The Notebook

The opening sequence for the Notebook is very calm and peaceful. It shows the setting and plays gentle music over the top which describes the mood of the film very well overall. We chose this sequence as although it lacks any real action or storyline, we all really like the film itself and there are many aspects of camerawork, editing, conventions, sound, mise-en-scene and titles present that can be commented on.

Editing;
There is a strong emphasis on transitions during this opening sequence which creates the idea of change. However, the sequence is mostly simplistic and subtle, and therefore not many editing techniques are used.

Camerawork;
The are a variety of shots from the present and shots from the past. There is a range of shots used, for example mid-shots and aerial shots. Each different shot is held for quite a long time which adds to the relaxed feel. The camera often follows the action; for example, it follows the birds and also the boat when the man is rowing on the water.

Sound;
There is a non-diegetic soundtrack playing over the entire opening sequence, which suits the mood of the film. Towards the end, the music begins to fade out and you can hear the sound of the birds which are very symbolic throughout the film. Also, the nurse in the home starts talking, which replaces the non-diegetic soundtrack with a diegetic sound.

Mise-en-scene;
The setting is consistent throughout the film. The costumes are appropriate to the time the scene was shot in, and so are the props. For example, he is in a simple old-fashioned wooden rowing boat and not in a modern yacht. The birds are also very appropriate to the storyline of the film.

Titles;
The titles are small, always displayed in the corner of the screen, white and in a very plain font. This creates the idea that they are insignificant. However, they are still very noticeable and sometimes draws the viewer's attention away from the action. They still look effective despite being plain. They fade in and out slowly which matches the feel of the opening scene.

Conventions;
The characters are not really established in the opening sequence. We are introduced to an old lady and her carer. We also see a silhouette of a man rowing a boat, it is not clear who he is. The location is a peaceful lake with a sunset, this is one of the main settings of the movie. The soundtrack is a very soft piano, this sets the very soft tone of the movie and creates a slow pace to start the film, this is representative of the genre. Altogether the opening sequence is very beautiful and calm, this successfully creates the romantic atmosphere.