A Cinderella Story Opening sequence

Opening sequence until 1:45 seconds

Cinderella Story commences with the introduction of the Warner Bros Company as they are presenting the film. The opening shot the viewers perceive is a blank shot, followed by a mystical soundtrack. The next shot is an establishing shot of a ‘far far away Kingdom’; which the protagonist is narrating. The purpose of both these elements is to introduce the audience into the romance / chick flick genre of Cinderella Story. The protagonist narrates a brief story about a little girl and a widowed father; explaining her reality. This allows the audience to gain an insight into the main characters life, which creates a sense of identification to the character. The next shot is a graphic match of the ‘far far away’ castle to a castle in the girls’ snow globe. Subsequently a two shot of the girl and the father is presented, as it highlights to the audience the special bond and close relationship they share. A whip pan shot is closely shown as the camera moves sideways rapidly, the image becomes blurred into indistinct streaks, with a background sound of traffic. The next shot seen is an establishing shot which presents the location of the film, San Fernando Valley; a fertile valley in southern California to the north of Los Angeles, which includes many residential communities. This contrasts dramatically with the stereotypical location of a fairytale setting; usually in an enchanted forest. The opening credits appear on screen, from the writers and directors of the movie, to the main star; Hilary Duff. The font is written in a curly writing in a bright pink colour as these appeals to the target audience. A wipe is used to indicate ‘Hal’s Diner’; the fathers place of work. The lighting is bright, the colours are vibrant, cheerful music is played and the customers’ facial expressions are happy. This creates a close sense of friendship within the community. It also signifies the stereotypical life of fairytale stories. The theme of humour is emphasizes when Hilary Duff talks about her fathers’ diner, stating ‘A place where DIET was a 4 lettered word, and grease came with no additional charge’. This captivates the audiences’ attention in witty humour, and foreshadows upcoming humour that is yet to be unleashed during the rest of the film.