The Other Guys opening scene

The Other Guys opening scene 

The scene opens with a birds eye view of the setting which most of the audience can tell is New York City. It then cuts into a car chase between the police and criminals which is one of the stereotypes in an action film. One of the police officers is Dwayne Johnson who is a well known actor and has been in many different genres of film. There is then gun shots fired from the other police officer which smash the back window of the criminals car. The use of guns is another stereotype featured in an action film. A few seconds later Dwayne Johnson jumps from the criminals car back onto his original car which is known as a stunt another stereotype in an action film. At the end of the film an explosion is caused be the police officers car crashing through the criminals car and straight into a building which is another stereotype featured in an action film. Mise-en-scene is used throughout the scene as the setting is in New York City, props used are guns, body armour and the cars and the clothing used is police uniform. From the opening scene we find out that the film is based on two police officers who live and work in New York. 

Rules of continuity editing

Shot reverse shot 

Shot reverse shot is when two shots are put together to make them look like the characters are having a conversation or looking at someone. One person is  filmed on the right and the other on the left as this makes it look they are talking to each other and no themselves.There are usually three cameras used to film. 

180 rule 

The 180 rule is the angle between two consecutive shots.  This shot maintains the relationship between people and objects. Its important that you don't cross the line of vision as the audience watching may get confused as it could look like the character is talking to themselves. 

Establishing shot 

An establishing shot shows the relationship between the people and objects in the scene as this is important as it shows the audience when and where it will be set. 

cross cutting 

Cross cutting is when editing is used between shots which occur in different locations at the same time. 

re establishing shot 

A re-establishing shot is when a shit returns to the location after a series of close ups 

Sicario opening scene

Sicario opening scene 

At the beginning of the film there is slow tense music playing in the background ( non-diegetic) which makes the audience wonder what is going to happen next. There is then a close up of the main character Kate which shows her emotions that are nervous, scared and worried. After there is a medium shot of the rest of the crew in the truck which shows that they are police officers. Afterwards a long shot is shown of a house which looks like its in the middle of the desert. At this point the audience is properly wondering what are the armed police doing here. 

The next scene is a long shot of the living room of the house which looks empty and not very clean. All of a sudden the truck crashes into the wall which is one of the conventions of a action film. Then all the police officers kick down the door armed with guns and body armor which is another conventions to be expected to be in a action film. About 30 seconds later there is a close up of one of the people that Kate shot as he was armed with a gun which shows his top covered in blood and he is still got the gun in his arms. There is then a close up of a hole in the wall which has a something mysterious inside. At this point the audience are wondering what it is and want to find out as soon as possible. The three officers begin to pull the wall apart which the audience get excited to see what is behind it. After there is a close up of two dead bodies with plastic bags over their heads which causes mystery and suspicion to the audience as they weren't expecting this. 

From the opening scene we found out that the story is going to be based around the bodies found in the walls of the house. We don't find out much about the characters accept that they are the FBI. Mise-en-scene is used throughout the scene as the house is used as the main setting, FBI uniform is used for the costumes, guns and armor are used for props. The use of editing is slow at the beginning but when in the house the editing speeds up to create excitement for the audience.  

  

Preliminary Task

Romantic comedy target audience profile

Romantic comedy target audience profile 

Romantic comedy films are targeted mostly at women aged 13- 29 as this is the time when they can relate to what is happening during the film such as wanting to find your perfect partner. Women are attracted to these films as they enjoy the story line that leads to a happy ending.  Also they enjoy the realistic story lines as it makes them think that this could happen to them or it has happened to them in the past. In romantic comedies there are many obstacles that the characters have to face such as going through a divorce or trying to find 'the one'.  They also enjoy this genre of film as the type of comedy featured in the film lets them have a break from the serious main story and allows them to enjoy the film without losing concentration. Occasionally young couples between 15-19 may go to see a romantic comedy as the want the perfect life together and want a happy ending just like the film. Also they want to try to relate to certain moments throughout the film.  

Conventions of a romantic comedy

Conventions of a romantic comedy  

• Always a happy ending
• Never clear to the audience on what the female lead sees in the wrong guy
• Male lead has a best friend who is a lovable slob
• In teen romantic films the jock is considered a cruel self-absorbed idiot
• The dad is harried and befuddled
• Pushy but lovable mother
• The fat, mouthy but supportive friend who never has a date
• The two lovers cook together, cuddle on the couch or taking romantic walks
• Misfortune, financial reverses, car crashes and sudden divorces brings lovers together
• Gay neighbour or co-worker who knows what you’re going through
• It’s hard to find a good man or woman
• Dancing can save a marriage or a relationship
• The dead or the near- dead make excellent partners
• The girl never ends up with the man she was originally supposed to
• Teen romantic comedies contain a rich white kid who is exposed to vibrant inner-city culture

Action films target audience profile

Action films target audience profile 

In action films the target audience is men of the ages of 15-29. This is because this group can relate to different situations in the film then females. Such as a lot of cars are featured which they could relate to if they are buying their first car or thinking about buying a new one based on the film. Also the amount of action in the film keeps them interested whereas females will lose interest after a while. Another thing they can relate to is starting a relationship as most people are in a serious relationship around 15-29. So they may look up to a certain character as they are going through the same experience as them. Every action film contains mostly muscular men so the audience will think that they want to look like like them. Normally men will go to see a action film with other men as they get excited over the thrill and amount of action. Another thing the audience could relate to is they could be getting their own place or just finishing school or university and this could feature in some part of an action film so not all the film is car chases and explosions as they want the audience to feel like they can relate.

