FILM OPENING RESEARCH #1 - CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY

NOW SHOWING - CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY

Welcome back readers of this journey! It feels like it's been forever since I last blogged. I hope you all are ready to read about my newest assignment. For this post, I'll be looking deep into the opening sequence of a movie in my favorite genre, fantasy. The movie, as you already know from reading the very top of this post, is Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, directed by Tim Burton.

How many titles are displayed during the opening sequence to the film?

During the opening sequence to the film, there are 35 titles displayed. I should know, I counted each and every one. They are all in a very pristine, gold font, and it should probably be noted as well that all letter were capitalized. Most of the titles were credit due to people and companies who partook in the making of the film. Two were the title of the movie itself. Some titles contained more name than one, but I counted it only as one seeing as they were displayed at the exact same time and for similar reasons.

What images are prioritized in the opening sequence?

During the opening sequence, Burton takes us on a journey from outside in the dreary snow to the inside of an equally depressing, yet more entrancing chocolate factory. We see chocolate bars being poured, stamped, and wrapped by expert machinery, for the most part anyway. A select five of these bars are graced by what we can assume to be a chocolatier's gloved hand as he places a golden ticket with an invitation to the factory upon them. To one of these tickets, the hand taps it lightly with one finger. Then, the bars get their final red wrappings and are placed into boxes labeled with cities all around the world, for example, London and Tokyo. We are given a good look at the dark and mysterious factory from the outside, a small break from the boxes. Beside the factory sit five red trucks with a wavy purple stripe labeled, "Wonka", for the name of the factory as we know from the words on the chocolate wrappers. The boxes are loaded into the trucks on a technologically-savvy conveyor belt, and they begin to drive off single file through a dramatically opening factory gate, precious cargo aboard. 

What connotations do the images carry?

The images are all very dark, trying to give a depressing feeling to something, a chocolate factory, that would regularly be perceived as happy.  I think the technology aspect of it all, with very little human touch, makes the factory seem very out of reach. The focus on the gate opening seems to be a symbol for the factory opening itself up to guests, a welcoming from a place that doesn't seem to be such. Also, the look of the factory, being so overrun with black, must mean that the elements within are overrun by some terrible force as well.

How is genre reinforced through symbolic and technical codes from the outset?

There is a sense of mystery in all the darkness; no faces to be seen, no joyful, bright colors to bring comfort. The producers took a concept that is realistic, but were able to form it into something that seems unattainable, because people wouldn't imagine a chocolate factory in this way. Moreover, the technology used is so advanced that it makes it abnormal, something of a dreamworld. It reinforces the air of fantasy because despite the realism, it is so warped, even just at the start, that it becomes fantasy.

What strategies are used to ensure the film appeals to its target audience?

The target audience of this film was definitely children. The elements of the idea itself proves that. There is a chocolate factory that five lucky children will get to go visit if they find the invitation in a chocolate bar. In terms of strategy to appeal to this, I would say the concept is enough, as the opening credits don't really seem to be in appeal to that audience. Some children might find the darkness and mystery of it scary. I would argue, however, that it is just a stylistic choice that tends to come with a Burton film, and as a former little kid, it is quite enjoyable for all ages. As for the appeal to fantasy enjoyers like myself, it's quite clear that there are strategies of otherworldliness tossed into the movie for that.

How has technology been used effectively? (You may want to consider camera angles, transitions, and editing techniques)

Right off the bat, the movie very creatively places the first titles in the middle of a thick snowfall, slowly appearing and then dissolving off. This is followed by a dolly-in to a building of the factory, which is also being arced around. The way the perspective falls in through the top to see chocolate spinning around with words inside it that are then made clear was very cool, as well as the letters scrambling off the screen. Then, the world of CGI where the chocolate is being made and packaged is an incredible use of technology; it looks extremely realistic. A lot of the movement is dollying in or out, and there is a bit of panning. The high and low angles while following the chocolate gave an interesting perspective on the process of it being made.