OPENING SEQUENCE ANALYSIS OF FORREST

GUMPBy Chloe Abraham

The Opening Sequence

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W7voy1vit6Y

Introduction

Forrest Gump is a drama/romance film released in 1994. The director of Forrest Gump is Robert Zemeckis.In the opening sequence of Forrest Gump, it follows the path of a white feather floating around a town and finally landing at Forrest’s feet.

The Camera Angles/Movement

The whole opening sequence consists of wide shots and medium close ups of the feather and then of Forrest. The scene starts of with wide shots as the feather is floating down and eventually when the feather lands at Forrest’s feet, we start to get medium close ups of the feather but mostly of Forrest. The camera pans and tracks as the feather floats around and down. The camera follows the movement of the feather.

Micro Elements

Lighting

In the opening sequence there is no artificial lighting used, all the lighting is natural. The opening sequence was filmed on what looks like an overcast day. You do not see the sun during the opening sequence. During the opening sequence, when the music starts, the lighting appears to get brighter. This may have been a happy accident or it could have been done on purpose. When the light gets brighter, it shows the audience that something special is going to happen to this town. The lighting sets the scene of opening sequence to the audience by showing them that the setting is just an ordinary place and anything can happen in the most ordinary places.

Sound

The only sound in the opening sequence is the background music which is played throughout the opening sequence. To me the music is very magical. Also the music reminded me at points of twinkling stars. This ironic because the opening sequence is set during the day. The music makes me feel happy and free just like the feather in the opening sequence. The music tells the audience that the setting and in the narrative of Forrest Gump, something out of the ordinary and magical is going to happen

Editing

The whole of the opening scene is one single shot. The camera angle does not change until the bus arrives at the bus stop. There are two different feathers being used, the feather that is being followed has been filmed on a blue screen and has been edited into the shot and the feather which is on Forrest’s foot has been edited out and then replaced. The editing of the opening sequence allows the audience to focus on the representations of the feather.

Costume

In the opening sequence we see a few people in the background and Forrest. All the characters we see are dressed in smart modern clothing which suggests that the area is a good and pleasant area. The male characters; including Forrest; are wearing suits and the females are wearing more casual (but still smart) outfits. The costumes set the scene for the audience by showing them it is just an ordinary place much like where they live.

Props

There are many props in the opening sequence of Forrest Gump but I am going to concentrate on the three main props which are the feather, Forrest’s suitcase and Forrest’s box of chocolates.

Props - Feather

The feather is the main prop which is used since it is the main focus of the opening sequence. The feather itself is white which to me represents that it is pure and untainted. I believe that the feather represents fate and destiny because that feather could have landed anywhere, but it landed on Forrest. The feather is floating freely and I also believe that it represents freedom. In my opinion, the feather represents Forrest. The feather makes the audience think about what it could represent and what part does it play in the narrative of the entire film.

Props - Suitcase

There are many things in Forrest’s suitcase such as a children’s book. This implies to me that Forrest maybe very childish and still enjoys reading children’s stories. Also in Forrest’s suitcase, there are many everyday essential items such as a tube of toothpaste and clothes. This implies to me that he has been on a long journey. The suitcase makes the audience think about the narrative of Forrest Gump because they decode from the suitcase and its contents that he has been on a long journey, and the narrative is going to be his journey.

Props – Box of Chocolates

The box of chocolates have a bow on them which implies that they are a present. Chocolates are usually a gift given to a female which tells me that Forrest is meeting up with a female friend. The box of chocolates focus on the characterisation of Forrest. They show that he is a giving and loving person because he is giving someone a nicely wrapped gift.

Macro Elements

Characterisation

We do not learn much about Forrest from the opening sequence but what we do learn is that he is childish and he is giving. Forrest has a children’s book in his suitcase which shows that he still enjoys reading children’s books. Forrest also has a box of chocolates with him which have been decorated with a bow so they can be given to someone as a gift. This shows that Forrest is very giving because he likes to do things to make other people happy.

Setting

As the feather floats around freely, we get to see the setting of the film. The setting of them film looks to be a small new town. The buildings in the area are modern and well kept which suggests to me that the people care about the place they live in and it is a lovely place to live. I think the setting is a town because there are some big buildings which are seen during the opening sequence, but also there are not many people in the opening, this suggests to me that it is a very small area with not that many people. There is a lot of greenery (plants) seen in the opening sequence which suggests it is a rural area, but there are bus links in the area so it is not completely remote.

Genre

From the opening sequence Forrest Gump sounds like a romantic film. The music is very soft and romantic which gave me the impression that it is a romance film. Also, Forrest himself is well dressed (except for his old trainers) and has a gift wrapped box of chocolates, which implies that he may be going to meet a lover.

Narrative

The narrative of the opening sequence is we start of by watching a feather floating. We follow the feather as is floats around and down until it finally reaches the ground at Forrest’s feet. He picks up the feather and opens his suitcase and puts it into a children’s book. He then closes his suitcase and continues to sit and wait for his bus. The opening sequence gives us an idea about the film which we will only understand once we have watched the film. It gives us a few clues to what the film may be about.

Representation

The feather is the most important factor in the opening sequence of Forrest Gump. The great thing about the feather is that it means so many different things to so many different people, but to me the feather represents fate and destiny, freedom and Forrest himself.