Film Opening Homework

Media Studies Homework
Harry Potter Five
Sound- The opening soundtrack sets the scene, mysterious and dark. The storm noise combined with the long shot of storm clouds shows the pathetic fallacy used. When Harry and Dudley run away from the park they are panting loudly which for me makes them look panicked. The panting noises from Harry and Dudley emphasises that they are running quickly because of danger. The soundtrack during the attack shows how dangerous the dementors are. It has a weather report in the background saying it will be hot and sunny, which is contradicted when the storm clouds appear.
Camera- The camera moves slowly through a misty and dimly light titles, only two titles, into sunlight which establishes a shot of Little Winging. Jolty camera when Harry and Dudley are running, which I think shows the purpose of them running. An Extreme long shot of the storm clouds shows the storm caused by the dementors.
Mise-En-Scene- empty park makes it look depressing, Dudley’s clothes are stereotypically worn by unkind teens. Newspapers blowing are used to show danger and I think they are used to show danger in the scene, not in reality. Dimly light path shows danger as the dementors wear black clothes. The dry grass makes it look as if the area is poor.
Editing- Storm clouds show danger as soon as Harry raises his wand, when it is the dementors that makes the storm clouds appear. The dementors action towards Harry and mainly Dudley show the horror genre aspects of the movie. Swift camera movements to show divide between Harry and Dudley.
Graphics and special effects- starts with a very dark and misty image of the Warner Brothers symbol, the darkness tells us that there are horror aspects of this films genre. Dementors are shown to glide mysteriously and that makes them scary and hold power they should not have, evil power.
Genre- The two titles in the sky show the magical elements, dementors are magical creatures and Harry casts a spell which all show the magic part of the genre. The dementors show part of the story as being on the villain’s side as they suck out people’s souls which is evil. The spinning merry-go-round and the start whilst is spinning mainly because at the time it was recently used, but it also seems to be magic as it is spinning for a long time. The length of time can also be interpreted as mystery to the story.
Narrative- The Black sky shows bad things happening with magic as it is caused by the arrival of the dementors. It is in the dark that the dementors come which is used to foreshadow a bad thing happening in the story, not reality. The confrontation between Harry and Dudley tells the viewers about the tense relationship they have. The dementors attacking Harry foreshadows how the dementors will join voldemort later in the story. Harry’s loneliness shows how he does not like Little Winging due to a lack of friends and he is on his own in the park which shows how he is in danger, none in reality. (the part about the fictional Harry Potter also applies to characters)
Characters- The confrontation shows both character’s personalities, however small parts, both character’s costumes can be linked to stereotypes. The link between dementors and sucking souls shows their characteristics, but that was known already at that stage about the fictional make-believe characters. Harry’s scare is a part of his personality and it is very visible when Harry looks up at the storm clouds caused by the dementors, the fictional characters, at this point it can be seen clearly.