They are not just colors, but feelings in the eyes. If all you see is red, anger must get the best of you. If your world is white, we associate it with knowledge and learning. But if later on, royal blue is all you have, all you ever witness are authority, trust, and confidence. This also is the journey of the two powerful heirs - one of America, the other of England, as they slowly fall in love.
"Red, White & Royal Blue" is a 2023 romantic-comedy film that has garnered significant attention for its masterful storytelling and captivating visuals. Directed by a talented team of industry veterans, the film boasts a star-studded cast, including several up-and-coming actors, who bring their A-game to the screen. The film was a hit, however, not until the very end of that year, I've heard of it. Parts of me blamed it for the exhausting life I was living so that I kept myself away from the world, but when I finally got a chance to see it - love was not even close to the hyping emotion I felt. It was a wave of excitement, of hope, of something not even the dictionary can name.
“Sometimes you just jump and hope it's not a cliff.”
― Casey McQuiston, Red, White & Royal Blue
The opening scene of the film is a triumph of mise-en-scène, cinematography, and narrative structure. The scene takes place at the royal wedding of Prince Richard, Henry's older brother, and introduces the two lead characters, Alex and Henry. The grandeur and opulence of the royal setting are vividly portrayed through the intricate set design, which features ornate furnishings, intricate tapestries, and stunning architecture.
Now, let me invite you to enjoy what I have earned from replaying the iconic "cake" scene of this masterpiece countless times - just to giggle along with the hilarious setting. But enough about me. This is the story of a boy who meets a boy, then the boy who loves that same boy:
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Initial release: July 22, 2023
Director: Matthew Lopez
Adapted from: Red, White & Royal Blue
Music by: Drum & Lace
Produced by: Greg Berlanti; Sarah Schechter
Production companies: Amazon Studios; Berlanti-Schechter Films
Font
According to fontlot.com, “Silver South Serif” is the font used in the "Red White & Royal Blue" poster. Silver South Font Family was designed by Sam Parrett and published by Set Sail Studios. With the "royal" overlay of the "white" - just by the title, the film producer has already given us where the film would take place as Royal Blue has been known famously to represent the Royal British.
Another interesting fact is that the color of the title itself, silver, also gives a lot of hint, silver has traditionally been viewed as a distinguished color – one associated with wealth, modernity, glamour, grace, and elegance. Instead of using code #4169E1 which might create too much favoritism towards Henry, the producer smartly picked the color that would perfectly reflect the background of both protagonists.
As this is an adaptation, the original font is very much different. Some suggest it is the "Fregata Sans 2" - a much more playful one. This one reflected more of the genre: rom-com, which possibly makes to audience unable to catch what will be there. Also, for an adaptation to be successful should make a few changes to attract more audience, as I have mentioned in the "Arcane" analysis, changes like this sometimes can bring better results. "One of my hopes in knowing the things that needed to change to make the movie possible was that people will understand and embrace what Casey McQuiston and I keep talking about," says writer-director Matthew LΓ³pez. "As Casey said to me, 'It's my book, it's your movie.' They're very similar and also very different things."
Station Identification
Note: This only appears in the trailer, not the opening scene.
Description
The film adaptation of Red, White & Royal Blue, based on the novel by Casey McQuiston, is a romantic comedy about the love story between Alex Claremont-Diaz, the son of the first female president of the United States, and Prince Henry, the younger brother of the heir to the British throne. The opening scene of the film introduces the main characters, sets up the conflict, and establishes the tone of the film.
The scene begins with a montage of news clips and interviews that show Alex (Taylor Zakhar Perez) and his role as the First Son and his popularity among the public. He also mentions his rivalry with Henry (Nicholas Galitzine), whom he describes as “a stuck-up, pretentious, royal pain in the ass”. The montage ends with a clip of Alex and his mother, President Ellen Claremont (Uma Thurman), boarding a plane to London, where they are invited to attend the wedding of Prince Phillip and Princess Beatrice.
The scene then cuts to London, where Alex and his friend Nora (Rachel Hilson), a genius hacker and White House staffer, are checking into a hotel. They are joined by a Secret Service agent, Tom (Clifton Collins Jr.), who acts as a father figure and protector to Alex. Alex is bored and restless, while Nora tries to keep him in line. They get ready for the wedding and head to the venue. The scene shifts to the middle of the wedding, where Alex spots Henry across the room. He decides to confront him and demand an explanation for his cold and rude behavior towards him. He approaches Henry, who is standing alone, and tries to start a conversation. However, Henry brushes him off and insults him, triggering Alex’s temper. The two get into a heated argument, which escalates into an almost-physical fight. They accidentally knocked over the wedding cake, causing a huge mess and a media scandal. The scene ends with a freeze-frame of Alex and Henry’s shocked and angry faces, as the graphic-overlay screen pops up a photo from Instagram that people have soon, noticed the mess they created.
