1. Lemony Snicket’s
A Series of Unfortunate Events

2. 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.

3. The next shot is also a logo but this There is then a shot showing
time it is for ‘NICKELODEON movies’. animated birds flying and then landing
Again, Nickelodeon is known for on a tree into which ‘DREAMWORKS
making high production value, family PICTURES’ is carved. The light, happy
orientated films which creates an music continues, misleading the
expectation and gives an idea as to audience into believing that this is the
who this film is suitable for. There is theme throughout the rest of the film.
the non-diegetic sound of light, happy This shot is not how the audience
music playing over this which then expect the film to start and almost
carries on into the next shot. makes them question whether they
are watching the right film.

4. 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.

5. The camera then freezes as the elf character is There is then a circular fade into this wide
walking. The lighting is immediately switched angled, establishing shot. The establishing shot sets
to very low key, reinforcing the mood change. the scene for the movie. The graveyard and smoke
creates a mysterious and dangerous atmosphere. The
The elf character then uses direct mode of lighting is low key, creating shadows and the
address showing that it is also shocked by this silhouette of a person in the right hand side of the
sudden change. This puts the audience into shot. By not showing us who the person is, it makes
the film and makes them feel involved. Their the audience feel tense and this alongside the spooky
involvement in the film is then strengthened as location makes the audience feel anxious.
there is a voice over which says “I am sorry to Throughout this shot the voiceover continues by
say that this is not the movie you will be saying “The movie that you are about to see, is
extremely unpleasant. If you wish to see a film about
watching. “ It is as though the narrator is a happy little elf, I’m sure there is still plenty of
talking directly to the audience. This shocks seating in theatre number two.” This again involves
the audience, while at the same time the audience as the narrator is talking directly to
reassuring them that they are watching the them, making it personal. This has an impact on the
correct film and also involving them. audience as it grips their attention to the film.

6. There is a smooth cut to this wide angled shot, showing As the voiceover continues, there is a quick cut to
the dark figure walking across a deserted beach. Although the cogs of the inside of a clock which then pans
the camera is focused on the fence and the figure behind is right to eventually show a male character. As the
out of focus, the audience still concentrate on the camera is panning, we hear the non-diegetic
figure, adding to the mysterious atmosphere as the music and the voiceover continue and we also
audience want to know who the figure is and what they
hear the diegetic sound of the male character
are doing. The voiceover continues, helping the shots to
flow together. The voiceover says “However, if you like
typing on a typewriter. This sound and the image
stories about clever and reasonably attractive shows the audience that the character is writing
orphans, suspicious fires, carnivorous leaches, Italian food what he is saying. The lighting is low key which
and secret organisations, then stay.” This again involves the keeps up the mysterious atmosphere. There are
audience and is almost an advertisement for the two sources of light; the natural light of the sun
film, listing possible interests of the audience, enticing and the light from the male character’s lamp. This
them to watch the rest of the film. Again, the lighting is suggests that it is either sunrise or sundown. The
low key, creating shadows and showing that it is night. This voiceover introduces himself as ‘Lemony Snicket’
adds to the anxiousness the audience should be feeling. which the audience immediately recognises from
There is the non-diegetic sound of deep, slow music played the title of the film.
quietly as these shots occur, adding to the atmosphere.

7. 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.

8. 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.

9. 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.

10. As the voiceover continues it says “and no one was better to test From this shot there is a cut to an extreme
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 close up of a hand holding a glasses case and
brother. This introduces another character to the audience. This the lid lifting. An extreme close up is used as it
shot has purposely been used as the first time we see him as it lets gives the object significance and suggests to the
the audience see what he is like. His glasses, serious face, the
contraption on his head and the countless books behind him audience that it is going to become important
suggest that he is a stereotypical geek. 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.