Winter’s Bone

How Does It Begin?

Opening Sequence

• A ‘sequence’ is a series of shots which are connected into a mini-story as part of a larger film

• The opening of a film is very important because?

(Write your ideas)

Glossary

• a cappella singingjust voice, no backing instruments

• Atmosphere: emotional mood created• “backwoods” an area that is far away from

cities• Larch trees – thin trunked trees’ lose their

leaves in winter

Why Does It Start This Way?

• How does the film start?

Using an A4 “storyboard” style carefully record every film technique used in the opening sequence.

• What are you encouraged to think and feel because of this opening sequence?

Sample NCEA Setting Question

• Describe the opening scenes or section of the text(s).

Explain how the opening scenes or section helped you to understand what the text(s) were going to be about, using examples of visual and / or oral language features to support your ideas.

Write a paragraph about the opening

• The film starts by creating an impression of the film’s setting.- atmosphere- ideas or themes

- characters• The techniques used to do this are firstly the

camera work. We are shown ..• On the soundtrack we hear …

Paragraph Practice

• Winter’s Bone, directed by Debra Granik, starts by showing us the setting. The first shot is an establishing shot of the Ozark, Missouri countryside. We see an expanse of bare larch trees under a dreary-looking sky. Among the trees we see a few old cars and a bus. This shot immediately creates the feeling that this is an isolated, poor rural area with only a few people.

Paragraph Continued

• On the soundtrack we hear …………………………………… The lyrics to the song begin “………………………”. This helps us to know the l………………….. and it has a ……………tone to the way it is sung. The song continues until ……………………………… mixed with ………………………. sounds but no audible d…………

You continue writing about the shots, their techniques and their effects up to the title screen.

What Comes Next ?

• Watch for the next ten minutes, making quick bullet point notes for yourself on your viewing sheet about what is happening.