I chose to analysis Harry Potter because it is well known for being a "British Film" and it also fits into the fantasy genre. Harry Potter is well known and very successful, so by analysising it's opening, I could learn how to make my film opening more successful and draw inspiration from it.
I have only analysed the first two minutes of this clip; up until Hagrid said: "good evening professor"
Opening scene:
Textual analysis:
Camera:
- Close up of street sign "Privet Drive"
- Pans across street
- Mist creates an enigma i.e. what's behind the mist and why it needs to be covered
- Wide shot of area
- As the camera slowly zooms in, the midst disappears and a man appears.
- Medium shot of man from the side
- Tracks him walking
- Pans to lower level
- Side mid shot of cat
- Close up of instrument
- Wide shot of area
- Over the shoulder shot with character in the background and the top of the lampost in the foreground
- Long wide shot
- Close up of character with his arm in the air which is a power pose so this suggests that the character has immense power
- Mid shot
- High angle shot of cat to make it seem vulnerable
- Close up shot and tracking the female character walking.
- Two shot
- Master shot: mid shot and wide shot
- Over the shoulder shot where we see a new character flying towards them
- Wide shot of motorbike flying towards them
- Camera tracks the movement of bike on the ground
- Low angle shot to make the giant Hagrid seem even more powerful.
- Mid shot of two characters show their expressions and body language
- Close up of new characters face shows emotions.
- Close up of street sign "Privet Drive"
- Pans across street
- Mist creates an enigma i.e. what's behind the mist and why it needs to be covered
- Wide shot of area
- As the camera slowly zooms in, the midst disappears and a man appears.
- Medium shot of man from the side
- Tracks him walking
- Pans to lower level
- Side mid shot of cat
- Close up of instrument
- Wide shot of area
- Over the shoulder shot with character in the background and the top of the lampost in the foreground
- Long wide shot
- Close up of character with his arm in the air which is a power pose so this suggests that the character has immense power
- Mid shot
- High angle shot of cat to make it seem vulnerable
- Close up shot and tracking the female character walking.
- Two shot
- Master shot: mid shot and wide shot
- Over the shoulder shot where we see a new character flying towards them
- Wide shot of motorbike flying towards them
- Camera tracks the movement of bike on the ground
- Low angle shot to make the giant Hagrid seem even more powerful.
- Mid shot of two characters show their expressions and body language
- Close up of new characters face shows emotions.
Editing:
- Cut transition
- Cut transition
- Cat shadow changing into shadow of a woman is special effects and this tells the audience this film has some form of magic in it.
- Cut transition to mid wide shot
- Cut to close up of instrument in his hand
- Cut to wide shot
- Special effects: lights leaving their encasement and flying through air...this shows the character is capable of magic and the audience can live vicariously through that. This shows the film applies the Uses and Gratification theory.
- Cut transition to mid wide shot
- Cut to close up of instrument in his hand
- Cut to wide shot
- Special effects: lights leaving their encasement and flying through air...this shows the character is capable of magic and the audience can live vicariously through that. This shows the film applies the Uses and Gratification theory.
- Cut transition
- Flying motorbike: special effects. This suggests to the audience that there will be a lot of magic in this film.
- Light coming towards the two characters. Special effects.
- Flying motorbike: special effects. This suggests to the audience that there will be a lot of magic in this film.
- Light coming towards the two characters. Special effects.
Sound: Non diagetic sound i.e. background music. The music is high pitched which creates tension.
- Sound effects of wings flapping in the wind
- Sound effects: wooshing sound
- Cat meowing is non diagetic as we don't see the cat at first
- Music reaches a climax
- Music gets faster paced as the transformation of the cat happens. This makes the excitement that the audience have for the magic element of the film increase.
- Diagetic dialogue. Character has a deep, rich voice which suggests to the audience that he is wise and knowledgeable.
- Woman character talks softly but with articulation, this suggests that she is also an superior member of the cast
- Sound effects of wings flapping in the wind
- Sound effects: wooshing sound
- Cat meowing is non diagetic as we don't see the cat at first
- Music reaches a climax
- Music gets faster paced as the transformation of the cat happens. This makes the excitement that the audience have for the magic element of the film increase.
- Diagetic dialogue. Character has a deep, rich voice which suggests to the audience that he is wise and knowledgeable.
- Woman character talks softly but with articulation, this suggests that she is also an superior member of the cast
- Diagetic sound of foot steps
- Dialogue: uses words that we associate with magic and also tells us that a death has happened which suggests to us that the story will be about an orphan child.
- Sound effects: engine of motorbike noise.
- Dialogue
- Dialogue: uses words that we associate with magic and also tells us that a death has happened which suggests to us that the story will be about an orphan child.
- Sound effects: engine of motorbike noise.
- Dialogue
Mise en Scene:
- Dark lighting could suggest something myserious is about to happen.
- Owl sitting on top of sign post could symbolise there may be a wise character in the scene
- Set in a street: this makes it more relatable for the audience
- Street lights - could suggest that there is a good character and a evil character
- Owl flying behind a building this could suggest that the character is behind that building
- Trees in the background create a sense of isolation
- Man is wearing robes which suggests he is has some sort of superior social class. He is also wearing very unique clothes which suggests the character is different.
- Long white beard suggests that he is a very old character which could also tell the audience that he is the wise, powerful character.
- Cat turning towards shadow suggest the cat is linked to the character
- Strange instrument suggests that the character is different and unique
- Wizards hat suggests that he is indeed a wizard
- Lights zooming towards character - shows that character is magical and also that he is a superior character
- Witches/tall pointed hat suggests she is magical
- Glasses suggest they are both intelligent characters
- Normal street setting: cars, lamposts and houses. This suggests that we will be able to relate to the character of the orphan.
- Giant smiles which tells the audience this is a friendly character.
- Dark lighting could suggest something myserious is about to happen.
- Owl sitting on top of sign post could symbolise there may be a wise character in the scene
- Set in a street: this makes it more relatable for the audience
- Street lights - could suggest that there is a good character and a evil character
- Owl flying behind a building this could suggest that the character is behind that building
- Trees in the background create a sense of isolation
- Man is wearing robes which suggests he is has some sort of superior social class. He is also wearing very unique clothes which suggests the character is different.
- Long white beard suggests that he is a very old character which could also tell the audience that he is the wise, powerful character.
- Cat turning towards shadow suggest the cat is linked to the character
- Strange instrument suggests that the character is different and unique
- Wizards hat suggests that he is indeed a wizard
- Lights zooming towards character - shows that character is magical and also that he is a superior character
- Witches/tall pointed hat suggests she is magical
- Glasses suggest they are both intelligent characters
- Normal street setting: cars, lamposts and houses. This suggests that we will be able to relate to the character of the orphan.
- Giant smiles which tells the audience this is a friendly character.
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