The Holiday opening sequence

The Holiday

00:03 Columbia

00:10 Universal

00:19 Columbia and Universal Pictures

00:24 Association with Relavity Media 

00:34 Waverly Films production

00:55 Film by Nancy Meyers

01:01 Cameron Diaz

01:06 Kate Winslet

01:07 Narration starts

01:11 Jude Law

01:24 Jack Black

01:47 Film Title

02:06 Eli Wallach

02:14 Edward Burns

02:24 Casting and Uk Casting

02:38 Music by

02:44 Marlene Stewart

03:11 Edited by Joe Hutshing

03:15 Production designer

03:20 Director of photography

03:31 Executive producer

03:38 Produced by

Analysis 

The beginning of the sequence introduces the two biggest production companies involved in the making of the film. The sequence opens with a close up of a brightly coloured environment along with a couple centralised. This conveys that the genre of the film is to be romantic, the lightness of the scene suggests it will be enjoyable and happy. Alongside the opening and throughout the piece, there is music playing, the sound is relaxing and joyful, again suggesting the genre of the film and its atmosphere, I find this particularly effective for an opening sequence. 

The camera pans out to show two screens one of which is editing the scene we watched as an audience, this detracts the audience from the couple, realising they are not signifcant characters to the film. This also would explain why no actors are introduced whilst they are on screen, giving time to credit the production companies involved.

The next camera shot shows a character playing the music on a keyboard, connecting the romantic comedy genre to the piece again, despite the false interpretation of the couple. This also connects the genre with the particular character suggesting he will have something to do with romance.

Jack Black is on screen for a longer time then any other characters to highlight his importance within the film, at the same time other actors are being introduced below him on screen. This puts emphasis on him as an actor, showing he is a main character. 

Narration of a women suggests another character involved and her dialogue about love enforces the romantic genre. I particularly like the idea of a narrative voice because it starts the film before the end of the credits, preventing the beginning from being boring for viewers.