HOTCHICK
Initially some Egyptian History is given which puts the future events of the storyline in context, the fire place from the Egyptian history part fades into th
e shaking of red pom poms which unifies the two times and creates a sense that the history has relevance to the people in this scene . The actual film starts after this; diagetic sounds and music of the cheerleaders doing their cheers come in over the shaking of the pom poms and continue, the cheers are upbeat and energetic. The initial shot is a medium close up of the main character who is dressed in cheerleading outfit which immediately gives the character’s personality away. When the camera zooms out we realise is standing on top of a pyramid of cheerleaders, indicating her high importance, she is top of the popularity ranks. There are shots of the crowd to reveal their popularity. The lighting is very bright and the colours of costumes and props are very vibrant which is reflective of the film’s youthful appeal. All the characters are introduced within the first minute. The main character (cheerleader) was introduced straight away. The geek wannabe cheerleader is then introduced being tormented by the main character. The geek is stereotypically overweight and plain looking; she is complete opposite of the cheerleaders. The comedy kicks in after this, slap stick comedy of the geek being hit by toilet tissue and then a toilet seat and falling over.The next scene is a straight cut to a classroom scene, a two shot of the two cheerleaders playing patter cake shows a bond between the two, the song they sing as they clap hands is another source of comedy. More stereotypes are introduced; two chavy twins are introduced, stereotypically big earrings, revealing clothes and ponytail on the side of their heads talking colloquially. The Goth is then introduced as stereotypically wearing black clothes, black makeup, and unusual hair. The popular girls are stereotypically catty towards her and the Goth then begins chanting a curse over the popular girl.
STUCK ON YOU
The initial scene of the film sets the scene; a long shot of boat in the sea by a port lets us know that the film will be set in a port. It is sunrise and the scene is very picturesque and peaceful, which gives the impression of a perfect life.
There is then a straight cut to an alarm clock and the music starts which is very upbeat. The clock changes to 7:00 and the diagetic sound of the alarm going off can be heard. The idea of an alarm clock creates a sense of normal daily routine with which the audience can relate to. This is until 2 hands reach out to turn the alarm off, we don’t see anything else which is humorous as the audience wouldn’t expect it. There is then a straight cut to the side of the bed two sets of feet get out of the bed at the same time but still the characters’ identity is kept secret as although the audience don’t know yet the main part of the story would be given away. Then two heads come up across the screen as they both do pull ups with one arm, as they pull themselves up it is then revealed that they are Siamese twins as the title “Stuck on You” comes up in between them, the words of the title are quite literally stuck together then pull apart which forebodes the events that happen later in the film’s narrative. The lighting and colours are quite dull which is not only a reflection of the time of year that the film is depicting but also the normality of the two’s lives. There is then a straight cut to a medium long shot of the two jogging in the snow, the daylight is bright but there is an impression of a “normal” day given. There is quite a bit of verbal comedy passed between the two as they jog around the small town and people say hello to them which reflects a close knit community. This is also mixed with slapstick comedy where there is a two shot of the two talking and jogging then a POV shot of a pole which they bang into. The use of a POV means the audience don’t see it until the twins see it which increases the humour.BRUCE ALMIGHTY
The film starts with a voice over a black screen with credits, the set up of the scene is set as a woman explains about the background of two characters, and verbal comedy begins as Bruce argues about wearing a hairnet. The film then
quickly fades in to the punch line of this verbal comedy, a medium close up of him wearing the hairnet and his facial expression. The future events of the storyline forebode as Bruce utters the words “God, why do you hate me?” under his breath. “we’re rolling” another man says as a side shot medium longs shot of a camera crew infront of Bruce is straight cut which reveals he is a reporter and puts what was being said in the credits in context. The lighting is bright but quite normal which gives the impression of a sunny perfect atmosphere. The colours of props and costumes are pastel which could be reflective of Bruce’s boredom with his seemingly perfect life. Visual comedy plays a key role in this film’s beginning as again while Bruce reports, behind his back one of the chefs is picking his nose, Bruce notices and goes on to make sarcastic jokes about it. A medium shot of the crew’s reaction also creates comedy as the audience can relate to the feeling being portrayed. The humour is also brought through in the comments the chef’s make when being interviewed which are not what you would expect and the way they outtake it. The audience are given a behind the scenes view at how the news is reported which engages them. The two chefs are very stereotypically Russian with strong accents, and not communicating in English correctly.HAROLD AND KUMAR GET THE MUNCHIES
