How many titles are displayed during the opening sequences of the film?
Only one title is displayed in the title sequence, and it's the title of the movie, La La Land. Also, the title sequence was seen at the very end of the 4-minute opening. Although it was shown at a much smaller scale when compared to the title of the movie, there are also the rights reserved shown as well as the production company.
What images are prioritized in the opening sequence?
Images of people singing and dancing. Rarely did anybody in the scene wear dark colors, most of the colors worn were bright yellows, reds, blues, oranges, and pinks. Everyone was also in their car, as the scene was captured entirely on a California highway so pickup trucks, SUVs, normal sedans were shown throughout.
What connotations do the images carry?
Absolute happiness radiated in the opening credits, all the characters were singing along and dancing. As this is a musical, and most musicals tend to be joyful, this was expected. The dances were all choreographed so everyone was in synch showing harmony, which was pleasing to the eye. Also, the song being sung by everyone was upbeat, indicating that the audience should dance or sing along. Since the scene was taken in California, and they are known for the sunshine, that also helped radiate happy feelings.
How is genre reinforced through symbolic and technical codes from the outset?
Because La La Land is a musical and musicals are usually happy the audience automatically assumes this is a happy movie. The song brings cheerfulness since all the characters sing it with a smile on their face and are dancing along. The bright colors worn by the characters emit optimism, also the sunny weather with absolutely zero clouds shown. Because of the sunshine, seretonin is increased.
What strategies are used to ensure the film appeals to its target audience?
Since most people who would be watching this film are people who are into musical theatre, younger adults, or teenagers, the movie automatically captivates the audience by starting off with a song. While the movie has real people, it gives a fantasy world feel since people do not typically dance on a freeway. All of this allows those watching to escape to an alternate reality where they feel like their best selves, moreover the introduction of this "fantasy" world can have the audience get lost in Sebastian and Mia's world.
How has technology been used effectively? You might want to consider camera angles, transitions, and editing techniques.
The entire 4-minute opening credit scene was filmed (or looked to be filmed) all in one take, making it a master shot. The invisible editing helped with the master shot. All of this was certainly used effectively as it was an excellent way to introduce the ambiance of the film. Mid-shots as well as close ups were used to focus on the facial expressions of the characters. Full body shots also allowed the audience to fully see the choreography. A wide shot was used towards the end to show all the cars on the freeway. A lot of panning was used to go from one section of the freeway to the other too.
Comments
Post a Comment