Detailed analysis on opening title sequences.

Analysis of the opening title sequence of 10 things I hate about you

10 things I hate about you is an American romantic comedy, and was created in 1999. It was directed by Gil Junger.

The opening title sequence begins with the usual institutional information that is usually found at the beginning of an opening title sequence. However, there is rock music in the background. The rock music connotes teenage rebellion, and this connotation is apparent in the typographics too, as the typographics are graffiti-like, and therefore also represent teenage rebellion and disruption. The music then changes and goes into another youthful song. However, this song does not connote teenage rebellion as the previous song did; it just simply represents teenagers as it is an alive, jumpy, up beat song.

The next scene in this opening title sequence is the setting of the film. It first comes on to the screen in a sketchy and graffiti-like form, which again represents teenagers, and informs the audience that the genre of this film is a teenage comedy. It then disperses into the real setting, which seems to be city in America, as the surroundings are very built up with house, and tall buildings, as the setting is in the city this connotes that the characters in the film are wealthy as the lighting on the city is bright and not dingy. The title of the film then appears, in the same typographics that the previous text was in.

The camera then pans down into a quiet, suburban looking street. This is very cliché as many American teen rom coms are set in areas as such, and so therefore again represent the genre of the film. The lighting is again bright and therefore connotes happiness and wealth. The audience are then introduced to some of the key characters in the film; Bianca Stratford and her friends. It is evident to the audience that Bianca is popular in school by the costume her character and her friends are wearing, her car and the music that they are listening to (which is the preppy teenage song that has been running throughout since the change of songs.) However in an opposing shabby-looking car Kat Stratford pulls up alongside them. Kat Stratford is Bianca’s older and opposite sister. The audience are instantly aware that Kat is the rebellious character due to her costume being completely black, her un-tidy hair, and the song that she’s listening to ‘I don’t give a damn about my bad reputation.’ The song that I previously mention that is being played in Kat’s car overtakes Bianca’s music, and then consequently becomes the backing song to the opening title sequence, and Kat then drives away from the traffic lights before Bianca does. These actions represent Kat’s dominance as a character over her sister’s character.

The setting is then moved to the high school. The high school appears to be an average American high school, and shows the division in stereotypes by the camera zooming out from the jocks playing hockey, to see the widespread diverse groups of teenagers whom attend the high school. This already connotes trouble, as there are so many different groups of stereotyped teenagers, whom are re-known for not getting along, but however presently are getting along, which cause suspicion to arise.

Kat’s character then ends the title sequence by ripping down a poster that someone had just put up. This again shows the rebellion of her character, and suggests to the audience that there is more trouble to come from her character, as well as leaving the audience wanting to watch the rest of the film to find out more…


Love actually
The opening title sequence immediately informs the audience that ‘Love actually’s’ genre is a rom com; through having Hugh Grant as the voice over, as Hugh Grant is re-known for appearing in romantic comedy’s. Hugh Grant is talking about all forms of love in his monologue; this again informs the audience that it is a rom com. There is only the diegetic sound of Hugh Grant speaking and the non-diegetic sound of a soundtrack, this sets the tone of the film which is romantic, smoothing, heart-warming love. The setting is also apparent as at the beginning is an establishing shot of Heathrow airport; which is England, and the film is also too set in England. The themes of love, family, friends and relationships are clearly shown with the use of mid tracking shots of people embracing each other. The next shot is in a recording studio in which a classic love song is being adapted to a Christmas song, this informs the audience that the film is set circa Christmas time.


The Proposal
The opening of ‘The proposal’ begins with the non-diegetic soft, relaxing song. This connotes to the audience that ‘The proposal’ is a rom com, as this type of music is used in many other rom coms also. The typographics are a plain font, however it is white. White is usually used for weddings as the bride traditionally wears a white wedding dress, therefore representing the theme of love within this film. It also introduces the two main characters, but shows them as single, and living on their own. As this film is a rom com there is the suggestion that these two characters may get together as they are single etc… Therefore, reiterating the genre of the film. A the opening sequence continues it shows that the main characters work together, and as the woman is the boss of the main (whom we know everyone fears due to the mise-en-scene) this already shows some of the humour that is going to be contained within the film.


Angus thongs and perfect snogging
The beginning of ‘Angus thongs and perfect snogging’ starts with the introducing the main character, Georgia and her dad. The comedy part of the rom com is already present as the main character is dressed as a stuffed olive, and refuses to get on the car with her father, for fear of messing up her costume. The audience are then introduced to some more of the key characters of the film; Georgia’s enemy Lindsay, and her friends Ellen, Jaz and Rosie. As Georgia storms out of the party, through sheer embarrassment, the camera pans and shows establishing shots of where the film is set; in Eastbourne in England. The non-diegetic backing song is ‘scouting for girls- she’s so lovely.’ This song is a popular teen song, therefore this connotes that the genre of the film is a teen rom com. The typographics also show this, as they are curly and girly, and white, which seems to be a trend colour for typographics within rom coms.