Research: Effective Film Opening Case Study 2- The Emperor's New Groove

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2CmEqtPOFFw





Micro Features
The opening sequence starts with dark low key lighting and this not only shows the audience it is night time, but it reflects the mood and shows that it is very negative. We then hear a non-digetic voice over which follows on from the negative tone and we hear the protagonist as he explains what is happening in the scene. He tells the audience how he used to be an emperor but now has nothing. This is very effective as it sets the scene for the audience.

The opening credits then appear and they are in gold and this reflects the emperor when he had all of his riches and the colour shows this well. Comedy Iconography is also used showing the llama and this helps to show the genre, however it is also foreshadowing the emperors future when he is turned in a llama later on in the film.

(Picture taken from Youtube video)

We then see flash backs to the castle to show how the emperor fell from grace and there is some very upbeat happy music to show that that was a good time of his life, and this contrasts well with first time we see the llama.

Macro Features

We see a shot that pans down to an establishing shot and this shows the llama in the jungle. We then see the shot change from the jungle to the palace.

The prominant colour gold in the film shows how rich the emperor was and his dominant body language shows he is in power.

(Picture taken from Youtube video)

It is very obvious from the start that the film will be a comedy and this is something that is shown well through the talking llama.

I think this is a very effective opening and shows the genre well it is clear to the audience that is is a family film and this is something that is important in the opening of the film.