The opening scene of the film adaptation of Red, White & Royal Blue effectively sets up the premise and the genre of the film. It introduces the main characters and their personalities, as well as their contrasting backgrounds and cultures. It also establishes the conflict and the stakes, as the fight between Alex and Henry threatens to damage the diplomatic relations between the US and the UK, as well as the re-election campaign of Alex’s mother, who speaks with a buttery Texas drawl. Moreover, it sets the tone of the film, which is a mix of humor, romance, and drama. The scene uses various cinematic techniques, such as montage, cross-cutting, and freeze-frame, to create a dynamic and engaging introduction to the story. The opening scene of the film adaptation of Red, White & Royal Blue is a successful example of how to hook the audience’s attention and interest from the start.
Genre & Audience
Genre: Rom-com, Drama, and Fiction.
How to movie itself fit with the main genre: ROM-COM and DRAMA?
According to Collider.com, "Romances like Heartstopper and Red, White & Royal Blue ensure that frivolity and wonder remain in the forefront, not only to enrapture us but more importantly to include us. They feature fanciful scenarios grounded by real problems that nearly everyone in the community faces. And that is the true charm of wholesome romances — they offer a safe haven to usually marginalized communities." - "Red, White & Royal Blue" is defined as a wholesome romance with perfect reasons. For comedy, didn't the opening reviews enough? The two lads are forced together when the press picks up on the fact that they kind of hate each other, especially after they accidentally destroy a cake at a royal wedding after biting at each other like kids.
The scene starts with a set design that portrays the grandeur and opulence befitting a royal establishment. The walls of the palace are adorned with intricate tapestries and ornate furnishings, accentuating the regal atmosphere. The vibrant color palette used throughout the scene amplifies the visual appeal and establishes a sense of joyous celebration. The setting, that has been used in many movies, usually either belongs to a romance. For instance, Howl's Moving Castle, Bridgerton, Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story, Crown, War and Peace, etc.
Red, White & Royal Blue is a film that can be categorized as a drama because it deals with serious and realistic issues such as politics, sexuality, identity, and family. The film explores the emotional and personal struggles of the main characters, Alex and Henry, as they fall in love in a world that does not accept their relationship. The film also depicts the challenges and conflicts that arise from their different cultural and political backgrounds, as well as the pressures and expectations that come with being a public figure.
MISE-EN-SCENE
As the opening scene of "Red, White & Royal Blue" takes place at the royal wedding of Henry's older brother, Prince Richard, the scene sets the tone for the film by introducing the two lead characters, Alex and Henry, while also establishing the grandeur and opulence of the royal setting.
One well-known fact is that film producers are not allowed to film inside Buckingham Palace or the White House. As a result, the production team had to recreate the interiors at various locations and soundstages throughout England. For Miren MaraΓ±Γ³n, the set decorator, designing the Oval Office and Executive Residence for the first female Commander-in-Chief (played by Uma Thurman), Ellen Claremont, was an exciting opportunity. "We wanted to create a cleaner and more modern look, but also incorporate softer elements for a southern woman who enjoys colors and certain shapes," says MaraΓ±Γ³n. She studied photos of White House decor from every administration, as well as images of the Oval Office from TV shows and movies. "In the story, Ellen gets to her position through her honesty and directness with the public, and I wanted to reflect that in the design." The office also displays sculptures of women, ranging from Lady Liberty to a Valkyrie warrior, along with the iconic Resolute desk.
The mise-en-scene of the scene is carefully crafted to convey a sense of elegance and grandeur. The scene is set in a majestic cathedral, with the camera panning over the intricately designed architecture and the ornate decorations. The use of color in the opening scene is also striking. The vibrant color palette used throughout the scene amplifies the visual appeal and establishes a sense of joyous celebration. The costumes worn by the characters, particularly the striking red and white apparel, symbolize power, passion, and the union of two nations.
