Heathers Intro - Analysis                      textual analysis example

 New World Pictures - Distribution Company

Cinemarque Entertainment (USA) LTD - Production Company

Winona Ryder - Main Actress

Christian Slater - Other Actor

 Title sequence is in the centre of the screen drawing the audiences attention.

First Shot; Extreme Close Up w/ shallow focus shows a female (evident by long hair) putting on a red hairband - potentially conveying a story of love, passion, pain etc. Strawberry Blonde hair enforces this.

Next Shot; Title is shown which is evident by alternative font and stand-out white colouring. The font seems to be informal and in the style of a diary writing style. The colour being white and red has conventions of purity surrounded by love/pain. Possibly a chick flick 

A dissolve is used to signify a change (in time/place or to establish something), next shot is an establishing shot which is also a tracking shot to show us something about the characters. It is clear that the characters are upper class by their dress (coordinated and classy) also that the shot is during mid day and possibly in America if not then in Britain. Titles are shown in the top right corner in order to not disrupt the establishing shot but used in the same font as the main title to enforce the same connotations. 

A cut is used for a match-on-action affect as the women all step over the white bordered garden - suggesting they are leaving this appearance of the average white upper class women. Also trample on the flowers which shows the people in the shot have no regard for things and are probably quite arrogant.

A tracking long shot is then used to show the rest of the titles as the women walk across the grass in order. Slow motion (slightly) is used to create a subtle surreal feel.

Match on action shot used as feet are shown and different coloured balls which co-ordinate with the woman's dress, enforcing the surreal connotations. 

First use of dialogue is used "no heather it's heather's turn" creating confusion for the audience.   

From this example, I learnt what is needed when doing a textual analysis of an opening intro. Now I will proceed to do analysis of crime thriller films opening sequences to broaden my knowledge.