Lemony Snicket’sA Series of Unfortunate Events

The very first shots of the opening of this film are the famous production logos of ‘DreamWorks SKG’ and ‘Paramount’. These have purposely been used as the first shots as the audience will relate the logos to other films that they have seen, and as DreamWorks and Paramount have produced some very successful films, it creates an expectation for this film. DreamWorks and Paramount produce high production value films and so this also creates an expectation for the audience that they are going to enjoy the film. Paramount own DreamWorks and both companies are known for producing mainly family orientated films, suggesting the content of this film is suitable for families. The same sound is used for both logos that is always used when they are shown in films. Another reason these logos are shown is to create a name for the production companies, almost advertising them.

The next shot is also a logo but this time it is for ‘NICKELODEON movies’. Again, Nickelodeon is known for making high production value, family orientated films which creates an expectation and gives an idea as to who this film is suitable for. There is the non-diegetic sound of light, happy music playing over this which then carries on into the next shot.

There is then a shot showing animated birds flying and then landing on a tree into which ‘DREAMWORKS PICTURES’ is carved. The light, happy music continues, misleading the audience into believing that this is the theme throughout the rest of the film. This shot is not how the audience expect the film to start and almost makes them question whether they are watching the right film.

The same music continues as the camera takes us around the animated woodland location, showing other woodland creatures and characters. More credits are shown throughout our tour of the location and then we are shown the title of the film, however it is not the one the audience expects. We are shown the title ‘The Littlest Elf’ which is written in a curve about the head of what we assume is the main character. Again, this misleads the audience as to what this film is actually about.

The camera then freezes as the elf character is walking. The lighting is immediately switched to very low key, reinforcing the mood change. The elf character then uses direct mode of address showing that it is also shocked by this sudden change. This puts the audience into the film and makes them feel involved. Their involvement in the film is then strengthened as there is a voice over which says “I am sorry to say that this is not the movie you will be watching. “ It is as though the narrator is talking directly to the audience. This shocks the audience, while at the same time reassuring them that they are watching the correct film and also involving them.

There is then a circular fade into this wide angled, establishing shot. The establishing shot sets the scene for the movie. The graveyard and smoke creates a mysterious and dangerous atmosphere. The lighting is low key, creating shadows and the silhouette of a person in the right hand side of the shot. By not showing us who the person is, it makes the audience feel tense and this alongside the spooky location makes the audience feel anxious. Throughout this shot the voiceover continues by saying “The movie that you are about to see, is extremely unpleasant. If you wish to see a film about a happy little elf, I’m sure there is still plenty of seating in theatre number two.” This again involves the audience as the narrator is talking directly to them, making it personal. This has an impact on the audience as it grips their attention to the film.

There is a smooth cut to this wide angled shot, showing the dark figure walking across a deserted beach. Although the camera is focused on the fence and the figure behind is out of focus, the audience still concentrate on the figure, adding to the mysterious atmosphere as the audience want to know who the figure is and what they are doing. The voiceover continues, helping the shots to flow together. The voiceover says “However, if you like stories about clever and reasonably attractive orphans, suspicious fires, carnivorous leaches, Italian food and secret organisations, then stay.” This again involves the audience and is almost an advertisement for the film, listing possible interests of the audience, enticing them to watch the rest of the film. Again, the lighting is low key, creating shadows and showing that it is night. This adds to the anxiousness the audience should be feeling. There is the non-diegetic sound of deep, slow music played quietly as these shots occur, adding to the atmosphere.

As the voiceover continues, there is a quick cut to the cogs of the inside of a clock which then pans right to eventually show a male character. As the camera is panning, we hear the non-diegetic music and the voiceover continue and we also hear the diegetic sound of the male character typing on a typewriter. This sound and the image shows the audience that the character is writing what he is saying. The lighting is low key which keeps up the mysterious atmosphere. There are two sources of light; the natural light of the sun and the light from the male character’s lamp. This suggests that it is either sunrise or sundown. The voiceover introduces himself as ‘Lemony Snicket’ which the audience immediately recognises from the title of the film.

There is a cut from the previous shot to this over the shoulder shot, showing the narrator, Lemony Snicket looking at a photograph. The direction of his head and the direction of the light source directs the audience’s attention to the photograph. The voiceover continues and introduces us to the character in the picture as the camera zooms into the picture until we are in the frame. The voiceover says “Violet Baudelaire, the eldest, was one of the finest fourteen year old inventors in the world. Anyone who knew Violet well, could tell she was inventing something when her long hair was tied up in a ribbon.” This introduces the character to the audience and also gives us information about her that is important to the rest of the film. Again, the lighting is low key creating a mysterious, spooky atmosphere. Also we are uncertain of the location here as it is almost fictional. We first presume it is a beach but then the unusual trees make the audience rethink and find it difficult to work out where she actually is. This again leaves the audience feeling uncertain and anxious.

There is then a sequence of shots linked together by fast paced cuts. These shots show a contraption of how a letter is delivered into a house and how the people who live there are alerted. These shots contrast the previous shots. These shots use high key lighting, although there are still shadows, suggesting that the audience should not feel comfortable in this change of lighting as there is still something mysterious happening. Many shots are used in this sequence, such as close ups and high angled shots to make it interesting and to follow the equipment. The non-diegetic music continues as well as the voiceover, which is explaining that it was Violet who created this post contraption, and there is now the diegetic sound of the invention working, for example the bell ringing and the cogs turning.

The sequence continues and then cuts to a close up of a part of another invention. The audience automatically tries to guess what the item is, and in failing to do so feels less intelligent than the character, emphasising her intelligence and talent. The shot then cuts to show the female character we now know as Violet to show her working on the apparatus. It then cuts again to show a low angle shot of Violet’s face. This is the first time we see the character’s face and it gives the audience the feeling that they know her. They have been given all this information about her and now can finally put a face to her name. The voiceover, non-diegetic music and diegetic sound effects continue throughout these shots.

As the voiceover continues it says “and no one was better to test her inventions than her brother” at which point there is a cut to a close up of a young boy who the audience assume is Violet's brother. This introduces another character to the audience. This shot has purposely been used as the first time we see him as it lets the audience see what he is like. His glasses, serious face, the contraption on his head and the countless books behind him suggest that he is a stereotypical geek.

From this shot there is a cut to an extreme close up of a hand holding a glasses case and the lid lifting. An extreme close up is used as it gives the object significance and suggests to the audience that it is going to become important at some point in the film. The voiceover and non diegetic music continues, keeping up the mysterious atmosphere despite the audience getting some answers from the information they are being given. The next shot shows the character we now know to be ‘Claude Baudelaire’ sat in the same location as his sister. The books around him reinforce the ‘geek’ stereotype that the audience have given him. Again, we are uncertain of the location and it makes the audience feel uneasy.