The scene is set, a long shot of an office block on a beautiful day, not a cloud in the sky. The office is rigid and generic looking which gives the impression of long hours and tedious work. A straight cut to
the interior of one of the floors reveals the main character in a medium shot working at his station, he is stereotypically geeky with glasses and a straight cut hair style. The office is a stereotypical office block, dull colours and every cubicle looks the same but outside the windows the sunshine is bright which reflects the eagerness of employees to get out. The time is set by a conversation between two business men dressed in black suits, which gives them status; they are talking about the impending weekend. The one man is very stereotypically masculine; he talks about drinking and women, convincing the other to dump his work on someone else. The man then approaches the main character and a low angled shot of the main character reveals his status towards the other man giving the impression that he is the main character’s boss; he is also sitting whilst the boss stands over him which reflects the main character’s low status in comparison. He dumps his work on him, the pace of editing speeds up as we see the two business men leave and drive off in their sports car which reflects the excitement of the two. The camera then pans up to a medium long shot of the main character in the office window stuck in the office which reflects how trapped he is. The comparison creates humour. There is a straight cut to another man who is the main characters’ opposite, he is dressed casually with messy hair which reflects his free nature seated in an elegant looking room full of bookcases which indicates intelligence. It becomes apparent he is in an interview the interviewer is a stereotypical upper class white man who talks in the queen’s English, is dressed smartly, humour is creating in him trying very hard to be politically correct. The colours are brighter in this room than the office which implies life is better for the second man than the first. Humour continues as the second main character begins doing and saying things you wouldn’t in an interview: answering his phone, and having a phone conversation about partying and taking drugs.JUST FRIENDS
Music starts over a black screen with the words “1995 New Jersey” the music is slow and romantic (“I swear” By Boys II Men) which gives the impression of a romantic film. The film fades in with someone writing a note and a voice
over “Dear Jamie…”. There is a straight cut and a pan down of a board of photos with the words “Chris and Jamie friends forever” and lots of pictures of a teenage boy and a teenage girl. The voice over continues as he lists romantic things about her in a childish voice. This immediately sets the storyline when the music, the photographs and what he is saying are combined; he has an obsession for Jamie.This occurrence is a typical teenage boy/girl experience therefore teens can relate to the narrative. Visual comedy starts when the photos are panned, a picture of them both looking in love pops out to reveal another man in between them and he tries to re-stick it, this further tells the storyline in indicating that he cant have her. The camera straight cuts back to him writing in the book as he reveals “hoping to be your boyfriend, sincerely Chris Brander, BFF!” we then realise that this is her year book as the camera fades into a page with her picture. When we finally see the boy’s face he is stereotypically geeky, he is overweight, has retainer, his hair is large and curly. He sings the words of the song into the mirror until he is caught by a little boy who starts mocking him who we assume to be his brother as he shouts “mom!” when Chris tells him to get out; this reflects also his low social status as even his brother mocks him. A medium close up shows him taking out his retainer and eating which is stereotypical of overweight people to binge when upset. The lighting in the room is warm and homely which gives the impression that it is his home and his bedroom. There is then a straight cut medium long shot to a dark peaceful road which gives the impression of suburban living. He is on a bike which further aids the stereotype of a geeky boy. A voice over enhances him muttering the words he is going to say to Jamie over and over which gives the impression he is going to go see her.The films do seem to have a lot in common in the first 2minutes, the main character(s) is introduced straight away in the first scene, and they are usually the Hero of the narrative. The first 2 minutes try to give as much detail as possible about the main character(s) by using stereotypes e.g. the connotations of the way they are dressed/look and the way they interact with others. The introduction also tries to set out the background that the narrative leads from e.g. Hotchick and Just Friends both give information as to events that happened before the film began.
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