Analysis of Opening Sequence to A Room For Romeo Brass

Title: A Room For Romeo Brass
Director: Shane Meadows 


How characters are represented and established

As soon as the opening sequence starts we are introduced to the main characters. We can already see that there is one weak one and one stronger one. This represents a dominant person between the two of them but they still are good friends. We do not get told anything about them but we can tell that from their accent what social class they are. When they are in the chip shop this really shows us what their relationship is like with each other. They seem to bicker quite a lot. We then meet Romeo's family. As we can see he doesn't have a father figure around, this is a typical convention of social realism films and just like the other two films I have analysised, neither did they. After meeting Romeo's family we then are introduced to the other boys family. Their family seems very different, they seem much calmer but when we get introduced to more of him we then realise he is a short tempered man and acts like a child when the boys want their ball back, and we can see that the other boy has a father figure unlike Romeo.

Enigma codes
From the opening sequence some of the enigma codes raised are;
-what are they doing in the middle of a field?
-why do Romeo and the other boy always bicker?
-if Romeo knows he's going to get into trouble, why did he eat the chips?

Editing techniques and their effects and camera techniques
There are mostly quick, sharp cuts to each different scenes. The editing techniques are more representative of natural life and this is shown by the continuity editing. The 180 degree rule has been used when they are in the chip shop. It shows the chip shop owner and then the boys when they are having their conversation, this shows each characters expression and allows the audience to get the full view of each character.

There is an establishing shot of the location that they are in. This gives the audience a feel of where they are and where they are heading to. There are lots of close-ups of the two characters. This shows the audience the type of relationship they have and that they are going to be the two main characters in the film. This is also done by having the camera following every where they go which then makes the audience focus on them and makes their minds stick to them. 

When the younger boys go to get their ball back they camera movement is almost like hand held which makes the audience feel  like they are part of the situation. There is a low angle shot of Romeo looking down on the other boy. This basically shows the audience that Romeo seems to have more power of his friend. 

 

Sound

When the opening sequence starts we hear a diegetic sound of birds chirping. This makes the audience realise what sort of environment they are in. After the scene is set and we've met the characters the non-diegetic music starts. The music is of the era that they are in (this is a typical convention). It is a happy and upbeat  piece which sets the mood. When the music has started playing it carries on even when the dialogue starts but it just fades and then becomes louder when the dialogue is stopped. The music makes the film seem like it is going to carry on with the happy atmosphere. The music eventually fades out when we are introduced to his house, this creates a more serious mood and when his mum gets angry with him the music becomes sad which then makes the audience feel sympathy for him even thought he was in the wrong!

Mise-en-scene

The location of the opening sequence shows the audience what era that they are in. We are introduced to a few locations in the opening sequence, such us; a field, the local shops, road to their houses and then their actual houses. This gives the audience a view of the type of area that they are living in. It looks like a pretty run down area which is the same in the other two opening sequences. The costumes can also show the era that they are in and what class they are. From their clothes it looks like they are working class but the higher part as they are not scruffy. Again, just like the other two opening sequences, the light is natural light. This shows that there's nothing fancy going on.

Titles

In the opening sequence of this film the titles do not actually finish until 5 minutes 20 seconds. Just like the other two, the font is white on a black background. This makes the names that are appearing stand out and makes the audience take notice of who it is. Each time a different set of titles come on they fade out or appear in a different way, this fits in with the music that is played in the background. The title of the film comes in halfway through the opening sequence which is typical for a social realism film. The titles cut out the scene and appear on a black background then go back into a different scene.  

Target Audience
I think the target audience for this film is 15-40 year olds. They language isn't appropriate for younger children but I think this is the sort of film where it can go up to any age. I think it would be for male and females and all ethnicities. I think it would also be for working/middle class people as they normally can relate to social realism things.

Here is the opening sequence