Film Opening Sequence Analysis *Comment on the following aspects in relation to your film opening title sequence choice

Girl, Interrupted

Name:

My Analysis

Supporting Images

Cinematography & Camera Techniques

Quite a few cinematography techniques are used in the opening sequence of “Girl, Interrupted”. A close up is used instantly as the establishing shot and after that, it is used continuously throughout. Close up shots like this can show the reaction in peoples’ faces which is vital in a scene like this because it is very personal and has deep feelings in it. If we can see this girl’s reaction then we can almost see what she is thinking through her facial expressions. When the doctor and she are speaking about drugs, there is an extreme close up of the burning cigarette in Susanna’s hand. In the dialogue, she claims not to use any drugs at all and cigarette shows the legal drug in her hand which is not being inhaled. This is the only extreme close up in the whole sequence which emphasises the meaning of this cigarette. Two-shots are used continuously n this title sequence which shows the conversation between the doctor and Susanna. You can see the posture of the actors if a two-shot is used which is important because it’s a scene that is so difficult to watch as it’s so deep in feelings and so seeing their positioning almost helps us as the audience watch because they’re not uptight about it and so we shouldn’t be either. When these two are in conversation, the camera mainly focuses on that one person that is speaking. This is a Point-Of-View shot between a conversation from the other person’s point of view. A medium shot is used when the doctor is sat on the chair, this type of shot is not used at any other time. A close up reaction shot is used when the doctor is explaining that this is no longer his job but he has done it anyway for her because her father had asked. This reaction shot is important because the audience need to

Film Opening Sequence Analysis *Comment on the following aspects in relation to your film opening title sequence choice

see her reaction to see how she takes in what he is =saying ad then how we as an audience should react too. Tracking shots are used throughout this title sequence. When the actors move in this scene, the camera does too. It follows them which directs us to what we should be constantly looking at so that we are in focus. The camera zooms out at the beginning to set the scene of Susanna which helps us identify who the main character is and what is happening.

Visual Effects & Colour Scheme

The colour scheme is natural day light colours but also dark at the same time with their dull clothes and no unnatural light to brighten up the room. This could suggest symbolising of the girl’s brain and mental disorder; dark on the inside but it looks bright on the outside to everybody else and where everybody else is except her. Her mental illness is the narrative of the story. It doesn’t look like any major lighting effects have been added.

Film Opening Sequence Analysis *Comment on the following aspects in relation to your film opening title sequence choice

Genre Conventions

The genre of Girl, Interrupted is a psychological thriller. Although we can’t see the thriller side from this opening scene, we can understand from this that it will be all based around psycology because from this short clip we can identify many different things to do with psycology. These things include doctors, speaking of drugs and alcohol, hospitals and feelings.

Narrative

The narrative in this short clip of Girl, Interrupted is a grown woman named Susanna being told by a family friend, who is a doctor, that she needs to be sent to a mental institution named Claymore. We can see that Susanna isn’t in a healthy mental state as the doctor says “Susanna, 4 days ago you chased a bottle of aspirin with a bottle of vodka” which is clearly abnormal from a stable person’s point of view. She is sent to a mental institution after the doctor is having no more of what she is trying to explain and tell him, trying to reassure him that she’s okay, and he leaves the room. She knows full well that she is unwell and needs help though because she explains that she doesn’t actually know how she’s feeling which is also not right. Usually you’d always know what your emotions are at that current point but Susanna can’t define what she’s feeling which shows the audience that she’s got poor mental health. This all shows the psychological part of the psychological thriller.

Film Opening Sequence Analysis *Comment on the following aspects in relation to your film opening title sequence choice

Editing Techniques

In this scene, there are cuts between each shot although it is all taken in the same place. All sounds in this sequence are diegetic and were recorded when recording the scene. This includes the chair creaking and birds chirping in the background. Continuity editing is used in the opening scene of Girl, Interrupted, this shows as it all flows easily. Eye-line match is used frequently throughout as we are face on with these two characters, facing them directly.

Title Credit Design

There are no titles in this clip.