How Shrek is introduced to the audience from the first opening sequence: Within this film, the character Shrek is introduced to the audience through different film features, which help to make him the character that he is. This is done through the camera angles used, lighting, diegetic and non-diegetic sounds, and the script.
The producers have managed to introduce Shrek in the opening scene extremely well, and have made it possible for the audience to understand the character for the whole film right from the beginning. Firstly, it is made very apparent that Shrek is a big, green and scary ogre who is a loner, but likes this privacy. Although this is mostly due to the fact that he is a creature that is looked at as a danger to others, and so therefore they fear him, and want to kill him. His actions in the opening scene show that he is extremely unhygienic, grotesque and disgusting. These traits are displayed to the audience from how he lives his daily life, including how he bathes in mud and in the swamp, and eats eye balls, and also from how he pulls the earwax from his own ear to make a candle. He is a very sarcastic character, and takes everything as a joke. This is shown from the way he talks and responds to others, but includes humour for himself. He has a pessimistic view of his world and surroundings, and is quite negative. These are the character traits that an audience member is able to understand about Shrek from the first opening scene of the film.
For the character Shrek, the use of different camera angles is an important part of his introduction to the audience. In the opening scene, when there is a birds eye view of a book being read, this camera angle helps to exaggerate the size of Shreks hand when he rips out the page. His size is also exaggerated when he is looking down on the angry mob, with a low-angle shot which therefore describes to the audience how small and insignificant the people look compared to Shrek. Also, when there is an over the shoulder shot of Shrek looking into the mirror, the audience is able to see what he looks like, close up, for the first time, and when the mirror breaks, he barely reacts, therefore giving an idea of his easy going personality.
The use of lighting in the opening scene of the film is very effective in helping the audience to understand Shrek. This is firstly done by introducing Shrek on a bright, sunny day, therefore creating a happy atmosphere. This indicates a pathetic fallacy to the audience, as it is unexpected for an ogre to be happy and for there to be bright lighting. Although, the audience is able to see the other side of Shrek which is displayed when all of the mobs torchlights go out from him roaring at him in the night. Backlighting is used in this scene to help emit a scary feel within the film, and throughout the audience. This helps develop Shrek's character and reflects what an audience member would expect from an ogre.
Both the diegetic and non-diegetic sounds used within the opening sequence help the audience to understand the character Shrek. His deep, sarcastic tone, and Scottish accent, helps to make him sound unrefined, and therefore fits the audiences expectations based on his appearance. The soft, romantic music in the background at the beginning of the story, tricks the audience into feeling calm, and expecting a fairytale like any other. But once the audience hears Shrek's laugh, and the sound as he rips the page out from the book to then use as toilet paper, it is unexpected, and the audience instantly knows that this film is not any old fairytale. When the music theme changes, the audience is instantly transported into a happy atmosphere, watching Shrek live his daily life. But the sounds of the slushing of the mud when he has a mud shower gives a great effect and helps to disgust the audience. Lastly, when Shrek is able to scare away the angry mob, there is victorious music, and helps to allow the audience to understand that Shrek was successful in his endeavour. All different sound effects and music, play an enormous role in improving the audiences understanding of Shrek the character.
Shrek's choice of words, and the script used for the film in the opening scene is important, as it gives the audience an idea of Shrek and his character. Right at the beginning of the film, when the words 'Once upon a time' are spoken, it helps introduce the notion of a fairytale convention which is used throughout the film. Although after Shrek finishes reading the book, and ends with his sarcastic comment of "like that's ever gonna happen!" The audience then understands his negative personality and pessimism. Also, when he whispers to the mob to run when it is all quiet, it gives the moment a scary atmosphere, but also allows the audience to feel the humour from Shrek's point of view.
Overall, Shrek is introduced into the film in the opening sequence, in ways so that the audience can get an idea of whats in store for them for the rest of the movie, even though Shrek may change throughout the film.
Sylvia Plath
