Research opening: Perks of Being A Wallflower

Film opening of Perks Of Being A Wallflower.

Perks of being a wallflower was made in 2012. The film has a rating of 12a. The production company of this movie is Summit Entertainment. The director of the film is Stephen Chbosky. One of the distribution companies is Entertainment One. Perks Of Being A Wallflower received 20 awards and some of which were: Teen Choice Award, San Diego Film Critics Society Awards,  People's Choice Awards , Hollywood Film Festival and Independent Spirit Awards. The gross takings the film brought in was $17,738,570 (USA).

Target audience and whom it appeals to.

After watching the film opening and the rest of the film I can say that I think this film is aimed at people between the ages of 12-30. I think this because there are elements that will affect and appeal to this age range. I think that this film appeal to males and females as there are elements in the narrative and parts in the script that would appeal to both genders. People who would go and see this film would expect pleasures that you would find in a romantic comedy or a tear jerking film.

The Titles

The titles in this film are created with a typewriter style typeface. Using the typewriter style font it helps to fit in and relate to the narrative as in the film the main character is given a typewriter for his birthday. The font can also relate to the target audience as in the narrative the main character writes a diary and that could be what some people in the target audience do. People in the target audience may also remember using a type writer when they were little so it can also help them to reminisce on old childhood memories. The font colour is white which could show that there isn't a stereotypical female or male colours such as pink or blue meaning this film could appeal to both genders. Whilst the titles of the film are playing in the foreground there is no image or clip playing in the background which could show us that the director wanted to keep the opening title sequence quite simplistic. However after the title of the film is shown on screen a video is added in the background. The video is of someone going through the tunnel and is filmed at a low angle so we can see the roof on the tunnel. I think this has been added in because it relates to the narrative and also makes the title sequence look unique and almost simplistic. The way the tunnel scene has been filmed has been done as if someone is filming it on his or her digital camera, which gives the opening title a unique and different effect. After the tunnel scene has finished it then cuts to the main character in his bedroom and has been edited using a dissolve cross over to make the happen.

Sound.

In the opening title sequence the typewriter titles have been reinforced by the use of a typewriter sound effect that has been added. The use of this sound effect makes the typeface look more realistic. In the opening a sound track is also added and is non-diegetic. The sound track is quite relaxing and is quite indie. The sound track also related to the narrative as this piece of music is the genre that the main character and his friends like listening to.  The way that the sound track is sung is quite echoed which could link to the tunnel that the camera is going through. The soundtrack is also quite youthful which can reflect the narrative. As the non-diegetic sound track fades the non-diegetic voice over takes over.

Representation of Characters and mise en scene

After the titles have appeared on screen the camera cuts to the main character in his bedroom at first the whole location is out of focus but then the camera goes back into focus on the main characters reflection in the window. Whilst we see a shot of him writing down there is also a voiceover of the main character telling us what he is writing. During the voice over I can connote that the main character is telling us about starting his high school life so it makes the audience feel like they can relate to him and that they know a bit more about him. The main character is dressed jeans, t-shirt and a zip up jumper. This outfit could connote that he is a stereotypical high school teenager and it could also show the audience that he is not part of a sports club because he is without a varsity jacket. Due to the fact he has no varsity jacket can connote that he is not one of the “popular” or “jocks”. I think that the audience could also connote that the main character is also very clever as he was the only one is the classroom who knew the answer. There could also be connotations that the character is smart but is embarrassed and doesn’t want to be bullied for it. This is shown when he doesn’t give his answer in the lesson. The set of the opening is based in a school. There is high key lighting, which could connote that that school is meant to be a happy place. The lighting is quite bright in the main characters English room, which could connote that this is his favourite room and the place where he feels happiest. There are also many posters up in the room that could show us that the school is very helpful to students and that students take ride in their work.

Atmosphere created

At the beginning of the opening a happy atmosphere has been created due to the soundtrack in the tunnel scene. The sound track is also quite youthful and reflects the narrative of the film. I think there is a content atmosphere which could reflect the personality of the main character.