Conventions of opening sequences - Social Realism #3

Film title: Kidulthood
Genre: Social Realism
Director: Menhaj Huda
Release date: 2006
Part 1 clip:

1) Sound:

The sound throughout the opening sequence is fast paced and jumpy to match with the fast paced editing, action and camera movements. It makes the audience very aware of what is going on and in a way keeps them firmly on the edge of their seats waiting to see what is going to happen. The music is quite intense which sets the scene for the film and foreshadows the future of the film. The music immediately signifies danger and fear which is unusual for a social realism film especially if we compare it with Happy-Go-Lucky. The music is relevant to the date in which the film was made 2006. The genre and beat of the music is popular especially in inner city areas where this genre speaks loudest to most. The music plays over the characters talking which makes the opening seem even more intense. The music fades out when the most important parts arrive of the film such as the bullying of the young shy girl. After the fighting scene the music changes. It becomes more tense and seems to make you wonder what will happen next?

2) Mise-en-scene:

The location for this scene is in a school. We can tell this because all of the children are wearing school uniform and are standing on a playground waiting to go inside. This shows how important the costume for this film is. Much of the costume is worn scruffily and inappropriately which shows teens rebelling in the school and the fact no one is trying to solve this problem tells us as the viewer that the school children have some sort of power and intimidation over the teachers and elders.

We also know this is a school as we later on go inside a classroom to view the bullying scene.

The location for this film is somewhat intimidating as a inner city school can be. The film is set in London which we can tell by the strong accents the characters hold.

Props are somewhat important in this film. The young guy holding the games console shows us what it is like in a inner city school. It shows him being bullied and having it taken off him which helps the audience understand and predict the future for this film. Also the second use of technology which is the mobile phone really shows how bullying is carried out with youths and makes the audience aware of the situation.

3) Colour, font and positioning of titles:

The main film title arrives pretty quickly compared to other social realism films I have analysed. The font is bold and white with a serif font type. The font itself seems sharp and intimidating - more like a horror film than social realism. The black background really accentuates the text making it clearer and brighter drawing your attention towards is.

It fades into the main scene sharply which takes us back and scares us slightly. The music over the main film title also makes us feel intimidated and aware of what may happen later in the film.

It is fair to say the opening titles are not like a conventional social realism films titles.

4) Enigma codes:

Many enigma codes become clear in the opening of this film. Here are a few:

1. What kind of party is the boy holding? Will we see it later in the film?
2. What is going on between the boy and girl, they always make eye contact?
3. What did they boy hide in the yellow sand box?
4. The drill keeps appearing in the opening, what is the boy making? Is it important?
5. Why do they bully the shy girl, is it just because she is a virgin? or because she is an easy target?
6. Are all inner city schools like this?

5) Cinematography:

Many shot types are used in this fast paced opening.

 Long shots of the children who play an important part in the film are shown to introduce you to them and to let you know a bit more about what they're like.

A close up of an unrealated shot is effective in the way it stays in your mind and raises enigma codes as to why it is important and why its happening.

A shot reverse shot here allows the auience to know that there is something going on or something has happened between two characters.

Here we see a shot which actually goes against the rules of the 180 degree shot. The camera swaps sides of the characters along with the action taking place. It is actually really effective. It disorientates the audience which makes you feel like you are possibly part of the fight and helps you to feel how the characters are feeling.

This point of view shot makes you feel fear fr the young girl being bullied and allows you to feel the situation from her point of view.

This high angled shot is effective in the way it shows power and domination over one character. It makes them look weak and defenceless against the bully.

Another point of view shot but handled in a very different way. This shot appears to be seeing exactly what she is seeing but the camera is clearly hand held which makes it very conventional of a social realism film.

6) Editing techniques and effects:

The editing techniques in this video are very important for the audience to keep up with the fact paced movement and action.

 Right at the beginning of the film we see a slow motion shot for a fast peice of action. This gives the effect that time is slowed down so the viewer can see what is going on. This happens throughout the opening sequence when you are introduced to the characters.

Between character shots the time is sped up until you get to a shot of the main people. It shows that they are the most important and you need to focus your mind on them.

The match on action shot is edited together to give an effect of continuous time.

7) Character representation and establishing:

We meet each important character by a medium long shot of them with two or three lines of speech. Between meeting the characters we see faced paced action of normal school things such as football. We do not learn much about each character first off but just what kind of person they are at school. No meantion exclusivly of names or who they are and how they are important they are but we can guess by their general ways and accent and by what they talk about in each shot.

8) Target audience:

For this social realism film I would say this target audience is again 15+. I say this because a lot of people 15 and older can in some way relate to this story wether it by the news or in real life. A lot of cultrural and social aspects are brought up in this film that younger viewers may not understand. Many shots and some speech may seem offensive to some younger viewers and many will not like the ammount of swearing shown in the opening.