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3.  The canted angle connotes the disorientated and disturbing evening that
the protagonists have had. The use of lighting is particularly effective, half
of the shot is in darkness and only a fraction that has a red light. This
connotes that there is only a small glimpse for the protagonists and that
the rest of their night is in the hands of the villains within the clip. Which
can be quite typical for an independent Drama, as the audience like to
solve enigmas and a very clichéd narrative is that the protagonists always
end up on top, however the audience would prefer to see an alternative
narrative ending.
 The long shot with the focus on the light is particularly important, it
connotes that the protagonists have unfulfilled their aims on their night
out in Paris. This is also disconnecting the audience from the shot by
distancing them, which makes them question as to why this has
happened. It is also used to display that there is going to be a problem
from the very start of the film (reversing Todorov’s equilibrium theory)
this is something that appeals to the sophisticated audience.
 The shot continually spirals and changes its movement throughout, the
camera is handheld and often shaky. This use of movement connotes that
the disequilibrium is out of the protagonists hands, there is nothing that
they can do to stop what is inevitable. This technique of filming especially
appeals to the sophisticated audience as they like the abnormal and
different style that is being approached.

4.  In the same way as the shot before the camera is continually spinning and
swirling around the focus of the shot, which in the particular case is the
man shown. The extreme tilt that the man is at is very abnormal from any
other style of filming and appeals to the target audience. It connotes that
the man is confused as to why everything that has happened that night
has happened, perhaps he feels quite disturbed by the events.
 The Close Up that is used connotes that the man is feeling anxious and
nervous about the events that have just occurred. It creates intimacy
between the character and the audience which is another typical
convention of an independent drama film.
 The lighting in the part of the opening sequence has changed and instead
of being gritty and dark (good conventions of an independent drama).
There is much more light in this shot compared to the darkness outside in
the previous shot. This connotes that the man has authority as he is given
more of a focus as opposed to the one light that kept slipping in and out of
the shot.
 Again the shot is continually moving around which connotes that the
night has been very distressing for those involved in what has happened,
and because the audience are more sophisticated they will question why
the director has chosen to use this style of filming rather than a more
typical way.

5.  In the previous two shots there has been one extreme use of lighting
in the first shot where there is very little light and low visibility to a
more typical use of lighting in the second shot where we can see the
character in full view. Now in the third shot there is ambient lighting
which is the main focus of the shot. The light is almost covering most
of the shot which connotes that there is hope for the protagonists to
find who had brutally beaten and raped Alex. This includes visceral
audience pleasures at the aggressive nature of the narrative, the
attack and the protagonist’s experience (Alex being raped).
 The Medium Shot of the light connotes that everything that has
happened over the course of the night is now in the past and that
there is nothing they can do to take it back.
 Again just like the previous two shots this shot is also moving
around in circles which connotes everyone is still bemused as to why
everything happened, however because there is a bright light this is
subverted and now the connotation is that the protagonists are
relieved that they have now got justice for what had been done to
them.
 The dissonant and rhythmic music accompanied by the loud stings at
the start of the scene offer an insight to what the rest of the film is
going to be like.

6.  We liked that there was the consistent use of spiralling and movement
throughout the opening sequence it gave a great sense of variation and
appeals well to the sophisticated audience
 The light is effective in establishing the progression of the narrative.
Allowing for multiple connotations.
 We thought that the use of sound in the scene was very effective in
setting the tone of the film, it establishes the uncontrollable nature of life.

8.  Very early on into the start of the opening sequence we see this diary
with the name Lola written on it for most of the page. This connotes
that the diary entry also suggests a personal connection the
characters may have with each other or a hidden affection. The shot
also is a Close Up, which connotes that Lola is an important figure
within the film. Also the fact that it literally just says Lola makes the
audience question many things such as, Who is Lola? What is the
occupant of the diary going to be doing with Lola? What relation is
Lola to the diary owner? Etc. The older and more sophisticated
audience appreciate this more as it doesn’t immediately tell them
what is happening and they like to work out the ‘enigma’ on their
own.
 The shot is at a slightly canted angle. This connotes that the film isn’t
going to have a basic narrative structure, which is conventional for an
independent drama. The canted angle is postmodern which may not
fit in with the gritty realism of our film. It connotes that the actions of
Lola have been unexpected.
 The lighting used in this shot is very natural and tender, it isn’t
artificial. This connotes that the narrative of the film is going to be
quite an honest portrayal of characters and also themes that are
heavy within the film such as love and friendship.

