Research Into Similar Media Texts

For my opening sequence, I chose the opening for "Menace II Society". First, I particularly liked the sound bridge from the opening credits carrying onto the first shot of the scene. It's effective because the audience can hear the dialogue and sounds like cars driving past before we even see any characters or a location which means the audience doesn't know what to expect. The camera work is very good because it is constantly tracking the two characters, Caine and O Dog. This technique is highly effective because it is almost like we are following the 2 characters around the store which is what the Shopkeeper's wife does throughout the scene and is the basis of the opening sequence. As the tension begins to build between the 2 characters and the shopkeeper, the camera begins to quickly pan between the Caine and O Dog and the shopkeeper as they begin to exchange words. This again puts us in the perspective of someone in the shop watching over the argument because it's almost like a POV shot. The use of off-screen diagetic is effective when Caine is drinking from the bottle because we are focused on him but we can hear O Dog and the shopkeeper arguing in the background so we know something is about to happen. We then hear gun shots and Caine drops his bottle and it smashes on the ground. The camera is still focused on the bottle smashed on the ground because it plays a major part later on in the film. The use of tracking continues to be used when O Dog goes into the back to get the CCTV tape and is still effective in the way it almost places us in the store and that we are following the events that are unfolding. The bottle is again focused on when it is placed on the counter and the focus is on the bottle rather than the two characters behind it. This gives the audience a hint at the bottle being a key part of the scene and maybe the rest of the film. Non-diagetic sounds are then used when we hear a voiceover of Caine as the two run out of the store but we can still hear off-screen diagetic sounds like sirens and the scene ends how it started, a black screen with dialogue.





The opening scene starts with a black screen with "summit entertainment" written across it to signify the starting of the credits. It then cuts to a street somewhere in London where we see the first character's face (Bacon) where he is selling something to a surrounded crowd. The camera begins to track through the crowd so it seems as if we are part of the crowd watching Bacon try to sell his product. It then cuts back to the black screen with another production company, with the dialogue still playing. This happens 3 or 4 more times in the opening scene and we can hear the dialogue throughout entirely. This could be so that the audience is particularly engaged in the dialogue  whilst it appears not much is happening on screen. We then begin to hear 100 Mile High City by Ocean Colour Scene start to play. This starts as the the people begin to rush to buy what Bacon is selling. The song is quite fast paced so it creates tension and gives the audience the sense something is about to happen.We then hear Ed cry "BACON, COZZAS" and the two begin to run off quickly, in time with the song. It then begins to track the two running from the police through back roads. This is an effective shot because it again makes the audience seem as if they are there watching the two running from the police. We then hear a voice over of an older man who begins to briefly introduce the characters.




The opening scene of "Snatch" fits very well with the crime/gangster genre. The entire scene is seen through a CCTV perspective to give the sense that the characters are being watched by the authorities. The camera moves between different CCTV screens throughout the opening which is effective because it creates a POV perspective for the audience. There is dialogue throughout the scene along with contrapuntal Jewish-themed music which matches with the characters on screen.