Music

Webb's extensive use of music in the opening sequence for this film is due to his ambition of "letting music drive the image". This is most definitely achieved through using the music as another form of narration to portray the theme of new beginnings, as well as a form of contrast, for emphasis of the director's purpose to ruin all expectations. 


Initially the sound of cars going past is played to set the scene of downtown LA. The song "A Story of Boy Meets Girl" (by Mychael Danna and Rob Simonsen) is then played. It is mainly a narrative with an enchanting background instrumental, comprising of soft whistling, pencil writing on paper, ticking of a clock, violin, cello, piano, with percussion overlapping. The percussion creates an alluring atmosphere while the pencil writing on paper fits with the office setting. The ticking of the clock fits with the plot as we are taken back to day 1 of the 500 Days of Summer. The soft whistling also enhances the feeling of a laid-back mood with not much happening. Which, of course, is exactly how Tom's life is at the point in time. This mood that is created fits nicely with the flat office setting. The combination of instruments build on the alluring atmosphere shaping the viewer's emotional response into sensing mystery. This response is purposefully crafted by the director so that the viewer begins to make assumptions and have expectations. Expectations, the director wants to ruin. The overlapping percussion is removed and the instruments continue at a slower pace as the tragic story of Tom and Summer's childhoods are shown/narrated. The removal of the percussion removes the mystery element which could have distracted from the tragedy being told. The slower pace in instruments shape the viewer's emotional response into feeling sadden by the traumatic childhoods of Tom and Summer. The percussion returns, as does the pace of the instrumental, and the viewer starts to believe normality is returning.


Suddenly the upbeat song, "Us" (by Regina Spektor) plays as the credits begin to roll accompanied by old home videos of Tom and Summer growing up. A stark contrast is created. "Us" has a fast and exciting rhythm, the complete opposite to the previous music. This contrast also works nicely with the severe contrast in situations. We are told the tragedies of Summer and Tom's childhoods then suddenly these fun, happy videos of their childhoods are shown. The viewer is baffled by this abrupt change, and is shocked by how their expectations were completely wrong. Webb has fooled them yet again by creating a disheartened mood which caused the viewer to have false expectations, only to have them devoured. This is after all, the director's ambition. The music continues to act as a narration. For example a lyric from "Us" being "they made a statue of us". This lyric shapes the viewer's emotional response into hoping Tom and Summer will have bright futures. Of course, this isn't going to happen as Webb's purpose is to destroy their optimism, eventually, when the viewer least expects it. The song continues the theme of new beginnings when Tom and Summer's parents are referred to as having "years of experience" in the lyrics. The idea of Tom and Summer looking up to their parents for guidance is illustrated by this lyric. Tom and Summer require guidance because they are just new beginnings to the world at this point.  


The use of music not only acts as a narrative and portrays the theme of new beginnings in the lyric "they'll name a city after us", but it also creates a link to a later part of the film. The city Tom and Summer will be "named after" is their own city, the small downtown of LA that they view from a park bench, the city Tom draws over and over, the city where all the viewer's expectations are met and Tom and Summer are happy, whether they are together or apart. Similarly the "statue" of Tom and Summer, previously mentioned, was "put on a mountain top". This lyric represents the theme of hope due to their new beginning as young children with so much potential, as well as creating a link to a scene later on in the film. This scene is when Tom and Summer are sitting on a park bench at the "top" of the park. They are up high, looking down at their city below. They are "on a mountain top" in this instance because even though they are apart relationship wise, they are still together in their city, happy. Which overall means that while the director has ruined all the viewer's expectations throughout the film, their final hopes or expectations for Tom and Summer are achieved, and we are satisfied.

Mis en Scene

The film spends most of its time experimenting with techniques in regards to structure, graphics and chronology, all of which are present in the opening sequence. The use of Mis en Scene in the opening sequence however, focuses on graphics in terms of colour, as well as setting. Through the use of colour the director cleverly creates atmosphere as well as shaping the viewer's emotional response. The setting of downtown LA and the homes of Summer and Tom as children, assist with conveying the strong theme of new beginnings at the beginning of this film.


A controlled colour palette is used in this film, mainly neutral colours are apparent. For example neutral browns, greys and beiges are used in the office scene. All the furniture are in these dull colours, as well as the staff's clothing, the artwork in the background and the water jugs. The use of bland colours sets the mood of the scene; boring, mundane and innocuous. This is exactly Tom's attitude towards life, until he meets Summer. Summer is generally always associated with the bright colour of blue. This blue used exclusively with Summer offers a breath of fresh air for the viewer when she enters the room, and emphasizes this as the role she is designed to play. Every outfit worn by Summer in the opening sequence is blue; the blue dress, coat and hat, the blue floral dress, the blue and white stripe shorts, and finally the blue top and jeans. Not only does this highlight actress Zooey Deschanel's striking blue eyes, but the use of blue makes Summer stand out. This is because a base of neutrals is built up in this film, avoiding primary colours in most cases, whereas blue is a primary colour and shows significant contrast. This contrast shapes the viewer's opinion of Summer into thinking that her character is more sophisticated than any other. Which is very much true. Summer is portrayed to be different from anyone else because her opinion of love is different to most, the colours associated with her also resemble this. Blue is generally used to symbolize sadness. The viewer feels as though they should sympathize Summer and the sadness she must feel, if she cannot feel love. The feeling of sympathy created also furthers the director's purpose and ability to prove viewers' expectations wrong, yet allow the viewer to be able to relate. The viewer's expectations are proved wrong because we sympathize for Summer because we think she will never find love, the use of blue enhances this, yet Summer does find love, to our complete amazement. The director's shaping of the viewer's emotion to feel sympathy also relates the viewer to the film. This is because from time to time we all feel sympathy for ourselves, and sometimes doubt whether we will ever find love. 


