The First minute of the opening scene of the Notebook is the opening credits of actors, actresses, producers and directors; however there are different camera shots used throughout these opening credits. The first twenty-four seconds, consists of an extreme long shot looking through the trees at a sunset glistening over the sea, with someone rowing a boat. Having this extreme long shot allows the audience to cast their eyes over the scenery of the location and to admire the beauty of it. Having such a romantic establishing shot, follows the conventions of a romance as having a romantic location involved. Furthermore, placing the camera looking through the trees, creates a sense of the audience looking at the landscape as if they were their and through their eyes. The use of only using the sunset for the lighting of the shot suggests a romantic setting and is very heart warming and obviously illuminates the person rowing their boat.
The next twelve seconds is a long shot which the focus pull is the person rowing the boat as they are in the light reflection of the sunset, which suggests to the audience that this is an important part of the film, or something to remember. In these few seconds, the title of the film fades onto the screen in the bottom left hand corner, in formal font (roman times), which is simple as it is like the font used in notebooks.
The next nine or so seconds has the camera on the boat behind the rower, which suggests that this is a important element of the story as this is the only close up view of a character, or it is an important events which happens further in the film. Having the camera behind the boat also allows the audience feel part of the film as they can imagine they are on the boat behind them. The slowness of the boat creates no suspense but creates calmness and relaxation, which can allow the audience to escape their stressful life for a few hours.
The next ten seconds goes back to a long shot, which suggests it is allowing and reassuring the audience watching the film is relaxed. It also still allows the audience to see the location again.
The next few seconds is an extreme long shot, which has the same effect as the beginning as it is as if the audience is looking out their window as if they were there. Having this order of shots from extreme to close to long to extreme again, allows the audience to see the location and feel as if they are there.
Having a long shot of the birds flying in the sky, emphasises the peacefulness of the film and suggests innocence. This also could suggest that these birds are iconic to the film and is part of the film if carried on watching it. The lack of light makes the audience concentrate on what they are seeing as they want to see as much as possible. Having the birds flying towards a distant white coloured house suggest that the house is an important place and relates to many parts of the film, as it is the first building present in the scene. Also due to the lack of lighting, the audience's focus pull is the house as it contrasts from its surrounding, which against suggests its importance to the film.
The over the shoulder shot of what seems to look like an older lady, allows the audience to see what she is see and allows them to enter her world of life. Having her looking at the birds suggests the freeness they have compared to the lady standing in the window as she is seen as been trapped in this house due to the camera shot from outside the window.This suggest that the lady wants to escape her life or would like to be somewhere else escape for there. Having long paced shot of this suggest how desperate the lady is to escape, which makes the audience feel sympathetic for her; this creates a sad feeling in the atmosphere.
Having the last shot being a long shot of the house suggests that this would be where most of the storyline is set and that it would be involving this lady within the storyline.
The use of the non digetic music of a piano playing creates a peacefully atmosphere throughout the opening scene as it is a simple tune and the piano is an instrument which produces the peacefulness of a scene. The slow pace of the rhythm suggest romance, but also sadness as the ladies looks out the window across the freely flying birds. But what does she have to do with the story...
No comments:
Post a Comment