9.  The Close Up of the protagonist in the scene has an impact because it
establishes intimacy, it is the first thing that is noticeable when we
watch the shot. It connotes that the protagonist shown is going to be
a key figure in the film but more importantly that he is feeling
determined and quite concentrated by what he is doing currently,
which as we can tell from the previous shot is going to get Lola,
however this isn’t definite and so the audience again like this as they
start to ask questions again about where he is going? What he is
going to do? And who he may be going to meet? Etc.
 The camera is stationary throughout this shot and for the remainder
of the opening sequence. This connotes that the protagonist is
completely fixated on what he is doing, and that he doesn’t want to
be held up by any inconveniences.
 The lighting again is still ambient connotes an ordinary day which
has been disrupted by the focus of the narrative (Lola), and there isn’t
any artificial lighting in the shot, which solidifies the idea that the
protagonist is a very honest character. His determination is part of a
male stereotype but his apparent desperation subverts the stereotype
of masculinity.

10.  This shot is very clever. Whilst it seems like there isn’t a lot going on
there is actually a lot that happens within the shot due to on going
movement or the shot before. So for example in the previous shot it
was a long shot facing out of the car to where the car is headed, the
movement of the car connotes a journey which is used to frame the
narrative, this is centre to the frame. Now when the edit happens and
the next shot is on the screen the car moves off the centre of the shot
and instead into the left of the frame, diverting the attention of the
audience away from where it previously was. Also there are now
credits on the screen which are situated on the right of the frame, the
credits are positioned to reflect the rule of thirds as is conventional.
So there is a split focus between the car and the credits connoting that
there is equal importance between the two. The credits only appear
after a police motorbike drives past and that’s when the credits
appear on screen. This technical use of editing appeals to the
sophisticated audience as it is something that wouldn’t normally be
used. This use of editing connotes that the characters are being
watched or surveyed (voyeurism) by the policeman going by on his
motorbike.

11.  We like the use of the stationary camera throughout the opening
sequence, it makes the scene seem tender and more naturalistic which is
how we want our opening sequence to appear.
 We also liked how at the start of the opening sequence it had some non
diegetic piano playing in the background and still had ambient diegetic
sounds going on also such as the phone ringing. Which connotes that the
two characters throughout the film have intimacy between one another
on more than just a friendship basis.
 One feature that was particularly nice was the use of the graphic match
on the third shot, something which we endeavour to use in our own
opening sequence.

13.  We see the flag being quite a prominent figure in the frame
which connotes the patriotism of the solider. The long shot
used on the flag (although it is not the main focus, it is worth
analysing) is used to connote that the army are far from
achieving their goals in the war that they are fighting.
 All of the shots/clips that are used in the opening sequence
to This is England are all past historical events in British
history. This is appealing to the audience as they are an
older audience they can relate to the events that have
occurred during their time.
 The medium shot that is used on the solider is used to
connote that he is determined and brave, this is a very
stereotypical description of a man. It could also be taken as a
hegemonic ideology in that women are less dominant in
comparison to men as the men are the ones that are out there
and fighting whereas the women are not. The ideologies are
products of the time period covered: the Falklands in the
1980s

14.  The Medium Close Up of the car connotes that the car is
moving very fast. It reminds the audience of the fast paced
lifestyle and nature of the people during the time that this
film was set (1983).
 The lighting is fairly dark and low key in the clip however
the red light on the front of the car is very bright which
could be reminiscent of popular entertainment back in the
80’s such as music festivals and clubbing, which were both
very popular at the time.
 The music playing is rock and roll style music (non diegetic
music). Again something that was particularly popular back
in the time of the film. It brings back memories for the
audience as this would have been a time that they were alive
and young, so would have enjoyed this style of music and
would most likely have gone to festivals, gigs, and clubs etc.

15.  The graffiti on the wall is used to connote that rebellious
nature of the teenagers that are the lead characters in the
film. Back in the 80’s there was distinct oppositions between
race and age, which led to tensions and riots. It is shot on a
council estate which looks to be quite a rough area in the
shot. This sets the tone for the film. It lets the audience know
where the characters reside and what kind of area that they
are living in.
 The long shot that is used connotes that no one wants to be
living there, it also connotes that people don’t want to be
near the area. It almost isolates that wall and the estate,
makes it seem quite derogatory. It alienates the people that
live in the houses as the perspective that we are looking at it
from is from an outsiders view.
 The location is conventional for social realism.

16.  We liked the use of reminiscent imagery throughout the opening
sequence, its nice that Meadows can create that connection with his
audience and make them feel exclusive.
 Meadows uses quite a wide variety of shots which is used to create the
pace of the era.
 The fact that Meadows has a rock and roll song playing over the back of
the opening sequence is nice for the same reason that it brings back
memories of the past for the audience. The soundtrack gives an emotional
pleasure of nostalgia and the rebellion connoted gives a counter culture
attraction/ pleasure.