class character, that lives what seems to be the perfect life, highlighted in the opening sequence. 
What connotations do the images carry? 

The connotations the images carry are positive, initially, as the film is conveying this happy and perfect life the main character is living. The beginning of the opening sequence showcases these bright hues and colors that suggest happiness which the audience can conclude is created bc of this life the main charcter is living. The image of the couple in bed creates a positive connotation as the audience is witnessing a seemingly happy couple. Moreover the colors of the main character's apartment are mostly white and yellow which are both uplifitng and positive colors. Furthermore, the opening sequence includes images of objects associated with wealth such as the motorcycle helmet, the expensive shoes etc. which help in creating this positive connotation which then helps in furthering this idea of a smooth, wealthy, positive and happy life. Then the opening sequence takes a dramatic shift from bright, sunny and happy to dark, deary, and rainy. This helps signal to the audience that something bad may happen. The opening sequence continues with a more chaotic and fast pace as the main charcater seems to be rushing to work, through the rain while he is distracted with a phone call. These images create a more negative connoation and creates feelings of uneasy and worry. The image of a motorcycle approaching the vulnerable main charcter creates anxiety and suspense for the audience. The two drastically different connotations from the beginning to end of the opening sequence from positive and bright to negative and dark help in converying the idea that this man is having his once perfect life stripped away from him in a dramatic and instant moment due to what seems to be a motorcycle crash. 
How is genre reinforced through symbolic and technical codes from the outset? 

This movie is categorized as a drama, a genre that is reinforced through standard codes used universally to create drama films. For example, drama's typically showcase a realistic charater which is true for this film as the opening sequence highlights what society would deem a sterotypical wealthy man. Moreover, dramas usually showcase some kind of concern. Symbolically, the film uses the rain to showcase a fittingly dramatic shift which creates concern as the audience is now seeing a more anxiety pacted and worresome scene. Furthermore, the rain is a technical code for a drama genre as it conveys a serious and dramatic plot soon to come. The rain adds a dramtic factor, one of the many things making this particular movie a drama. The slow motion utilized right before the motorcycle hit the main charcter is a clear code/convetion in drama films. The use of the slow motion adds this serious, intense, and dramatic factor that grabs the audiences attention and allows them to grasp the dramatic effect created. Symbolism and technical codes are what makes the drama movie a drama and allows the audience to feel the drama of the movie.
What strategies are used to ensure the film appeals to its target audience? 

The audience targetted in the movie "Me Before You" is teenagers, more specifically teenage girls. The use of a wealthy, young, charming, and adventrous man is appealing to that of a young teeenage girl likely seeking a grand romance with her perfect guy. The use of an appealing main charcter is likely to attract the intended targetted audience for this film. Moreover, the film uses dramatic features such as a fast paced scene and a motorcycle crash which created enough drama and intensity to appeal to a young mind and draw their attention. Teenagers typically seek adenaline, drama, and excitement which are all created from the set up of the opening sequence from the intriuging and appealing life of the main charcter to the danger and anxiety of the motorcycle crash. These elements and strageties used ensures that teenagers are intrugied, appealed and entertained by the drama.
How has technology been used effectively? 

Most significant is the use of slow motion to emphasize the emotion and intensity of the scene where the main charcter is about to be hit by a motorcycle. The scene itself was high and fast paced and the slow motion allows for the audience to understand the signifcnace of the event and to emphasize the moment of the crash. The use of slow motion also allows the audience to see the fear of the main charcter and to feel to intensity of the moment the main charcter is about to lose the life he once lived. Moreover, even the angles of the opening sequence are notable. For example, the main charcter is in the shower and the film maker used a low angle to make the mainn charcter seem powerful which is fitting since he seems to be wealthy and well establsihed in life.