Genre Research: Pretty In Pink,1989

Film Poster  

Pretty In Pink 

Howard Deutch, 1989

Production: Paramount Pictures

Budget: $N/A; UK box office: £N/A

RottenTomatoes.com 81%; IMDB 6.7



Things We Hope To Use:





  





we thought it would be nice in our film opening to have some scenes of them walking into school therefore we took some inspiration from the outside of the school from this film. We liked the bus that was in the shot with the line of cars and bikes with the school in the background, showing there is a mix of wealth within the school.

We wanted to create our protagonist to be the outsider so we plan to do this by showing her with odd and therefore not the stereotypical fashionable items of clothing and possibly things that do not match or look good together. We also want to cast her preferably with ginger hair as this also signifies her being an outsider. 

We were inspired with this shot we liked the trainer idea and the fact you cant see his face therefore creating narrative enigma. We also liked the other peoples feet in the shot adding to the fact its a school in a busy corridor.

We liked how the cheerleader character was shown and we hope to take some inspiration from this as we like her hair and the way she looks and the dress idea. 
















we like the extreme close ups of her doing her make up and this is something we want to try and copy as we think it will look good and give us a bit of shot variety.

we wanted to portray our male character like this as we thought it would be different on a typical rom com with stereotypes. We also thought that because we are a micro production company we want to show off our creative talent by also having counter-types and a normative representations. we liked the costume as it contained a hat and sunglasses which a not normal in a school situation. we also liked the blazer and shirt idea. But we think it might be easier to show him in a waistcoat instead. we think this will show and demonstrate to the audience who we are trying to produce. We really like this costume as soon as we saw it whilst conducting our research we knew we had to take inspiration or copy the costume idea as it was exactly what we wanted to portray.  

We took these screen shots as we liked the way that the clothes had been arranged in the wardrobe and the way she pulls out each item. we hope to take some inspiration from this. we also liked the jewelry draw and showing all the bracelets in a bundle in the draw with her rummaging through to find one she likes. 

 








We thought the start to the start of the film was different and therefore not conventional which is something we want to try and take inspiration from. We liked the fact it wasn't stereotypical and the setting was cloudy with grey skies with a working class background in comparison to conventional films which often had the opposite to this. We liked the urban look and thought that it would suit our rom com with a twist. We liked the fact that there was a pink car outside and we thought this added to the protagonists character. We thought it worked in contrast having a pink car outside with the gloomy background which also made it standout colour wise but also made it stand out as it looks almost out of place which we liked.  

Genre Research: Sliding Doors, 1998

Film Poster

Sliding Doors
Peter Howitt ,1998

Production:

• Intermedia Films
• Mirage Enterprises
• Miramax Films
• Paramount Pictures

Budget: $9m; UK box office:£12m

RottenTomatoes.com 78%; IMDB6.7



SUMMARY/IDEAS I MIGHT USE:
Not showing someones face until really necessary as this creates narrative enigma. I liked the small amount of tension created.
also liked the whole idea of the film however difficult and an unrealistic to do in school especially if the editing is not put together correctly but i like the two parallel lives.

Idents/Titles:

paramount pictures
miramax
mirage

Synopsis:

A London woman's love life and career both hinge, unknown to her, on whether or not she catches a train. We see it both ways, in parallel.

Sound:

Elements of the Sound Mix:

Analysis:

Opening Scene: 

helicopter flying over london (shots taken from) - the city is pictured as being dark and cloudy - sky looking miserable - no sun - suggesting that it isnt a happy 'full of love' story 

Opening Scenes: 

tea is spilt over and is splashed about as someones hand knocks it accidentally - they then pick up the book next to it which got damp and wipe it showing it could be a favourite book or of some importance - we notice it is a womans hand and she also is wearing a ring - as the shot changes from an extreme close up to a close up we see some details in the background of her dressing table - containing a lot of products - messily arranged - showing disorganisation which is then related later when we see her running to work. 

she grabs her bag and kisses her - husband/boyfriend/partner on the forehead and leaves the house - this showing independence and a feminist view as its usually the man who goes to work rather than the woman. 

