Analysing Opening Sequences and Setting - 'La La Land'

The second opening scene that focuses on establishing setting that I will be looking at is from Damien Chazelle's 'La La Land'.

The film opens with a scene of cars stuck in traffic, a usually mundane experience which people claim to be the most negative feature of LA, but with the sunny weather and smiling faces it seems like a joyful experience which shows the audience that Los Angeles is a cheerful place, where dreams are possible (one of the main themes of the film).

A woman enthusiastically exits her car and starts singing an upbeat-sounding song in the middle of the motorway which further emphasises the joyful potential of Los Angeles. 

She then starts dancing showing that LA is a place of creative freedom, free of judgement. Instantly, the other people in the cars start to get out of their cars to join in the singing of an upbeat song, encouraging the audience to understand that this is a place where people can fulfill their dreams. 

Everyone looks extremely happy, setting up audience expectations for the main characters that they can achieve their creative dreams here.