Film Opening Analysis DYM

(0:00 - 4:23)

The film opening sequence I chose to analyse was The Devil Wears Prada which is a comedy, drama and romance film.
The story is set in New York and is set over the period of a few months.
The opening sequence begins with the main character Andrea waking up and getting ready for her first day at her new job at a fashion magazine. It also introduces the New York setting. It also shows a number of other woman carrying out the same task- getting ready for work however their morning routines are contrasting with Andrea's as they put on more fancy, expensive clothes and makeup and spend more time on their appearances. The opening then follows the woman as they either get a taxi to work or in Andrea's case the subway. The opening finishes as Andrea arrives at her new office and is overwhelmed by the huge modern building. The order of events is significant to the story telling as the opening sequence gives the audience a clear introduction to the main character and setting so that they know a lot about her character before the film has started.
The events do link together and the main character Andrea is introduced along with a group of other woman who are not significant to the story but provide a contrast to the main character in order to give the audience a better sense of the main characters personality and situation. We find out that Andrea is starting her first day at her new job as she is making the journey to the office and seems out of place and nervous when she reaches her destination.
Hardly any of the story is revealed to the audience in the opening sequence and what happens in the rest of the film is withheld, the audience is only really introduced to the main character and the setting in the opening sequence.
I think it is important for the audience to be introduced to the main character and the main setting in the opening sequence of the film as this sets up the genre and the style of the film early on, however more detail is not necessary in the opening sequence.

Both opening sequences are contrasting as they have contrasting colour schemes. The Breakfast Club opening sequence is very dark and simple based around the black and yellow colour scheme whereas the Up opening sequence uses brighter more saturated colours and the scrapbook theme. 

They are similar as they both carry their colour scheme and style throughout the opening sequence. 

Up uses the scrapbook styling and incorporates the credits as scribbles and doodles in the scrapbook. However The Breakfast Club Titles use a simple yellow typeface on the black background which is bold and simple. 

The aesthetic style of The Breakfast Club is simple, bold and dark compared to the bright, happy and uplifting style of the Up opening.