Genre Research: Crazy Stupid Love, 2011

Film Poster

Crazy Stupid Love

Glen Ficarra and John Requa, 2011

Production: Carousel Productions (II)

Budget: $20m; UK box office:£5m

RottenTomatoes.com 78%; IMDB7.4


SUMMARY/IDEAS I MIGHT USE:

Idents/Titles:

Carousel Production (II)

No titles given

Synopsis:
A middle-aged husband's life changes dramatically when his wife asks him for a divorce. He seeks to rediscover his manhood with the help of a new found friend, Jacob, learning to pick up girls at bars.

Sound:

Opening Scenes: 

first scenes, close up shots - show couples in restraunt playing 'footsie' under the table - low light creates and sets mood - romantic - loving - late night no children - women are all in heels with tights in a formal wear - men in what looks like suit - smart shoes shows formal attire - dark clothes

chinos with trainers
more light visible
shes in tan heels revealing feet
total separation created feet both underneath chairs
music fades into background along with chatter

other couples around 
both look annoyed depressed 
opening word is 'eurgh' - suggesting he isnt happy
other couples hold hands (they are very distant)

everyone stops and stares but unnoticeingly 

diegetic music starts 

kid comes running in - tickling the child - happy screaming - dives onto the couch 
the baby sitter them knocks off picture frame signifies their marriage is broken 
baby sitter picks up the photo frame after the girl has gone to bed and covers up the womans face signifying she might be in love with the man


Mise-en-scene: 

baby sitter - Jessica hair tied back - brunette - clothing quite childish un-revealing - cardigans and girly clothing - no make up 

restaurant - is pictured as being quite upmarket - low lighting - people in formal attire - the restaurant has white cloth napkins and a white tablecloth signifying its wealth 

Representations:

baby sitter presented as being quite naive -  in her own world

husband presented as - no fashion sense - didnt realise what he had until it had gone

wife presented as - wanting more - mid life crisis

daughter presented as - knowing it all - friend thinking otherwise - shown as quite naive claiming though what she says - no make up - babyish face not very glam in comparison to her friend as they claim to be on a night out

guy in the bar presented as - big ego - big headed  - trying to pick up girls with cheesy pick up lines

CW: Genre Research: Clueless, 1995

Clueless

Amy Heckerling, 1995 (Rom-Com, 12)

Produced by: Paramount Pictures

Distributed by: Paramount Pictures

Budget: $12m

Box Office: £3m (UK), $49m (US)

Trailer, Wikipedia

Rotten Tomatoes: 81%

Synopsis:

The film follows popular girl Cher Horowitz as she reaches her 16th birthday and searches for love.

Idents & Titles:  

There is one ident, for Paramount, it is linked by an audio bridge (of Kids in America) to the title and the opening shot, which is of the main character and her friends in a car. 

Following this is a montage, showing the protaganist and her friends at parties, shopping, and in school. The shots used to demonstrate the parties clearly support the male gaze theory, and it can be argued that they are only there to make the movie appeal to men. The music fades out to a voiceover from the main character. It sets up her character as well as her dad and her maid. 

She then, while driving her car (which she doesn't know how to drive properly), runs over a flower pot, introducing a comedic element to the film. She also introduces her best friend Dionne.

They are signified to be friends through the way in which they mirror each others action.

 She is presented as being desired by all the boys by having them look back at her as she passes.

This is where I thought the opening stopped. (4:12)

CW: Genre Research: Love Actually, 2003

Love Actually

Richard Curtis, 2003 (Rom-Com, 15)

Produced by: Universal Studios

Distributed by: Universal Studios

Budget: $30M

Box Office: £36M ($59M in US)

Trailer, Wikipedia

Rotten Tomatoes: 63%

Synopsis:

Love actually is another atypical rom-com. This time however, it is because we follow many interlinked characters as each of them find love. 

Titles:

The idents starts with Universal, then Studio Canal, and finally, Working Title . Each have their own audio.

The titles are not very noteworthy but include the phrases

'Universal Studios and Studio Canal present'

'A Working Title production'

'In association with DNA Films'

Points about the opening:

The movie title is presented in a unique way

The movie starts with a voiceover, which says the words 'love actually is all around', as these words are said they fade onto screen, all the other words fade away, leaving only 'love actually' on screen.

