Video Clip

We analyzed the above clip from the film Mean Girls.

The film opens with a two shot of the parents, which establishes a relationship between them. Its an eyeline shot, designed to look as though a child is looking up at their parents. The camera then moves to an over the shoulder shot and we learn that in fact the 'child' they are talking to is 16 years old. Opening with a joke sets the tone for the movie. As she walks to college the backing track starts, non-diagetic music and diagetic chatter. The music is to set pace, establishing the hustle and bustle of college life.

Then there’s a sort a mix of point of view shots and mid shots of the lead character. This is used to establish the setting and the point of view shots suggest how the character feels about her new surroundings.

Throughout the introduction there is a narrative, voiced by the main character which accompanies the shots and helps to move the story quickly forward; it also means that you are given the characters background information immediately, so that the rest of the film is dedicated entirely to telling a new story.

There are no instances of close ups used in the introduction which means you can always see some of the backdrop of the scene. In an opening this is useful as it allows the audience to properly ascertain the films surroundings.