1. c) Film Terminology - Transistions + Length Of Takes

The length of takes and the swiftness of transitions is, in my opinion, what makes the opening to The Devil Wears Prada so interesting and memorable. Footage such as when women are putting on earings, quickly changing the focus from one woman picking up an earing to a different woman placing another kind of earing into her ear, is so quick and effortless that the contrast between these women preparing for another day of work and Andrea's morning routine are a wonderful balance, especially considering how the director tends to spend more time focusing on the protagonist doing one thing than all of the other women doing the same task combined. Another example of the speedy way in which the director progresses from one woman to the next is when the other women are sliding on their underwear. The first shot is one women stepping into her underwear, followed by another woman sliding her underwear upwards, and then this movement is repeated two more times. This series of short shots compiled together has a time frame of less than five seconds, and already we have a small idea of what these women may be like. The quickness of the transition reinforced the idea of the business of women's lives and, as the audience discovers later, the many ways women alter their appearance, whereas the viewers get the impression that Andrea is not as concerned about her image, whipping on a chapstick rather than applying a carefully-chosen lipstick. An interesting idea that the director rises is the idea that a number of working women are fairly similar, whether they share the same attitude or they appear similar physically. In this particular scene, these women are either smiling slightly or they have a professional feel to them, taking the time to pick out the most appropriate outfit, whereas Andy chooses one outfit and that is the final one. Women these days take their jobs very seriously, keeping their appearances up-to-scratch and constantly competing with one another, wheares in this particular film, Andy has a different approach - being consistently kind to her somewhat nasty work college and trying her best to help others, which makes her an admirable and likeable character.