In the recording studio

The movie then cuts to a recording studio, where a christmassy song cover is being recorded, which leads nicely on, through an audio bridge, to a very quick montages of shots. While quick, this montage provides a lot of exposition. Through shots of the London eye, Trafalgar square and a christmas tree at a shopping centre the location and time of year are provided. This makes it clear how much information can be given through a short amount of time by using a montage.

As there are many characters, who each have their own 'story' to be set up the opening could easily be very overwhelming. However, the producers have avoided overwhelming people by carefully choosing what to show. It also helps that many characters are interlinked already, meaning multiple stories can be shown at the same time. This is particularly notable as it highlights the importance of good mise-en-scene.

The first montage shot

Second montage Shot

another montage shot

CW: Genre Research: About A Boy, 2002

About a Boy

Paul and Chris Weitz, 2002 (Rom-Com, 12)

Produced by: Universal Pictures

Distributed by: Universal Pictures

Budget: $27M

Box Office: £16M ($40M

Trailer, Wikipedia

Rotten Tomatoes: 93%

Synopsis:

This rom-com is slightly atypical, in the fact that it features a central protaganist who is a man. The movie follows a man as he chases a single mum and bonds with her son, an outsider.

Paul and Chris Wietz are named

Titles:

The titles are mostly similar to previous ones I have looked out. Notable titles include the 3 main stars before the title of the movie itself and 'A Paul Wietz and Chris Wietz film', the latter title fits with the aueter theory.

The first we see of the main character

Arguably the second main character

Points about the opening:

The opening features a soft guitar song over the young boy's parts which picks up over the main characters parts. It also has a voiceover over the opening. This voiceover provides exposition on the characters and how they feel at the start of the movie. There is a general lack of romantic elements through the opening, though it is clear, though the cutting between the two (and the foreshadowing of hugh grant holding a baby) that the two characters will be link, most likely though the boys mum, as hugh grants character is shown to have an interest in single movies, as shown at the end of the opening.

foreshadowing the fatherly ro

CW: Genre Research: Heathers, 1988

Heathers

Michael Lehmann, 1988 (Rom-Com, 15)

Produced by: New World Pictures

Distributed by: New World Pictures

Budget: $3M

Box Office: $1M

Trailer, Wikipedia

Rotten Tomatoes: 95%

Synopsis:

This rom-com explores dark elements, such as murder and teen suicide. Set in a high school, it follows the activities of  Veronica Sawyer, her boyfriend Jason 'J.D.' Dean, and their association with the popular clique of heathers. 

The Ident

Idents & Titles: 

Titles

There is just one ident, for New World Pictures, that doesn't appear to be edited in any way to fit the genre. Using an audio bridge, it transitions into the titles, written with a serif, bold font that is white with a pink shadow and are on black.

Opening Scene: 

Opening Shot

The opening shot is of the red scrunchie being used to tie up Heather Chandler's (HC's) hair, this introduces the scrunchie as being a key plot element throughout the movie.

Crushing the flowers

Matching clothes and croquet

The music playing is Que Sera, Sera. Somewhat ironically as in the opening the heathers clique crush flowers, wich could be connoting the crushing of dreams. This is the start of the dark themes throughout the movie.

Hitting Veronica

Comedic elements are introduced through them playing croquet, with balls and hammers of matching colours with their outfits, as Heather McNamara (HM) says to HC 'It's your turn Heather' to which she replys 'No Heather it's Heather's turn' meaning Heather Duke (HD). The darkness of this movie is further emphasised when the camera reveals that they were hitting Veronica, who was buried up to her neck in the ground, with the croquet balls.

Staring across the lunch hall

There is also a voice over for the transition of this scene to the next.

Romantic elements are introduced with J.D. looking across the cafeteria ate Veronica as they eat, the two then share eye contact, with veronica being so distracted she walks into a person as they are sitting eating

Walking into a chair

I decided the opening ended at 10:43, when the cafeteria scene ended, as all foreseeable plot setups had ended and main characters had been introduced.