Media Audiences: What techniques does the opening sequence use to appeal to a weekday mainstream audience?



The techniques used are a range of different angle shots such as close ups and low angle shots to establish the surroundings. This also immediately grabs the attention of the audience and lures them in to watching further, even more this raises enigma codes such as: why is the girl alone? What is her relation with the woman? The shots have been edited to slow down the pace of the sequence, this is done to build and intensify suspense. In contrast there is a fast paced zoom to the garden door and a black fade to the next shot, however in between the close up slows down at the black car giving it significance. Also as the colour of the car is black this connotes that something negative is associated with the car. There is also use of pathetic fallacy as the weather is quite grey and dull foreboding something hasty in due events.



Media Institutions: What does this text tell us about the media institutions involved?



The media institution involved is the BBC, and evidently at the start of the sequence their main aim is to entertain the audience. As they are not informing the audience of any problem other than the 'spies' spying on the two couple, it is comprehensive that the only issue being explored is within the sequence and does not relate to any other issues related to the audience. Therefore it is understandable that their main purpose is to entertain.

Media Forms: How does the extract follow the codes and convention of an opening sequence?

As the sequence starts, it instantly lures the audiences and satisfies them in revealing that it is a drama. In the sequence, we see a pair through big close up shots yet the audience is oblivious to who the couple are, which builds some tension in the scene and indicates that the genre is drama. The tone of the sequence is quite serious which evidently signifies it as a drama as this type of tone would not be witnessed in a romance or comedy. The extract follows the codes and conventions by using binary opposition, where as the couple is seated in a black coloured car connoting to negativity therefore the opposition maybe ‘good vs bad’. The immediacy of the sequence would raise enigma codes such as: why are they spying on this couple? For what reason? What did they do? The opening sequence follows some codes and conventions however excludes the typical ones such as: a title sequence or a recap which gives the audience an insight of the previous episode. Although as the extract successfully builds tension and raises enigma codes it fits the conventions of a drama.The opening sequence reinforces the personal values the couple have and the sense of solidarity between them visual through their behaviour. There's also the form of integration and social interaction as the clip identifies a sense of belonging with the couple. This is typical as by having this type of behaviour it heightens the drama set forth.

The Hitman: Beautifully Executed

The hit man is being represented through on e of his victims as it reflects his actions and motives. In the mise en scene of the poster the backdrop has been immersedf with silky, seducing red, and the woman, which is the victim is shown on top of it. Through this we can intrepret that the red colour connotes blood but also that the victim is surrounded in danger as red could also signify danger. we can also observe that there is a gun shot in the woman's head suggesting crime and murder, however as this is the only sign of brutile killing it shows that the killer has no other intentions or motives. Stereotypically women are often shown as sexual objects, this is shown through the costumes worn by the female such as: lusty underwear and high heels suggesting that she may be femme fatal. The way the woman has been killed can arise enigma codes such as: why she has been killed?, what motives are behind it?

"Bullet Boy" Analysis

●◦•["Bullet Boy" Analysis]•◦●

As the trailer starts, low key lighting is immersed in the scene making the audience oblivious to the characters as well as heightening the darkness present in the scene which connotes darkness in the main protagonist’s life. The lighting also creates drama as well as tension. In the first couple of seconds we see quick shots of policemen raiding the man’s house establishing him as the main protagonist and immediately conveying that the film will be about crime and violence. The movement of the camera as well as the way the shots have been edited are quite fast accompanied by dark low key lighting making it harder for the audience to understand what is happening in the current situation therefore creates enigma codes and keeps the audience gripped. Non-contrapuntal music is used as the music being played in the background does not compliment the actual actions of the scene as the music is more slowly paced whereas the actions and camera shots are quite quick.


Low key lighting is used mainly in the trailer however there is bright light present when the main protagonist is seen with a female character presumably his girlfriend suggesting that there are some bright times in the main characters life. When we first witness the main character we are revealed to the fact that he is of black ethnicity which clearly shows a stereotype representation as the man is shown with guns and committing crime, which is a stereotypical view of black boys in the society. Also we see a very young boy holding a gun which is quite an extreme scene to see and is quite violating however this reinforces the genre of crime and violence. A gun could be the main icon of the film as it signifies the genre of crime which a gun is normally associated with but also the title itself “Bullet Boy”. The main target audience would be mainly teenage boys as well as men aged around 19-25 of class D/E as the main characters look around this age also as there are female characters present in the movie it will also attract female audiences.