Opening Two Minutes Of Rom-Com Analysis - Love Actually

Love Actually-
Universal Studios
Studio Canal
Working Title                 First 48 seconds used to credit companies.

Shots used
Mid-shot (pans across to the left)
Long Mid-shot (zooms in, pans across and finds focus)
Long Close-up
Mid-shot (zooms in)
Close-up (pans to follow person on screen)
Close-up (pans to follow person on screen)
Over the shoulder
Close Mid-shot
Long Close-up
Mid-shot
Long Mid-shot (main focus is at back of screen)
Mid-shot
Over the shoulder (pans to follow)
Over The shoulder/Mid-shot

All the shots are short which follows the convention of fast paced openings to Rom-Coms. It also suggests that there is a lot going on at the beginning of the film, this should engage the audience as they will be drawn in in order to see what's going on. The location for the opening is at the arrivals section of an airport and the area is very busy. This adds to the feel of busyness and also makes the opening flow faster with the quick cuts. There are no fades in the opening in order to make the cuts seem quicker and more precise. Unlike other Rom-Coms there is no real intimacy in the opening towards the characters that feature in the film. There is however, intimacy featured in general throughout the opening of the film as it shows people meeting at the airport and being glad to see each-other. Rather than introducing the characters in the opening there is a voice over narration. This makes the opening feel story like and therefore engages the audience as they are being spoken to directly. The main conventions of Rom-Coms are present but used in a different way to a majority of Rom-Coms. This is effective as it gives a fresh feel to the genre.