10 THINGS I HATE ABOUT YOU
10 things I hate about you is an American romantic comedy film released in 1999. It is a modernisation of Shakespeare's 16th century comedy 'The Taming Shrew' - re told in an American high school setting. The story is based on new student Cameron is smitten with Bianca and in order to get around her fathers strict rules on dating, attempts to get 'bad boy' Patrick dating her ill-tempered sister.
MISE EN SCENE
The setting for 10 Things I Hate About You in the opening scene is a typical American high street and high school. This is very conventional for a teen romcom film as many of them are set in a high school due to it being a major part of a teenagers life. Most of the opening takes places outside of the high school however there is a full camera pan of the school whiles the credits shows. The main part where you first see the main characters of the film is on the street outside the school when two cars pull up at traffic lights, in one you have what appears to be a popular group of girls, also conventional to the high school setting, and in the other the main character Kat by herself, both listening to different songs mirroring how they have different personalities.
The lighting is high key natural daylight which is used to to present an upbeat a happy vibe to the movie, ideal for attracting a teenage audience and typical of a teen film.
The clothing seen in the opening scene is very typical teenage girl wear and is very simple, everyday, casual clothing including jeans, tee shirts and hoodies. This represents the life style of the characters in the film and just the average high school style therefore making it more relatable to the teenage audience that is aimed at. This theme is also seen in how the main character Kat has her hair and makeup styled which is also very simple and minimal. If the main character starts in the film by herself and not in a group of friends, this is the very conventional style for that character as it tend stop be the friend group that dresses up and works hard on styling their hair and doing their make up, like seen with Cady in Mean Girls.
OPENING CREDITS
The opening credits begin with all the main actors names but they aren't in any particular order, many films with highlight the main actor but in 10 Things I Hate About you the main actors name isn't mentioned but others are. The actors names are then followed by the names of people who were in charge of casting. In the opening credits, the film name, production company or director is not mentioned which is unconventional for a film opening as they are normally the first things you see.
TYPOGRAPHY
The opening credits are all in a sketchy looking, sans serif font. The sketchy style of the credits is very youthful and does mirror the high school setting as it is almost like a graffiti style of writing. It is also in bold yellow, blue and green with are appealing to the target audience as they are attractive bright colours and are very youthful.
CAMERA WORK
Establishing shot - In this opening, the establishing shot is of a small American town where the film is set. This could more relatable to the audience as the town is the surrounding of the high school.
Pan shot - A pan shot is used when we see Kat driving up to the traffic lights where she stops next to another car of girls. This shot emphasises how different Kat is too the stereotypical teenage girls of whats seen in the first car, she doesn't look happy about going to school, she takes the journey by herself and she listens to more of a rock song rather than a pop song.
Mid shot - There is then a mid shot of Kat where you can clearly see her facial expression which appears quite dull and moody compared to the girls in the car next to her. This mirrors how she probably doesn't enjoy high school like the more 'popular' girls do and how she's there because she has to be, not because she wants to be.