Analysing The Romance Film "Dear John":

Romance Analysis:

(opening two minutes)

(Dear John)

The scene starts with a close shot of the main actor from the side, this gives the effect that he is looking at someone or something and is trying to take in as much detail a possible. In the background you can hear someone talking and laughing and that is when he looks over at something and the audience would assume he is admiring her suggesting he is attracted to her but she doesn't know. You can see the scene is set someone sunny suggesting he is on holiday as he hasn't got a top on and he is looking very relaxed, the non-diegetic music also gives the effect that this film is going to be romantic. You then get an over the shoulder shot and the camera focuses on the girl and the audience can see she is with another girl and two boys suggesting they are on a double date, which the audience will automatically think the film is going to be a love twist.

The shot then goes back to him and focuses on his face to try and understand his mood and his feelings towards her. You get a panning shot to show the speed the bag is going and this shows that a lot of what was in there was important as she has it with her, suggesting it would be her phone, purse and all the other things she needed. The long shot of the man running along the peer shows he is trying to impress her, the girl gasps with shock and she has lost all her important possessions. You get a close up shot of the girl and you can see the worry in her face as the bag is falling and he is risking his life just for that. The shot then cuts to the man in the water trying to grab the bag and then a medium shot of the man who pushes up from the ground up to shore. Throughout the whole scene the man has stayed calm and hasn't panicked and to jump of the pier shows he is going to be the hero in the film. The audience also may find humor in this opening scene as when Brandon stands by the sea as he was running to get the bag, John walks out with the bag before he has even touched the water. This suggests that its him wimpy friend. 

As John walks up as gives the girl the bag, a close up shot is used of the girl running towards him thanking him. As both main characters meet for the first time it is a medium shot throughout, in the background you see Brandon still out of breath which would be funny to the audience and suggest the film may include some humorous parts. Throughout the conversation shot reverse shot is used between Savannah and john the two main characters. The next shot is then a high angle shot of Savannah walking next to John, the shot follows them walking to capture the relationship between the two characters and from the opening two minutes you can already see a romance building between the two.