Conventions of Film Openings: Matilda

Film Name: Matilda
Director: Danny DeVito
Year of Film:1996
Total Awards: 3 wins and 7 minor nominations.
Box Office:£16,461,008 (UK) (11 April 1997)

Overview:
The clip shows two parents picking up their newly had child from the hostility like but it shows that they have little care or interest in the child.

Camera angles and their preferred reading:

• CU of a baby's face - this is to introduce the main character of the movie, Matilda. It is also used to connote the film being a children's film.
• Zoom out into arial shot - This shot is used to tie in the voice over that is introducing the character of the baby, the airal shot is used to emphasise the fact that babies are all look the same, even though they are really different.
• Cross Cut to LS showing them carrying the baby - The LS uses rule of two thirds to show that the two parents (in the middle of the shot) are the parents of the main character. They use a LS to show that they have little care or regard for the babies well being as they walk towards the camera.
• SRS (CU to CU) of the child and baby - They use this shot reverse shot to introduce the next family member, the brother. They use a CU of him playing mindlessly with a ball and paddle, this is to suggest that the brother is not very intelligent and gets amusement easily. The SRS is used to show the little care the brother also has by showing his blank facial expressions during the CU.
• SRS (CU to MS) of driving and sliding - They use the shot reverse shot as a match action shot between the father driving the car radically and the baby not strapped in and sliding about, suggesting the irresponsibility of the parenting.
• Cross cut to XLS of car driving down the street - This is used to establish the location of the main scenes in the house, it also connotes the wealth of the characters using the set design of a modern (at the time) suburban area.
• Pans as the car enters the drive - The camera pans as the car pulls into the drive and introduces us to the house where all the characters live.

There is little Diegetic sound and most of this is dialogue however there is a voice over used to progress the introduction of the characters through the opening scenes.

The costumes of the characters suggest they are a well off family who has little to no financial issues. They dress in casual clothes but still have shirts and dresses incorporated into their daily attire.