How to analyse film openings

Remember to use various methods to show your analysis of existing film openings.

Some methods could be:

• The screen shot with written annotations.
• A voice over narration over the film opening.
• Written notes annotating the moving image (see Edward Scissorhands example below)
• Using 'Padlet' to present your work
• Prezi analysis

You need to discuss the following when analysing anything:

• Camera work (how the camera moves, angles used, shot distance etc)
• Sound (soundtrack, sound effects, dialogue)
• Editing
• Mise-en-scene (everything you see in the frame, such as costume, lighting, props, titles, font choices, graphics etc

For everything you comment on, make sure you explain WHY it has been done - what does it add to the narrative or tell the audience?


As well as detailed analysis of the opening, we also need a 9-frame mood board showing key points from the opening and a timeline, showing exact timings of everything. See below for the Juno example.

Edward Scissorhands example:

Juno 9 frame storyboard and timeline.