Snitch opening scene analysis

Snitch opening scene analysis

The film starts with non- diegetic music which sets a dramatic feel to the film.   The first scene shows  a close up of Jason who is one of the main characters talking to his friend on the laptop about a delivery. Further on into this conversation there is another close up of Jason which shows that he is felling nervous and worried about getting caught by police. The next scene starts with a long shot of the city which tells the audience that this is where the scene is going to be based. There is then a medium shot of John who is another main character which shows general information and delivering facts. Mise en scene is used throughout the opening such as the three settings are Jason's house,John's office and around the area where Jason lives. There is a high angle shot of John's office which shows the type of place he works in.

During the next scene there is another close up of Jason when he is opening the box that got delivered to his house. This close up shows that he is scared and worried as he is sweating. Dramatic music begins to play quietly in the background which is non- diegetic as the characters can't hear it. The music makes the audience wonder if Jason is going to get caught or if he is going to get away with it. Then the music begins to get louder as there are police knocking down the front door but Jason hears and climbs out of his window. Mise en scene is used again as there are under cover police cars and guns being used as props. Around six cars are going after Jason but he is a fast runner so he nearly gets away until some of the car corner him and gets arrested. From the opening scene we find out that the film may be about Jason getting sent to prison and John will have to come along and save his son. We find out that John is a hard working business man who will do anything to stop his son from going to prison and Jason is a young adult who isn't normally involved with drugs so he gets scared and worried when the police find him.

Conventions of action films

Conventions of action films 

• At least two of the men don't want to go on the assignment 
• The leader will tell his men they are not needed but the men will never leave 
• The men are muscular 
• Someone who isn't a muscular person employs a lot of people who are
• The villains are either Russian, eastern European or Arabs
• The women tend to be crusading journalist, medical staff, hapless rebels or victims of miscast 
• Includes emergency surgery, a fall from a something high up, torture and rappelling.
• The men rappel down high buildings, mountains and onto  ship 
• The principal should have lots of scars with different stories    
• The hero should have lost his soul at some point 
• A woman will get punched in the face 
• A arrow or bullet will hit a villain in slow motion
• Someone will get a sharp blade go through them from behind 
• The hero should constantly run up to people and beat them up
• Ninjas should fly through the air  

Conventions of horror films

Conventions of horror films 

• Never answer the phone 
• Don't accept a ride from strangers 
• Small children are evil
• Never have any medical operation
• Small children talk to invisible playmates who are evil
• Teens are usually spoiled brats who deserve to die 
• Estate agents can never be trusted 
• Work best in rural settings 
• Never purchase a dirty cheap house or apartment 
• Living dead or the living undead zip past an open door or window but nobody sees them 
• Never go into a dark room alone
• Rabbis rarely appear
• Require basements 
• Bad idea to respond to a personal ad
• Bad idea to get in a elevator 
• Bad idea to sleep in horror films 
• Priests are generally well meaning 
• Nuns are to be avoided 

Horror films target audience profile

Horror films target audience profile 

• Target Audience is young people, slightly more male than female, aged 15 to 29
• Males are more likely to enjoy horror films as the stereotypical killer in horror films is a male so they may feel like they could relate. Also males enjoy more things containing violence as they may seek thrill out of compared to females.
• Horror films are targeted at a young audience as they are at the key stages of developing themselves and are learning about the world. Younger audiences get more of a thrill and enjoy horror films more than the older generation. Also the older audience have negative things to say about horror films compared to the young audience who enjoy them.
• Normally there is a group of friends who go to see a horror films as the story line is usually based on a group of friends so they will be able to relate. Also couples are one of the other groups of people to see a horror film as the man may feel like if he ever got in that situation he will be able to save his girlfriend  from getting killed 

Batman: the dark knight opening scene analysis

Batman: The Dark Knight opening scene analysis 

The scene starts of with a high angle shot of one of the robbers loading up a weapon. A high angle shot is used which shows some of the setting. There is then a long shot of three of the robbers going down a zip wire from a tall building. This makes the audience feel tense and makes them think are they going to live or is the wire going to snap with three people on it at once. A while later there is a close up of two of the robbers with masks on which makes the audience wonder what they look like and have they been in any previous Batman films. Another close up is shown when one of the bank workers is talking to one of the robbers who is the joker but the audience doesn't know it's the joker unless you know his voice and then he removes his mask which reveals his face covered in face paint. Mise en scene is used during this opening scene including props such as the guns and face masks. Also the main scene is the bank and makeup is used for the joker. From the opening scene you don't find anything out about the story but the audience knows that the joker is going to play a big part in the film.