Textual Analysis of Rom Com Opening Sequence 5

The Proposal

Directed by: Anne Fletcher

Written by: Pete Chiarelli

Staring: Sandra Bullock, Ryan Reynolds & Mary Steemburgen

Genre: Comedy, Drama & Romance

Cerificatiion: 12A

Click here to watch the opening sequence

The opening of this starts with a song playing over the top of the footage. The footage starts of with the main female character doing some exercise in the morning, and then changes to the main male character who then wakes up and checks the time as if he is late and in a hurry. The camera pans out and reveals that he is sleeping and then pans out even more to show the bedside and the clock. When he checks the clock it connotes that he is running late. The footage then switches back to the female getting ready with an over the shoulder shot looking in the mirror. The shots continuously show the process which occurs throughout their life in the morning. The sound then gets quieter and conversation occurs between Andrew and a female behind a coffee. The way that the conversation occurs and the casualness of it connotes that he usually gets a coffee at this time and it is a day to day routine. The way he is rushing through traffic and rushes in the lift we almost expect a bad outcome but he makes it into his office and then when he is there, he bumps into someone which delays him even more. 

  The genre conventions of Romantic Comedies that we see in this is the music over shots. The music is accompanying the footage giving it a story line in itself to relate to. Another genre convention is the use of the male and female relationship. This is the main genre convention that this Rom Com opening sequence uses. Through the alternating between the shots we assume that a relationship between these two characters are further in the film going to have a relationship of some kind.

The first character we are shown in this opening sequence is a female who is exercising in the morning. She then has shots of her which unfold her personal life in the morning. The way that she is not rushing connotes that she leads a calm life and is organised. The male we see in this opening sequence, Andrew, is rushing and is dressed smartly which connotes that he is working in the city and has a well paid job. 

Editing has been used in this sequence to alternate between the two characters. Even though there is no dialogue spoken there is a relationship which is not clear but will soon be revealed.
The lighting shows the time it was set which is in the morning, a darkish sky with a little light shining in on the curtains. This connotes that the actions which are to follow are going to be events occuring in the morning. 

The target audience of this film are teenagers and preferably females as it is more of a love film which may not appeal to males as much.