Textual analysis - Opening sequences

The Warriors (1979)

Mise En Scene
The film has very clear mise en scene, the costumes especially. Each group the scene depicts wear different styles of clothing and are very extravagant. This give the impression that it's somewhat futuristic and each group has a distinct style. The main focus of the scene is the New York subway stations, showing all of the different gangs travelling to a specific location. The setting is somewhat grim as it's dark and showing it basically being terrorised. This leads into the actors, as they is a huge variety as the scene shows a lot of different gangs with different ethnicities which obviously means a large variety of different actors. There is no distinct make up which is surprising, as the costumes are so extravagant.  As mentioned before, the lighting is very dark which adds to the already dangerous atmosphere surrounding the gangs. Finally, the only major props are parts of the extravagant costumes the actors a wearing, such as very large hats or a teatowel.

Sound and editing
All through the opening scene, a somewhat futuristic melody is playing which gives the impression that the film is set in the future. The dialogue is very powerful as it shows the leader of the main gang briefing the other members of what they are about to do, and all of it on screen so you get an idea about all of the different characters and their roles. Editing wise, the main bulk of the title sequence is the the different gangs talking and walking. However it shows the cast and crew within shots of the train moving which separate out the different gang scenes.

Camera shots
Almost all of the camera shots are either tracking shots or 180 dialogue shots. The tracking shots are extrememly memorable because it shows the huge variety of gang present in the city, with how they dress and act etc. The dialogue shots are also very good as they allow you to easily identify the characters and be able to refer to them later on in the film.



Superbad (2007

Mise en Scene
Costume wise, it's pretty standard and modern. Nothing really special about it, just what the normal mordern would wear. Lighting is also pretty standard, it's daytime and clearly morning with no filtering or anything of the sort. This scene also introduces the two major characters that are present for the entire film and already begins to definite both their characters. Make up wise, everybody looks rather natural apart from perhaps the mother who is clearly wearing a little. Regarding the props, the major one is a mobile phone in which both the actors are speaking to eachother on, which is the main basis for this scene. The car is also a major one, as well as Evan's cereal bowl. Finally, the settings a contemporary suburban American street, with nothing that special about it.

Sound and editing
The sound is pretty varied, as it shows two back to back scenes of the characters talking. Seth's scenes have a background track playing from the car which obviously adds music, while Evan's dialogue scenes are just him talking. It adds a very good contrast to the scene. With editing, it's done very well as it shows two back to back scenes of people talking and constantly flicks between them, making it easy to understand and follow. The dialogue is also very entertaining, which adds to the basis that it's a comedy.

Camera shots
There is one tracking shot of Seth's car going towards Evan's house, implying that he's going to pick him up. Also the close up shots during the dialogue sequences gives the characters facial expressions during the conversation, adding to their character development right off the bat. Apart from that, there's nothing else truly memorable about the scene shot-wise.




End of Watch (2011)

Mise en Scene
The costumes present in the scene are police uniform and "ghetto" clothing worn my gangsters, leading people to believe it's a police form as those costumes are most prevalent. Lightning is pretty standard as well, as it's daytime on a sunny day with again no major filters. The major actors in scene are the two police officers, with one of them giving the monologue, this again implies that it's a police film. No distinct make up whatsoever as there's proper shots on the actor's face.  Prop-wise, the the few major props are police car and the police officer's service weapon, and the gangster's gun. Finally, the setting ties in all these aspects as the setting is South Central Los Angeles, which is a place where all these things are prevalent.

Sound and editing
The main piece of sound in this scene is the monologue done by the potential main character, about the role and status of the police office in LA. There is nothing else about the sound really the monologue is the main focus. Editing wise there isn't much there either, just a few different transitions to different parts of the chase with no effects. This is down to the fact that it's on a police dash cam, which again further enforces the police film aspect.

Camera shots
There is only one type of shot in this scene, and it's unique because it's filmed from a police cruiser dahs cam, which are designed to film chases and a cruiser's daily activity. It's very profound and essentially confirms that it's a police film, and nothing else. Most of the scene is filming a chase a long the streets of LA, but also shows a small shootout at the end to give the film some action.