In order to research into romantic comedies, I have decided to analyse the opening scene of a famous romantic comedy called The Vow. This film was released in 2012 and it stars Rachel McAdams and Channing Tatum. The film is based on a true story of Kim and Krickitt Carpenter. Kim and Krickitt Carpenter were traveling to see family when their car was involved in a terrible collision. The couple were only married for two months when the crash happened on November 24, 1993. When Krickitt came out from a coma, she did not know her husband. It was recorded that she lost 18 months of memory. This meant that she didn't remember meeting, dating and marrying Kim. Since the crash, Krickitt has not gained back the lost memories. Although she doesn't remember her husband, she and her husband have remained committed to their original wedding vows. Their book The Vow tells the true story of their challenging journey. This book was originally published in 2000. In 2012, there was an updated story that was released.
During the opening scene, there were camera shots that were used. One of the shots used was a close up. This shot was used when the main female character unfastened her seat belt. By using this shot, it allowed the audience to see the importance of her removing her seat belt. By what I mean by this, it shows that it foreshadows the crash that happens later during the scene. The crash is a key point in the film because it sets the storyline for the rest of the film. By having a close up of the seat belt, it emphasises the fact that the crash is important. Another shot that was used within the opening scene is a high angle. A high angle shot normally is used to make the audience appear and feel to be more dominant than the subject. On the other hand, this shot was used in this scene to make the crash seem important. The shot was used when the leading female actress was lying on the bonnet of the car. The shot was used while it zoomed out. By zooming out of the shot, you are able to see the full extent of the crash and the audience is able to understand the importance of the crash.
The female actress removes her seatbelt
In any opening scene there needs to be editing that is done in order to make the opening scene look more flawless. One piece of editing that was done was when the couple was raced into hospital after the car crash. When they were in the hospital, the scene was edited so it played frame by frame. This created an edgy look. It made the audience feel as if they were in the hospital watching the couple. It makes the audience feel that it is not actually happening because it is played frame by frame. It also makes the scene more dramatic and it makes the audience feel the tension because they are unaware if they will make it. another piece of editing that was done was during the car crash. As the car crash happened, the scene became slow motion. The scene became slow motion at this point because it added the emphasis to the car crash. It made it seem important and this is because it is the basis for the whole storyline. There was a piece of dialogue used just before the crash. The dialogue was "the world stops when I look at you". This is a significant piece of dialogue because the scene becomes slow motion signalling the time stopping.
In any opening scene, there will be some type of sound used. In the opening scene, there was non diegetic sound used. This was incidental music which fitted the scene at that moment in time. The music was made up of violins and keyboard. these instruments are usually used for romantic songs because of their sound. This piece of music has been used in order to set the scene for the audience. It tells the audience that the movie is going to include romance. with incidental music, it must fit the scene. Therefore this explains why the music changed when the crash happened. The music became a lot more depressing and deadly. This is because the instruments started to play in a lower key which meant the music fitted the scene more due to the events that were shown. It made the audience feel that this was an extremely tragic event which is important. As well as non diegetic sound being used, diegetic sound was also used. These sounds were police sirens. The police sirens were heard after the crash. By the audience hearing the sirens, it shows that the location is in a big city. This is because a police car would be easily heard in the city because they are normally in the city centre therefore you should be able to hear them from a small distance. It also shows the importance of the crash because the emergency services were on their way.
Red coat can symbolise love
and foreshadow danger
Snow symbolises Christmas
Mise en scene was also used. This is what tells the audience a lot about the characters and the storyline. An example of one of the types of mise en scene that was used was the snow. The snow tells the audience that the film is set around Christmas time because you typically have snow around the months of Christmas. Setting the film during Christmas time is a stereotypical convention of a romantic comedy. This is because it is seen as romantic. another type of mise en scene that was used was the red coat that the main female actress was wearing, the red coat could symbolise the theme of love in the film. Red is one of the colours in which love is symbolised through which is one of the codes and conventions of a romantic comedy. Also, the red coat could also represent the danger that the main actress will be in. It could foreshadow the car crash. When the couple first get in the car, the male actor stands outside and wipes the snow off the windscreen. The female actress waves through the window to her husband. This could represent the separation that is to come during the film. It also could represent that the couple will suffer a crash where one person ends up outside the car/through the windscreen. This happens to the female actress.
Over all I believe that this is a good opening scene because it sticks to the codes and conventions of an romantic comedy.
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