1. Children of Men (2006)
The openingscene of thisfilmbeginsshowingthe universal pictureslogowithnosoundinthe
backgroundthisshowsthatthe directormayhad done thisfora reasonand thatthiswas done for
effectsothat the nextscene would have more of animpacton the audience watchingit,whichisof
the newsbeingplayedonthe TV with the deathof DiegoRicardoshowingacrowdedbunchof
people huddledaroundaTV in the cafe. Thisconnotesthat
because Universal isthe maininstitution companyforChildrenof
Men theywouldthereforehave more moneytoproduce the film
includingspecialeffectswhichisshownlateroninthe clipwith
the explosioninthe cafe.Aftershowingthe Universal pictures. It
thenfollowsonwithamore independentcompanyhoweverithas
lesstime onthe screencomparedto Universal Picturesthis
connotesthatChildrenof Menare mainly supportedbyUniversal pictures.
The genre of the openinggivescluestoitbeingaSi-fi asitgivesthe yearon the newsof 2027
showingthe future being dreadful.Anotherclue thatdenotesthatisitin the future isthe TV that
the people inthe café are watchingoff of isn’tattachedtoany wires. Thisconnotesthatalthough
theyhave all of the newtechnologiesthe interior of the café hasn’tcaughtup withthe currenttime
periodasall of the current thingstheyhave lookverydated.
The lightingof thisisverylowkeyconnote the subjectmatter
of Crime usedinthe film itinitiallystartswith the deathof
DiegoRicardo as he waskilledforspittinginafansface
because he wasbeingattackedbythe crowddue to beingthe
youngestchildinthe world. Nearthe endof the openingof the
filmthere isanexplosioninthe café withaladywalkingout
holdingherarmand screamingwithnobodyelse exitingthe
café.
The use of medialanguage inthisclipisexploredthroughthe use of lighting,camerawork,editing,
soundand mise-en-scene.The use of low keylightingcreatesaveryverisimilitudeeffectuponthe
café and Londonenablingaveryrealisticeffectwithnobright lightingwithinit.Thisconnotesthe
drearinessof the future there still remainsadull atmosphere evenwhenthere isanexplosioninthe
café as all you can see isthe café beingswallowedinsmoke. The use of the camerafollowsthe man
throughoutthe clipthishighlightshis differentcharacteras everybodyelse isupsetwatchingthe
newswiththe deathof the child.However, he doesn’tremaininthe café for verylong, butinstead
walksoutputtingsome liquorintohiscoffee. The locationhasbeencreatedbyincludingLondon
busesinthe streetshighlightingthatitissetin
Londonalongwithbillboardhoweverthere are
bikeswithseatsatthe back thisconnotesthat
Londondoesn’thave asmuch moneyastheyused
to have alsothe streetslookreallydirtyandnot
lookedafteralsoimplyingagainthatLondon
doesn’thave alot of money. The firstsoundof the
openingscene isthe diegeticradioinformingthe
people inthe café the deathof the DiegoRicardo,which isthe mainsoundwe hearthroughoutthe
majorityof the clip. Thisconnotesthatthe people of the future wasunexpectedof the deathof
DiegoRicardoas theyhad all stoppedwhattheywere doingbefore tobe huddledaroundthe TV.
Anotherdiegeticsoundinthe openingscene thathasgreatsignificance isthe whentherewasan
2. explosioninthe café thisnoise isveryunexpectedasan audience memberitmade myself jump
because the manthe camerawas followingactedasif it wasa normal day.
The openingscene showsanegative representaiontowardsthe future.Thisiscreatedwiththe
explosioninthe shop,andthe youngestchildinthe world
gettingkilled.The locationinwhichitissetin,London,isvery
dull everybodyseemstobe lookingatthere life asactingasif
it isa drag withno excitementorhappinessinit.Inthe
openingscene the camerafollowsthe manintothe street
puttingalcohol intohiscoffee thisisoftenvieweduponas
somebodywhohasa drinkingproblem/habbit. He isdressed
indark rags of clothingrepresentingthatinthe future they
don’thave as much moneytoleada good healthylifestyle.
I thinkthe type of audience thatwouldwatchthisfilmis
mainlymenfromthe age of 15+ as there is a lotof action
inthe beginningscene withthe use of explosions anda
graphic image of a ladyscreamingoutof the café
holdingontoherblownoff armwhich,alsogivesme the
impressionthatitissuitable towatchforthis age group.
The titlesinthisopeningclip are ina boldwhite fontbeingaccentuatedwiththe blackbackground
behindit.Thismovie couldconnotesthatitwasonce before
indarknessbuta signof lightcouldput the worldina
differentsituationcreatingacontrast.At the endingof the
openingscene the title of the movie isrepresentedwhichis
veryuncommonforthe openingscenesof movies.Maybe the
filmmakershaddone itin thiswayto create a biggeraffectof
the movie tittle ratherthangivingall of the informationatthe
beginning.
The valuesandideologiesthisopeningscene givesme isthatthe future isn’tverybrightandisoften
filledwithlotsof disruptionwithyourdailylifeshownwiththe deathof the childandthe explosion
inthe café.I thinkthe filmmakershave done thisbecause thiswouldn’thappeninyournormal day
and wantsit to be as if you are livingina differentpeiodof time withlessopportnitiesabout.
Studyingthisfilmopeningwillhelpme toproduce myownfilmopeningasitwill allow me to
question everythingIdoand alwayslinkingitbacktowhat effectithasoff of the audience. For
example likethe filmtitle beingatthe endof the openingof the film, itallowedittostandoutmore.
