All The Bright Places Analysis - Film Genre Research

                                                       All the Bright Places Analysis 

 

 

 

Opening Summary: The opening of the coming-of-age movie All the Bright Places starts with the opening credits. With the usual production company and distributor text to show us who made the movie. Next, the camera shows our first protagonist, Finch, running in the middle of road, he seems to just be going on a causal jog. And then you can see our next character Violet still in her pajamas standing on a bridge and she looks very depressed and like she wants to jump off. Finch sees this and gets her attention quickly. He tries to lighten up the mood and get on the bridge and do tricks, but this only worries Violet, and she yells at him to go away. The scene is not finished in the sense that they don't show us is if Finch leaves or if Violet jumps. But the next scene is of Violet walking in school. She looks nervous as she walks to her locker. She meets her friend, Amanda, and she starts to talk about the party she wants to have at her house when her parents are gone but Violet is too distracted because she sees Finch walk into school. There is an awkward moment between them, and Amanda tries to get her attention. Next the scene goes to Finch in the school counselor's office having a meeting. We find out that he is on probation and is at risk of not graduating. This opening shows us a little about the characters and what their lives are like. Everyone has their own issues, and they need to be fixed. 

 

   

 

Camera: The first camera shot we see is when the black screen with yellow letters that reads “Netflix Presents” straight cuts to the ground that Finch is running on, and it shows his shoes. This is meant as an introduction to the movie so the viewer can recognize that it has begun. Then there is a straight cut to an over-the-shoulder POV. This is done to give us an image of what Finch is seeing and to feel the scene. Then another straight cut to Finch’s face. This creates a sort of reverse zoom. Then there is a straight cut of Violet on the bridge. There are many straight cuts after that just showing the scenery. These are all meant to show how different the two are in the beginning. One is running while listening to music while the other is upset. Then there is a high-angle shot that shows Violet breathing deeply and Finch on the ground below her looking at her. This is a very beautiful scene, and it shows how the two met. When they start talking there are a bunch of fast takes that show Violet’s face and then finch from that same high-angle shot. This is to add suspense since they are fighting. The shots are Steadicam mostly. When Finch tries to show off how he can balance on one foot on the bridge it's a full-body shot. This is meant so the viewer can see the whole shot. Then the scene straight cuts to the title in big yellow letters. When Violet is walking to her locker it is shown as a tracking shot. Then when Violet sees Finch there is a shallow focus and a mid-shot. This is done so we see that they see each other but don't say hi or even acknowledge each other. The next scene is the therapy session. It first starts as a zoom-in on Finch squishing a sort of toy. This is shot to show a change in scenery. It is short takes of them talking and mid-shots. Then when it starts to get serious it is a full-body shot. Los of close-ups on their faces. Lots and lots of shallow focus also. These camera shots are all meant to add some effect to the film. 

 

 

Editing: Editing is a very important part of TV production. It can add effects to make the movie more interesting or build on the emotions in the film. Editing in the opening of the film All the Bright Places was scarce. There wasn't much in the film itself but in the opening credits, there was a fade in and out with the production company to the distributor. But in the film, there were some editing techniques too. There were a lot of straight cuts and close-ups in scenes with just Violet or Finch in it. There was also some shallow focus with Violet when she was looking at Finch in the hallway. But that was most of the editing that was put into the opening. I’m sure as the film went on there would be lots more of the techniques. 

 

 

   

Sound: Sounds add to the movie and evoke emotions. In the movie All the Bright Places, the first source of sound is the music being played as Finch is running. The song “Where do you go?” by Claire George. It is very young and enthusiastic. It is filled with beats and loud words. This gives the reader some excitement about what's to come. The music then stops when it gets to the part with Violet in it. This can be seen as a more mournful attitude and doesn't give that adolescent image in the viewer's head. The next sound is of all the talking and laughing in the background of the school scene. This gives off the true atmosphere of high school and the people in it. There is a lot of dialogue in the opening which builds the plot more and more as you watch.  

 

 

Mise-en-scene: This opening has 3 scenes. The outfits of the characters give us a representation of themselves and the movie. In the very first scene Finch, is wearing a hoodie with sweatpants and running in Converse. This gives us a little bit about the character. He likes to run and likes music since he has his headphones in. This also shows he might be athletic and adds to his character. The next scene is of Violet standing on a bridge wearing white and blue striped pajamas with a long grey coat. The blue on the pajamas can show us gloominess. She looks sad and it shows with her outfit. This gives the reader the interpretation that she might be depressed since she wants to jump off a bridge and she is grieving from something. The lighting also gives us an image of the scene. It looks low key, maybe a little bit until sunset is over. The characters aren't wearing any makeup, so this shows authenticity. The setting of the first scene on the bridge and outside what seems to be a neighborhood. Somewhere suburban. The second scene is at school. The second scene is of Violet walking through school. She is wearing her glasses with a wool sweater, green backpack, and jeans. The other characters are also wearing warm clothes so this how we know it probably chilly outside or the fall or wintertime. The lighting throughout this specific scene is mostly dim. This all gives the meaning of sadness since it feels very dark and gloomy. The third scene is of Finch in the school counselor's office. Finch is wearing a red and orange flannel with blue jeans. Again, warm clothes show the season in the movie. The counselor is wearing a blue plaid button up and dress pants. This shows us how different a teacher and a student dress. The lighting is a little lighter than in the last scene, more natural light is coming in through the window to add to it. All these make the movie more relastic and natural. 

 

 

 

Production and distribution: The budget of All the Bright Places was not available since it was a production of Netflix. The rotten tomatoes for it were 64%. Production companies were Echo Lake Entertainment, Mazur Kaplan Company, and Demarest Media. The distributor was Netflix. The director was Brett Haley. And The cinematographer was Rob C. Givens 

 

 

 

Opening credits: All the Bright Places starts off the Netflix original opening and zooms in the Echo Lake Entertainment opening which is a leaf falling on water and makes a tree with the words. Then fades out to a book being flipped through and then to a page that says Mazur Kaplan with a projector on top. Then it goes black and plays some youthful music. The text “Netflix Presents” comes onto the screen and the scene finally starts. This is all to introduce the people and corporations that contributed to the movie's production. 

 

 

 

Awards: 2021 Winner of ReFrame Stamp- Top 100 most popular narrative and animated feature