Franco Zefferelli's Film Techniques - Romeo and Juliet.

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Franco Zefferelli’s Film Techniques

The opening sequence of a film has to tell us a great deal about the story, it’s the opening sequence, which captivates the mind and keeps the viewer interested.

 Franco Zeffirellis opening shot is of the camera panning over a long-shot of central Verona, he does this to give an insight into the city, a quick zoom across instantly tells us this is set in the past as we are seeing fifteenth century Verona.  The director’s name is superimposed on this, and then the camera focuses on a misty sun, this gives a sense of calmness.  The camera then zooms in on the sun, and William Shakespeare’s name comes up below it.

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We then do a straight cut to a shot inside the city walls, the title of the film is again superimposed on the same shot while all this is happening music is playing (romantic orchestral).  The camera then is showing a long shot of the citizens entering through the gate, the camera pans left, this shot lasts for fifteen seconds – this shot is given to add to the anticipation on what we are going to see next, where are these people going?  It adds to the whole scene we have seen so far, every shot we are gathering ...

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