A chorus line: Opening (1975)

The video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J3QsVT5PNk0&feature=g-wl&context=G2af7be0AWAAAAAAABAA

Here I have analysed the opening of A chorus line (1975)

Location:On stage, in America.

Sound: Non diegetic, up beat tune, manager gives instructions on the microphone (diegetic) and stops shortly after music has started. Diegetic sound of dancers jumping and clapping as they are dancing and some dancing making noise e.g. "Woo!" and manager occassionally instructing moves.

Dress: Very colourful exercising clothes: Leotards, leg warmers, high heels, plimsolls, trainers, sweat bands, t-shirts, shorts, leggings, crop-tops etc

Props: Empty theatre, stage, stage set, stage props, managers desk, microphone, desk light, desk toy etc.

Camera: Close up of manager at desk, camera moves out through the back row of dancers until at front row of dancers, the camera then stops. The camera then shows the whole stage, including props and extra’s (stage lights etc) at the side of the stage from above angle, the camera then moves slowly forward to the front row and then stops, the camera then flicks to shot of manager from the front of managers desk and then back to a full shot of the stage followed by a close up of dancers feet while moving along and up to standing height of dancers focusing on two dancers in particular at a mid close view. The next shot is a little taller than standing height in front of dancers and moves forward and down to one person in particular and then to next shot of mid-close of another dancer and then to a shot above the stage from a right angle, most dancers are in the shot, the camera then moves across the stage and moves in focusing on one dancer in particular for a second before flicking to again another angled shot above the stage. The camera then moves to the front of stage, while following the movements of two dancers in particular at a close-mid view, the next shot is again the camera over the stage focusing on one dancer in particular out of sync, with the other dancers, the camera follows her walking of stage and then flicks to a close up of manager to catch his reaction and back to the dancer walking of stage and again back to the manager’s face. The camera then shows a mid close of dancers as camera moves sideways.

Storyline: The clip starts with manager sitting at a desk with a low lit background (desk lamp), giving instructions through microphone. As camera shows dancers on stage, dancers start dancing in sync with the camera moving around all the dancers sometimes focusing on certain dancers in particular. The camera focuses on one dancer in particular dancing out of sync and walking off the stage, the manager’s reaction to this is shown. As the camera flicks back to the dancers on stage, it focuses on the variation of shoes worn e.g. high heels, trainers, plimsolls or even the synchronised dancing. There is an emphasis on dancers reactions to the camera e.g. all the dancers are either smiling at the camera or even looking through the camera due to concentration of dancing there best.