Analysis Of Opening Sequence 1- Children Of Men

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wCTgUq6hzUk

As I am currently filming my own opening sequence for my horror movie, I decided to look at and Analysed different film opening sequences to help me film my own. In class we analysed the opening sequence of 'Children Of Men'. This film is an adventure/drama/sci-fi made in 2006. However the film was set in 2027 in a messed up world in which humans can no longer reproduce. The film later shows the struggle a pregnant woman goes through to reach a sanctuary at sea where the birth of her child could help change the world. Although we only watched the opening sequence which lasted exactly 2 minuets and 28 seconds, the film appealed to me and I was intrigued to find out more about the story line, so I rented the film out to watch at home.

Firstly I looked at the narrative function of 'Children Of Men'. The film is set in London in 2027, as soon as the film starts we know there are problems in the world as within the first few seconds the news reporters voices are just gerd whilst the credits are rolling.

Next I looked at conventions displayed. I noteced that the two news reporters start reporting the story whilst the screen in blank. They both day a sentance each whilst there is noting shown on the screen, after 39 seconds the credits come up in white which contrast well against the black. I think that they have made it so that nothing is on the screen when the news repoerters start reporting their story so the attention of the audience if fully grabbed. At 54 seconds the blank screen then switches to a scene set in a cafe. The care is very busy, which shows how busy the area is and how people are interested whilst watching the news. Their expressions are upset and confused which straight away sets the mood.

The characters we are introduced to are all of the people inside the cafe, however 1:03 we see a tall man walk into the cafe and push his way through the croud in the cafe to reach the counter at the front. We can tell straight away that he is going to be one of the main characters because after he buys his coffie, the camera follows benid him right untill the end of the opening secuence.

Cinema tography (eg light, colour, MES)- The lighting in this opening secuence are dark and dull colours which tells the audience these people are unhappy and are having a prehaps bad lifestyle. The characters are wearing browns, blacks and greens, and are a vairiety of ages and are both genders. One woman by the front of the shot is holding a dog, I believe this is to show that even though its 2027 animals are still around and are safe and well (which is very reasuring for animal lovers). The lighting of the scene is also very dark, as we reach outside of the cafe the colours are still greys and blacks and the lighting is again very dark.

The camera movement in this scene starts off as a slight high angle shot, (as if the camera is placed just next to the television all the people are watching) so all the custemers in the cafe are looking up at the screen. The camera then flicks up to the televeision where the audience can see whats happening. After this shot the camera then follows the man out of the cafe, the camera seems as if it is held hand as it is shakey. The camera then focuses on a cycelist and pans round to follow him cycle down the road. After this the camera then starts to follow the main character again, Untill when the camera reaches close to him then it follows an arc shape around him to see the other side of the caracter, in which we view him pour alcoohol into his drink he just brought from the cafe.