Film Opening Analysis DYM

I chose to analyse the opening sequence of the film Back To The Future which is a Sci-Fi, comedy. The opening sequence takes place in a garage/ bedroom over the course of a morning. Initially in the sequence the audience is only able to hear and see the ticking of many clocks as the camera does a slow pan across the room. This is in keeping with the theme of time changing, suggested by the title 'Back To The Future'. During the pan we then see a framed article saying that a 'Bankrupt Inventor' called Brown has had to sell his land. This reveals to the audience that the current space they are exploring may belong to 'Brown' as the large amount of clocks may be something that would be associated with an inventor. We then see the very dirty and cluttered room of this person which may suggest their cluttered mindset as they struggle to pull their life back together. We also hear a radio advertisement for a new car which is vital for later on in the movie when they buy a car and turn it into a time machine, although this isn't made apparent to the audience within this opening sequence. A whole array of faulty inventions are then shown in another pan. The TV then switches on so that the report on missing plutonium can be heard. Actions from the faulty inventions such as the toast in the toaster burning and the coffee maker not having a jar to pour the hot water in to reveal that the inventor may be a careless character. This also creates more comedic potential for the rest of the movie. A second character is then introduced when he enters the garage, appearing to use a hidden spare key. At first we are only able to see this character's feet which raises suspicion as the audience are know show his identity. However, we can tell it is a teenage boy by his scruffy trainers and his relatively low voice. The boy then puts his skateboard down which eventually rolls over to a box marked 'Plutonium, handle with care.' By this point the audience are able to release that this plutonium is the same plutonium that was reported missing in the recent news broadcast. This raises an air of mystery about why and what Brown would need plutonium for. This information is deliberately withheld so that this sense of the unknown may continue further into the movie, highlighting the element of surprise. Finally, the teenage boy is seen switching different elements of electricity on, emphasising the chance of danger. The boy then plugs a guitar into what appears to be a very powerful electricity source and is blow across the room on to a coach. This reveals the adventurous nature of the character and foreshadows the It is vital that all these events are linked as all the inventions used to create the moments are intertwined. As the events occur in this order the audience are also able to take in information about the character gradually and are able to make their own assumptions. As with any opening title sequence, the audience would expect to know the title of the film, the genre of the film, the setting of the film and the main characters as these are conventions that they would expect. By knowing these conventions they may be able to conclude aspects of the film which will then be challenged or confirmed later on.