The film is set in downtown LA. While only the first part of the opening sequence exploits the eccentric downtown of LA through the beautiful shot over a small part of the city, showing unique older buildings which is completely appropriate for this quirky film, it is just enough time to give the viewer a taste of the film's imminent setting. The director's purpose for choosing the downtown of LA as the film's setting, is because people often think of LA as Venice Beach or Beverly Hills, but the truth is that there is another LA that pre-dated all of that. Part of Tom's character is about finding beauty in places that other people have forgotten, and this is a major message in the film. The director's purpose is also to constantly surpass the viewers expectations. Downtown LA is perfect for this. LA is also symbolizes new beginnings which is a main theme at the beginning of the film, when Tom wants a new beginning to love after a rough break-up and Summer wants a new career beginning. LA represents new beginnings because it is often thought of as a place for new beginnings for actors and musicians trying to make it in the industry. The further setting of Tom and Summer's homes as children, further this idea of new beginnings. For example as Tom learns to play guitar in his bedroom and Summer to ride a horse in her backyard they begin to grow up. They are new beginnings, as they are still new to this world.


The specific colour and setting choice in this film opening, act as enhancers for shaping the viewer's emotional response as well as conveying themes. The bright green of the tree, in the inner city park for example is used as a contrast to the neutral backdrop of skyscrapers. The contrast emphasizes the importance of the tree, and the idea it conveys of time passing and new beginnings made through the changing of seasons. This idea of new beginnings is continued through the next setting, as the video of Tom learning to play soccer in his backyard is shown, this is a new beginning for him. The dominant components of Mis en Scene that enhance this film opening are therefore the colour use and choice of settings. 

Transition + Length of Takes

The film spends most of its time experimenting with techniques in regards to structure, graphics and chronology, all of which are present in the opening sequence. The transitions/length of takes effectively create the structure to the opening sequence in this film. The main components of this film technique are parallel action and cross-cutting. These components successfully shape the viewer's emotional response as well as creating a link to other parts of the film through subtle repetition.


As the opening credits roll there is a cutting between the two events of protagonists; Tom and Summer growing up, this is known as parallel action. For the majority of the credits the screen is split so that the viewer can see both events take place. For example the shot where Summer is on a swing at the playground while Tom is jumping off a plank of wood. This parallel action creates the effect of two completely separate events being bought together in a unique kind of way. This particular example also illustrates the major theme present in the opening of this film, new beginnings. Instances such as the playground scene as well as Tom learning to play soccer while Summer is learning to ride a horse show Summer and Tom growing up, and beginning their lives. This creative way of bringing two separate events together through parallel action is continued throughout the film as shown  by the screenshot. This screenshot shows Tom's and the viewer's expectations on the left and reality on the right. While this offers some comic relief it also conveys the director's constant purpose of changing the viewer's expectations.


However in parts of the opening sequence, there is a focus on one event. This is known as cross-cutting. When one half of the screen shows a video of Summer or Tom, then switches to credits and vice-versa, cross-cutting is illustrated. For example the camera focuses on Tom's eye on the right of the screen, with credits on the left, then cross-cuts to focus on Summer's eye on the left, with credits on the right. This technique is effective because the viewer is given the opportunity to focus on one character and form their own opinion of them. For example Summer's large blue eye suggests she has a large heart, open for loving, yet she is the complete opposite. Again the director tricks the viewer into having misleading expectations. The cross-cutting of Summer blowing a dandelion towards Tom's frame then cross-cutting to Tom blowing bubbles into Summer's frame also uniquely binds the two lives together due to the similarity in content, and the charming connection made. This example creates an enchanting atmosphere and shapes the viewer's emotional response into adoring the two children. This same emotional response of adoring the couple, is continually created throughout the film for instance in the furniture shop scene. 


Parallel action, a major component of the film technique; transitions/length of takes, is very effective in misleading the viewer to have the wrong expectations, which is the director's purpose, as well as making links to other parts of the film and conveying the dominant theme of new beginnings. For example, the shot of Summer feeding ducks for the first time while Tom is riding a train for the first time shows the two having new experiences, which is a result of new beginnings. The shot of Tom playing guitar demonstrates the other major component, cross-cutting. This instance effectively misleads the viewer into expecting great things are going to happen to him, and shapes the viewer's emotional response into having hope for further achievements for Tom. Of course this is not what happens and yet again the director places false hope, and false expectations into the viewer's mind. Success!