Essay on the opening of Hot Fuzz.

1. Emma Mc Conologue
Hot Fuzz – Media Essay
Cinematography:
Lots of cinematographyisusedinHot Fuzz;the firstexample of thisisanestablishingshotatthe
beginningof the opening.Thisestablishingshotallowsthe audience tosee where the filmisset,
givinga sense of the narrative.The maincharacterthen proceedstowalkforwardtowardsthe
camera,whichturns slowlyfromamid-shotintoaclose up of the character’s face.The mid-shot
showedthe costume of the character,and showsthe audience thathe’sa policeman.The close up
showsthe character’s pride and isauthoritative;the audience thenfindoutthe character’sname
fromthe close up of the police constable badge –NicholasAngel.
Many longshotsare usedthroughoutthe openingsection,whichgive the audience asense of the
differentlocations inwhichthe filmisset.Inthe longshotsNicholasisusuallyinthe centre, (whichis
the place in whichthe audience wouldlookfirstwhenwatchingafilm) showingthe audiencethathe
isthe maincharacter and thathe’sthe most important - superioreven.
Lots of short, quickclose upsandextreme close ups withlotsof quickzooms are usedthroughout
the openingsequence toshowhowdeterminedandfocusedNicholasisabouthisjob,andhow he
wantsto be (and is) the bestat hisjob. The zoomsinalsoshow importantNicholasisandreinforces
the past pacednarrative. The emotionsonNicholas’face highlighthow seriouslyhe takeshisjob.
The close up of Nicholasknockingonhisboss’doorhighlightsthe significance of hispresenceand
the powerhe has, as he’sthe verybestat hisjob. The midshotsinthe filmare usedtoshow the
importance of the maincharacter; theyshow hispride throughfacial expressionandreinforcesthat
he’sthe maincharacter.
Moreover,trackingandpanningare usedto show the audience the pace of the narrative through
the openingsequence,whichisfast.Nicholaswalksvigorouslyandwithauthority,meaningthe
camera has tomove a lotquickerthanit wouldwithsomeoneelsewalking.The use of trackingalso
highlights howimportantNicholasiscomparedtothe otherpolice officers,reinforcinghe’sthe main
character. The use of trackingand panningalsoshowssome of the more minorcharacters withina
film,soyouget a more realisticsense of apolice force.
The low angle and highangle shotsare veryimportant – the low angle shotsreinforce the powerand
authorityNicholashasoverthe otherpolice officersbecause he’ssomuchbetterat the jobthan
theyare.The highangle shotsshowa sense of dangerwhenNicholasisatthe bottomof the stairs,
readyto charge intoa house – it showsthe slightvulnerabilityfeltatthe time.
Editing:
The editingthrough the openingsequenceisveryfastpaced;thisisdue to the short, quickcamera
shotsthat are mergedtogethertocreate a montage.The montage inthe openingsequence is
extremelyquickandpackedwithaction,connotingthatthe filmwillhave afastnarrative.The pace
of the montage alsoshowsthe type of genre the filmwill be,which isacomedy/drama/actionfilm.
Thisis due to the costumesworn,andthe professioninwhichNicholashas.
Lots of editingbridges andgraphiccuts are usedinthe sequence,e.g.adoorto change to the next
scene,whichreinforcesthe fastpacednarrative andkeepsthe audience interestedandenticedwith
the film,makingthemwanttoknowwhat happensnext.Matchon actionisusedin a cleverway,so
the audience keeprollingwiththe fastpacednarrative.The makingthe montage,lotsof cutsand
jumpcuts are used,whichare abruptbut keepthe actionfastpaced,addingtension.A dissolve is

2. Emma Mc Conologue
usedwhen Nicholasishandcuffingasuspect,whichmergestwoscenestogetherandslightlyslows
the narrative.
Sound:
Both diegeticandnon-diegeticsoundsare usedthroughoutthisopeningsequence,e.g.The
screechingof a car and the musicplayedinthe background.The musicplayedthroughthe opening
montage is asynchronousand light-heartedandupbeat,whichsuggeststhatthe filmismore of a
comedyandis happy-go-lucky.Nicholas’voice isusedtoalsonarrate throughthe montage along
withthe music,givinghisthoughtsandfeelingsthroughoutandlistsall hisachievements,showing
howgood a police officerhe actuallyis.
Some diegeticsoundse.g.the carscreechinghave been enhancedwithnon-diegeticsoundeffectsto
make themmore noticeable andimportant.Anotherexample of diegeticsoundisthe knockonthe
door at the endof the openingsequence,whichhasalsobeenenhancedwithsoundeffects,making
it a selectivesound.Anotherexampleof selectivesoundisthe clockingof the pen,whichisfocused
on to showhowspeedyandsmartNicholasis.
Mise-en-scene:
The costume is veryimportantthroughoutthe openingsequence of HotFuzz,at itletsthe audience
knowwhatprofessionthe maincharacter,NicholasAngelhas.Italsoshowsthe audience whatthey
shouldexpectfromthe openingmontage,since he’sapolice officer.He’salsowearinghisuniform
all the time,showingthathe’scommittedto hisjobandtakesit seriously. Colourisquite important
throughthe openingsequence–for example,Santa’scostume isred(whoisstabbingNicholasinthe
handwitha knife),connotingtodanger,bloodandperil.The policecostumesare black, whichis
typical police attire. Propsare usedtoshow the audience more aboutthe character of Nicholas –
e.g.hispolice badge showsthe audience hisidentityandwhatprofessionhe has. The batonof
honourshowshowgoodNicholasisat hisjob,and how he is excellingathisprofessioncomparedto
the otherpolice officers.Setsandlocationsare usedtoshow thatthe filmissetin presentday,and
the locationsusedhave beenspeciallyselectedtofitwiththe filmandthe narrative.E.g.apolice
stationisusedas Nicholas’profession isapolice officer.Mostof the setshave beendresseduptofit
withthe openingmontage,whichmakesthe storymore believable andrelatable.E.g.the longshot
of the police officerswalkingdownthe streetwithshields –there are bitsof debrisand flamesused
to dressthe scene upevenmore. The majorityof the lightingisHighkey,whichmakesitless
dramaticand more light-heartedthanif lotsof low-keylightingwere used. Low-keylightingisonly
reallyusedwhenNicholasisgivingaspeechtothe otherpolice officers;itmakesthe scene more
dramaticand adds effect. Performance andblockingisveryimportantasitallowsthe audience to
see whothe post importantcharacteris– in thiscase it’sNicholas,where he isalwaysinthe middle
of the frame,stoodinfrontof everybodyelse.The factthathe’sstoodinfrontshowsthat he’s
‘good’andis more importantthanthe people whoare behindhim, e.g.whenhe isreceivinghis
batonof honour.