Now that I'm officially planning how I want my film to open I'm looking into the 2 minute openings of popular coming of age movies in the past 5 years. This will give me further incite as to how to direct my film after getting inspiration from well done films.
Licorice Pizza (2021)
This film is an American coming of age drama where a high school boy falls for a woman 10 years older than him. While my film opening is going to be nowhere near this type of storyline, I think its good to analyze the different approaches taken to portray a coming of age film. It also centers in the 1970's, which includes different aspects of mise-en-scene, however it does fit in with the genre as it centers around first love.
Scene 1: The introduction bathroom scene
The first scene shows a mid-shot of the main character (Gary Valentine) in the bathroom grooming his hair with his fellow high school peers. This shot captures not only the setting but also dialogue between characters. In particular, the boys are well dressed and seem to care for their appearance which makes the audience curious as to why.
Scene 2: The first encounter
A tracking shot is used to show the love interest (Alana Kane) holding a mirror up for Gary. This shot allows for the audience to move with the characters and gain a better concept as to the plot leading up.
Not only is a tracking shot used to show movement but also a two shot which allows the audience to get a sense of the characters relationship. You could tell that Alana is trying to keep her distance from Gary while he seems very persistent.
Lighting
Its clear that the lighting is set to look very natural which fits with the coming of age sub-genre. It dose not try to hard and looks like a afternoon in California. It also ties into the slight yellowish amber hue that most teenage films use to depict a sense of nostalgia.
Camera height
The camera is placed at a lower angle throughout the opening to relay the idea that the main character is a 15 year old boy. This placement makes Gary seem more commanding and draws attention to both his behaviors and character.
Bones and All (2022)
The second movie I decided to analyze to give me a greater grasp of the opening of the coming of age sub-genre was Bones and All which stars popular actors: Taylor Russel and Timothee Chalamet. This film ties into some aspects of what I want to do with my film as the first 2 minutes depicts two girls.
Scene: The Sleepover
This scene came across as very helpful, as it shows a close-up two-person shot of two girls who are best friends. The main character, Maren, and her friend paint their nails and share a cute girly time at her friend's house. A close-up shot is used to show the intimacy shared between Maren and her friend, and how Maren's eyes continually direct her gaze to her friend's fingers. Moreover, they chose to use a low-angle shot to create a sense of groundedness as they lie down.
Editing
The first 2 minutes are very slow paced and there is not a lot of cuts either. This creates a domestic scene as the scenes aren't filled with energy and come across as 'natural'. The scenes flow together and makes the viewer feel as if they're in the scene too.
Lighting
Another aspect I wanted to touch on that comes up as recurring is the soft lighting used. They used amber lighting to highlight characters, and all the shadows come across as a maroonish-brown. It makes the scene cozy yet cuts off any outside factors.
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