Analysis of opening sequence of Bullet Boy.

Title: Bullet Boy
Directed by: Saul Dibb

How the characters are represented and established

From the opening sequence we presume that the main character is the boy that is being let out of prison. Straight away we can see that he is independent and can look after himself. When he sees his younger brother and friend there when he comes out he is surprised and almost acts like he doesn't need anyone as he has been alone and relied on himself in prison. His friend makes this clear that he doesn't really need anyone when he says to the younger brother "do you think he wants to see you?" and when the main character comes out of prison he says "what are you doing here..." this implies that he doesn't need anyone even though he is going to collect him. The younger brother is represented in a way that he looks up to his older brother, this is done by him being really desperate to see him and pleased when he leaves prison. His friend is represented in a way that wants to be there for him and misses him but when they meet they greet in a way that they would in an everyday situation. Straight away we are seeing that they don't want to change their reputation and we are shown what sort of reputation that they have, firstly by the main character being in prison and secondly from their language. Nearer the end of the opening sequence we meet his mother. It is made out that he doesn't have a father. This is a typical convention of a social realist film for the main character not to have a father figure. From the opening sequence we are already introduced to the main characters and know a little bit about their background, this is another  typical convention for social realism.

Enigma Codes
Some enigma codes raised from the opening sequence are;
- what has the main character been in prison for?
- is the girl that he is talking about to his younger brother his girlfriend?
- how long has he actually been in prison for?
- did his friend/brother come to visit him when he was in prison? if not then why?
- does he have a father figure?

Editing techniques and their effects and camera techniques.
There are some sharp cuts, for example, when the boy picks up his bags to leave prison it quickly cuts to an eyeline view of his friend driving. This sets up an enigma code as the audience questions who is driving the car?

There are also sharp, quick cuts when we are introduced to the friend and when he hears someone in his boot. This creates a ongoing energy to keep the audience wondering who is in the boot. The basic cuts keeps it simple and focuses on the story. There is also a 180 degree rule used when him and his friend meet. This gives effect of being able to see both of their emotions when they greet each other, they are both happy to see each other.
In the opening sequence there a lots of long shots. This gives the audience the full view of the setting and shows exactly what is going on in the shot.

In conversations there are a lot of close-ups of the characters faces. This allows the audience to see the full emotions. When him and his brother are having a conversation you get the impression that the main character isn't interested about his brother and from this the younger brother seems like he just wants some attention. The close-ups helps show this to the audience as they can get a clear view of their emotions and how they are feeling.

Sound

When the opening sequence starts there is non-diegetic music in the background that comes in from the titles which gets slower and quieter when we meet the main character and when the dialogue starts. The music is a soft piano sound, this makes the atmosphere emotional as he is finally getting out of prison. The music then becomes louder again when the other character is driving in his car, this builds up the suspicion of who is in the car and where they are going, and then it slowly fades out when we meet the younger brother. The non-diegetic music is always replayed when there is little dialogue which creates suspense of what is going to happen but when there is dialogue the music is either quietened or stopped, this helps emphasize what the characters are saying and the importance of it. There are diegetic sounds of a cow moo-ing, birds and cars around them, showing that they in the middle of no-where and a real life situation. When they are driving through the city the music is then restarted, this emphasizes the fact that they live in the inner city which is a typical convention of a social realism film as the inner cities are stereotyped for where all the violence, crime and drug use happens.  

Iconography

From the opening sequence straight away we are introduced to crime. This gives the audience the impression that the film is going to be based around crime. The main character in this film is what people typically stereotype as the people that are most likely to be involved with crime. Also it is set in a run down inner city, their family doesn't seem like they have much money and the fact that he doesn't have a father figure. These are all typical conventions of a social realist film. 

Mise-en-scene

The location as I have said before is set in an inner run down part of a city in a working class area which is typical for a social realism. This makes it seem like the only thing they have to keep themselves occupied is getting involved with crime and to make some money for themselves. The costumes are pretty important from the opening sequence, when we first meet the main character he is wearing a tracksuit and when we meet all the boys who they have an argument, they are all wearing typical 'chav' clothes. This represents the sort of area he comes from and what his peers around him wear. This is a stereotypical type of clothing that people with less money wear. As it is a social realism real the lighting is natural which keeps it looking like a natural environment.

Titles

In the opening sequence the titles are being run over the shot (most social realism films do this) with each of them fading out. The font is white over a black background which makes them contrast well. When there is a shot of the little boy he shines his torch light into the camera which then turns the screen from being black to white. White is a connotation of innocence and the fact that when 'Bullet Boy' appears it is black writing against a white background, this could mean that however much he wants to be innocent and away from crime he can't because of the area and people around him, this then fades out into the opening shot of the boy in prison. Straight away the audience can see what the film is going to be about. 

Target Audience

I think the target audience for this film is 15-30 as there is crime involved and bad language. I think it is aimed at males because there seem to be mainly male characters involved and males seem to like watching crime and interested in it and females don't really tend to enjoy films about crime. I think it is aimed at all ethnicities but probably more black people as they are dominant in this film.

Here is the opening sequence to Bullet Boy.