2. Conventions…
I will be analysing the conventions of mob
gangster films as that is what I wish to create
my opening on.
The most apparent convention of a mob
gangster film is the props, guns, expensive
cars. This displays their wealth as a gangster
and portrays them as the antagonist due to
the superiority they show towards less
wealthy characters.
3. Mise en Scene…
Mise en scene is simply a group of elements
which the director chooses to put on the film,
including, lighting, props, makeup,
characters, costume, setting, colour.
Wealth is furthermore shown in mob
gangster films through mise en scene,
costume in particular. Formal outfits, mainly
suits are worn to show superiority, wealth
and dominance.
4. The Godfather…
First, you see a title of the
production company,
‘Paramount’, being a very
well known company allows
the audience to recognize
that the film will be good
quality.
Followed by the first title is a
second, informing the
audience on the name of the
film. It is apparent to the
audience already that the main
character will be dominant,
due to the ‘puppet’ controlling
the ‘father’.
We are now first introduced to
the character after a black
screen with non-diegetic
synchronous sound. It is a
close up, with low level lighting
creating an intense and eerie
mood, the characters stern look
also creating this.
The same character is shown as
the camera tracks out/zooms out,
not revealing a location as the
lighting is still low level, still
creating an intense and eerie feel.
As the camera continues to track/zoom out, a second
character is revealed as an over the shoulder shot.
Making the first character now look inferior. The
location is still not clearly apparent and the lighting is
still very dark, reflecting the personalities of the
5. Pulp Fiction…
The first scene you see is a two shot in a casual
setting with the characters looking relaxed around
each other. This goes against what you would expect
too see in a gangster film as the lighting is natural and
it doesn’t make the characters feel uneasy/on edge.
There is no diegetic noise in the background, only
dialogue from the two characters.
We are then introduced to the third
character as the waitress, the
ambient noise in the background
continues and the mood hasn’t
changed.
We then see a mid shot
of one of the original
characters with the
diegetic synchronous
sound of the coffee
being poured.
6. Pulp Fiction continued…
We are then cut back to the
scene of the two original
characters, however the
women’s body language has
changed, coming across as she
is tired/distressed.
We then see another mid shot of the
female character with the male
dialogue in the background.
However the female character is
quiet and not speaking, showing a
traditional representation of men as
dominant.
We are the cut to a over
the shoulder, mid shot of
the male character, the
mood still going against
what you would expect
to see in a gangster film.
7. Goodfellas…
We first see a mid shot of the back
of a car, with low level lighting and
the diegetic sound of the car
speeding. This creates a
mysterious mood.
The previous shot then tracks
sideways, creating a point of
view shot.
We then see our first title,
setting the scene in New York.
New York is a common place
where gangsters are found.
The title cuts back to the car, but
this time inside where we are
introduced to the characters, who
are wearing suits, which is a
We then cut to an establishing shot
of the characters stood in low level
lighting, in a red spotlight. This
further more creates intensity due to
the lighting as red is usually
associated with blood/death.
The intensity begins to risen as the
character wakes up the other
character due to a diegetic thump.
All the characters are unaware of
what it might be making the
8. Conclusion…
From analysing openings from mob gangster films it
has given me an insight of what costume and
lighting is effective on setting the scene.
For example the low level lighting in the opening of
Godfather and the use of only dialogue creates an
intense and intreging mood for the audience,
drawing them in.
Although Pulp Fiction goes against what you would
expect to see in a gangster opening, it can also be
very effective, as the audience are waiting for
something to happen.
