Maid in Manhattan Opening Title Sequence (ends approx 6:00 mins)

Maid in Manhattan is a 2002, American, Romantic Comedy film directed by Wayne Wang and distributed by Columbia Pictures. At the beginning of the title sequence the music played is quite upbeat and we see the Statue of Liberty which suggests to the viewer that the film is set in New York. The camera tracks across the grand and beautiful city of New York, whilst the main characters names are being displayed. However, we then see a different aspect to this city; whilst seeing this title 'Maid In Manhattan' is then shown. The 'In' is in italics and this signifies to the reader that this maid maybe does not belong in Manhattan and that she is only there for a specific purpose (to work) and this is supported by the fact that the viewer sees a somewhat deprived, rough and noisy area in New York, which is known as 'The Bronx'. It is suggested to the viewer that it is quite an urban setting because we see graffiti on the walls of the streets and on the front of shops, there is a fruit and vegetable stall and also there is trainers hanging on a (horizontal) rope through the street. In the next scene we see the camera tracking up to what looks like a flat or apartment, after this we then meet the main character, Jennifer Lopez. Everything in her apartment seems so crammed together and it suggests to the viewer that she is well-off; we also see a boy there which appears to be her son (Ty). We learn that she is in a rush to take her soon to school. From Jennifer Lopez' characters dressing it suggest that she is not really a fashionable woman as her clothes appear quite old and they do not seem to match. Before they get on the bus we see Marisa and her son rushing up the stairs which implies that her son is running late for school, and also herself for work. In the next scene we see Marisa paying for her bus journey and after she pays some coins she looks into her bag for more money but then she takes some coins from her son's hand. From this it suggests to the viewer that Marisa Ventura (Jennifer Lopez' character) is a working class mum living in a deprived area in New York. After they get on the bus the music changes to an upbeat, Spanish, sexy and romantic sort of music, which suggests to the viewer the genre of the film. In the scene where Marisa takes her son to school it appears to the viewer that it is one of her regular day to day activities. In the next few scenes after we see Marisa arriving at work which connotes to the audience that she is the maid that works in Manhattan. We see her arriving outside this ritzy hotel which lets the viewer know she works there. Before she enters this hotel, one the workers says to Marisa "Just made it Marisa" and she replies "I always do" which suggests to the reader that she always just makes it in time for work.

Therefore, from this opening title sequence it suggests to the viewer that it is a Rom-Com through various codes and conventions, for example the music that is used, by the way it is set in a Manhattan, New York and New York is a big city. Also, by the fact that the main character in the film is working class and status is a main theme in Rom-Coms.