The costumes of the characters are also an essential part of the mise-en-scene. The royal family members are dressed in formal and regal attire, with Henry wearing a traditional military uniform. On the other hand, Alex is dressed in a simple black suit, which contrasts with the grandeur of the setting, highlighting his outsider status. However, the producer does not so very carefully choose the colors for the character to wear, as in this scene, some man can be seen wearing red - the same color as Prince Phillip, who's the groom. And to Brides.com "Tradition dictates guests avoid wearing red out of fear that it could take attention away from the happy couple,” because “Visually, it's quite bold. In a photo, your eye is immediately drawn to the color, especially if it's next to neutrals like white, black, gray, or beige.” which, unfortunate, exactly the case here.
The binary opposite really works well in the opening. For example, in this scene, they decided to have a close-up of the two women from different countries. On the left hand, the woman belongs to the British Royal and tends to have a calm feeling with elegant style. However, in Nora's case, she's wearing a black dress for a wedding and red nail polish. which can not be seen on any other female guest at the wedding - suggesting that America is very open on those occasions or, just to highlight her out of the background characters. To add on, when there is a problem, Nora bends herself down and is clearly shown a sign of uncertainty - but all the woman ever did was give Prince Phillip a look and still stand up straight. Therefore it is safe to say that by only 2 minutes, the opening scene has implied that the difference of culture between two countries is huge.
CAMERA MOVEMENT
The narrative structure of the opening scene is also noteworthy for its gradual shift in focus from the broader context to the main characters. The scene begins with a series of establishing shots that gradually transition to medium close-ups of Alex and Henry, hinting at the central romance that will unfold. The use of lighting is also notable in the scene. The dimly lit cathedral creates a sense of intimacy, emphasizing the emotional significance of the wedding. The bright, warm tones of the lighting also add to the romantic atmosphere of the scene, foreshadowing the romantic relationship that will develop between Alex and Henry.
The film's witty and charming dialogue, coupled with the endearing chemistry between the lead characters, makes it an engaging and enjoyable watch. The movie's star - Nicholas Galitzine, admitted that the ‘Incredible’ script drew him to ‘Red, White & Royal Blue’.
The scene cuts to the wedding of Prince Phillip, Henry’s older brother and the heir to the throne, at Westminster Abbey. The camera follows Alex, who is attending the wedding as the son of the American president, as he walks through the crowd of guests and media. The camera uses close-ups and medium shots to show Alex’s expressions and reactions, as well as the faces of the people around him. The scene also uses diegetic sound, such as the chatter of the guests, the music of the orchestra, and the flash of the cameras, to create a sense of realism and immersion. The scene portrays Alex as an outsider, a foreigner, and a rebel, who does not fit in with the royal protocol and etiquette.
CONCLUSION
The film adaptation of Casey McQuiston's novel, "Red, White & Royal Blue" is a romantic-comedy that takes a deeper dive into themes of identity, intimacy, and the fleeting nature of human connections. The film explores the profound impact of first love, the uncertainties and hesitations that come with it, and the bittersweet taste of missed opportunities. It draws its audience in with its stunning cinematography, thought-provoking dialogue, and nuanced performances. The opening sequence sets the tone for a film that will transport viewers to a world where love and self-discovery are intertwined, leaving an indelible imprint on their hearts. Some may find this adaptation to be rather quiet, but it is truly a gem for the romance industry, providing a captivating narrative that will leave a lasting impression.
RESOURCES
https://nofilmschool.com/romantic-comedy-genre-definition-examples
https://www.brides.com/wear-red-wedding-6742620#:~:text=%22Tradition%20dictates%20guests%20avoid%20wearing,%2C%20gray%2C%20or%20beige.%E2%80%9D
https://logos-world.net/amazon-prime-video-logo/
https://www.alefbet.com/blogs/blog/silver-color-what-does-it-mean-symbolically#:~:text=Silver%20is%20a%20refined%20and,sophistication%2C%20elegance%2C%20and%20glamor.
https://www.rollingstone.com/tv-movies/tv-movie-reviews/red-white-and-royal-blue-review-prime-video-gay-romance-1234804922/
https://www.housebeautiful.com/lifestyle/entertainment/a44773690/red-white-and-royal-blue-filming-locations-sets/
https://fredericmagazine.com/2023/08/red-white-royal-blue-set-design/#:~:text=Since%20filming%20at%20the%20actual,locations%20and%20soundstages%20throughout%20England.
https://www.dafont.com/forum/read/460765/font-on-red-white-royal-blue-cover
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