Opening Sequence

Genre

• Teen drama

• Use of simple shots help to give the film a sense of realism

• Challenges conventions as a teen drama as not every teenager at the end finds out they are a prince or princess in line for the throne.

• Teens can relate to the few characters seen in the opening sequence as in school there is always the outcast, geek, popular and show off person.

Sound• At the beginning orchestra music is played, this

represents the narrative of the film, gives a small hint to what the films about (royalty).

• The first words we hear are non diegetic “time for school”, which reflect the teen drama as they are realistic and show what nearly every teen does in their day.

• Modern music then kicks in which reflects once again the teen drama, and what the film is based on.

• As she arrives at school the music fades out and the diegetic sound of school talk is heard. Helps again to establish the genre and help to set the scene.

Camera Angles, Shots and Movements• Two pans are used at the beginning, one panning

down on to the golden gate bridge and the other down on to a bus long road. These both enforce the drama side of the film, that its all realistic, showing people busy lives and police bikes and car.

• Then there are a series of tracking and pan shots which all in either the background or foreground show the car and police bikes.

• Wide shot is used to show the location of the main actress. Shows the audience where she lives and what its like (tatty, off coloured, paint falling off, mould)

• Then into a medium shot of the main character to show the audience what she looks like: stereotypical geek, frizzy hair, glasses, proper uniform.

Camera Angles, Shots and Movements• A pan of her walking shows the audience her room, a

very typical teenage room, then shows her hugging and talking to the cat.

• To show emphasize again that she is an unusual teen a tilted up tracking shot is used to show her coming down her metal spiral staircase from her room, then down the fireman's pole into a wide shot of an art studio and her mum.

• A extreme wide shot is used to show the two girls meeting on their scooters and carrying on to school, the car and police bikes cross the shot.

• Point of view shot of some guy staring at Mia (the girl)• Wide shot to show the school location into a pan of

guys going to sit down and one doesn’t see and sits on top of her. Stereotypically not being noticed.

Editing

• During the film mainly simple cuts and fades are used for the shot transitions. This could be because it makes the film easier to edit. However I think it is because it represent the realistic feel of teen dramas.

Narrative, Titles and Audience• The film has a linear narrative because the film

starts in the morning with the girl getting ready for school then making her way to school.

• Titles appear on a blue sky background, they are white and yellow which gives it a very elegant feel and reflects what is going to happen in the film.

• The audience for this film would be teenagers as it is based on a teenagers life and how it starts to change for the better. This will appeal more to girls as every little girl dreams of finding out or being a princess.

Mise en Scene and Representation• The constant sight of the posh car\limbo and police

bikes crossing most of the shots, this shows the audience and gives a constant reminder of what will happen in the film.

• Also a sign on the girls window reads “Mia and Fat Louie's Keep Out”, this represents child like innocence and tells the audience that she still acts like a child slightly even though she is a teenager.

• The way she is dressed as said before represents a ‘geek’ and someone who doesn’t really care what they look like, more about what they can achieve. The ‘geek’ is also seen through the way the teacher in one scene completely forgets who she is and the fact that someone doesn’t see her and sits on top of Mia.