In the opening scene of the gangster film, traditional costumes of black suits and props of guns and knives are used. Dark lighting creates a tense atmosphere as something ominous is about to happen. Various shot types like close-ups, mid shots and long shots are employed to follow the characters and focus on objects of significance like weapons. The scene starts with the credits in black and white to set the tone, and editing uses sound bridges to transition between diegetic and non-diegetic sound.

2. 

-
-
Modern gangster:
Younger
Rich
Jeans
Trench coat
Baggy clothing
Jewellery
Knife/guns
traditional gangster:
Commonly male
Black suit/pin stripped
White shirt
Black tie/bow tie
Bracers/waistcoat
Bowler hat
Trench coats
Knife/guns
Cigars/cigaretts
Canes

3. 3
1
2
Throughout the opening scene, the only sound is diegetic sound consisting of dialogue and
ambient sound. There isn’t a lot of movement in this scene as they are just sat down in a
restaurant/cafe, however the 180 degree rule is not broken.
1. The shot type is an over the shoulder shot and a two shot. The two shot enables the audience
to get to know both of the characters and develop a relationship with them. The camera is in
a station position for this shot. This scene is filmed in daytime and they are sat by the window
so it is light, although in the over the shoulder shot, the woman is darker and there is more
light on the character which is speaking, this shows that he is an important character as the
light is on him. The costumes they are wearing are casual clothes as they don't need any
specific clothing.
2. These 3 shots link up to make a shot reverse shot which is a 3 shot sequence between two
characters to show emotion/reactions and the conversation to build an atmosphere.
3. This shot is a close up of a gun which is a object of significance. This shot is important as it
shows the audience something is about to happen and it is serious. Just before this shot, the
two characters are contemplating whether to do it and it then cuts to the gun which shows
the decision has been made. It is clear lighting so that the audience can clearly identify the
object. Diegetic sound is used when the gun hits the table as you would expect the
characters to hear this.

4. 
In the opening scene, the position of shots create the contrast between light and dark
may indicate who the antagonist and the protagonist are according to Claude LeviStrauss theory of binary oppositions. Mise en scene is key in this opening scene. Although
the room is very dark, it cuts to one of the characters who has been listening to a
problem and he is in the only light part of the room which suggest he is far more superior
to anyone else in the room. However, ultimately it is a very dark room which shows this
conversation is very important and serious, this also relates to the location of which the
conversation takes place, it is a small dark room which shows the conversation needs to
be kept private. The dark lighting relates to the gangsters themselves as they have dark
personalities and the way the present themselves is also in dark clothing. Props such as
glasses with drinks in and weapons in the opening scene to help portray the fact that
they are gangsters.

There isn’t a lot of editing for the opening scene, the credits have obviously been edited
in, fitting with the black and white theme (black background, white writing) the only
other editing is cuts and fades in between shots.

Different shot types and movements have been used. For example, there is pans and
tracks to track the characters movements, and there is often zooms and close ups so
the audience can engage with the characters and have a good sense of their
emotions and see the facial expressions.

There is non diegetic and diegetic sound in the opening scene. The non diegetic sound
is music which goes with the credits and the diegetic sound is the characters speaking
to one another, the cat purring and the glasses being placed on the table.

5. Producer and distributer
Titles – black and white
Close up
showing
emotion
Close up, zooming out to mid shot
Contrast of lighting –
binary opposition
Prop (glass
with drink)
Costume – suit, smart, black
and white

6. 
In the opening scene of Scarface, it is set at the sea with a boats as it is showing the
immigrants coming in. The costumes are simple, the immigrants you see are wearing
scruffy baggy clothes which is what you would expect and the gangster are wearing
the traditional suits/long black coats with bowler hats. There is quite a lot of props for
different characters, but they are all necessary as it fits with the character, the police
men and soldiers all have guns and badges and some people have speakerphones as
well so they are able to shot things out to everybody. As you would expect the
immigrants all have their suitcases or bags with all their belongings in.

There isn’t a lot of editing in the opening scene, however the titles have been edited in
with a black background and red text. The use of red text can be effective depending
on the way you interpret it. To me it indicates it is going to be a violent film, this is
because it has Al Pacino in who is famous for this genre of film and also, there is lots of
police and army soldiers around with guns so the red text is very useful. The other editing
is just quick cuts from shot to shot.

There is a variety of shot types and camera movements in this opening scene. When
showing the boats coming in, the camera tracks its movement, however it looks
unsteady, but I think this is good as it engages the audience with the characters on the
boat and tries to make the audience feel as if they are on that boat with them. Shot
types such as mid shots, long shots, and establishing shots are very effective as it enables
the audience to see the location and everything that is happening. The mid shots and
long shots are also useful as it allows the audience to see how the immigrants look and
what they have bought with them. Movements such as crab, pan, and tracks are used
to follow the characters and the boats. Zooms are also used to more so on the
immigrants than anything/anyone else as it shows the audience their facial expressions
and emotions.

7. Producer and distributer
Establishing shot. Camera also
tracks movement.
Costumes – army
clothing
Immigrants - scruffy
Prop - microphone
Close up – emotion /
facial expressions
Black background and red text (Al Pacino)
Pan across boat, showing
immigrants

10. 
The Gangster Squad opening includes different costumes and a variety of
props. The first prop is the boxing bag and the first costume is the boxing
outfit. After this, the costumes return to the traditional suits. Props such as cars
and chains are used shortly after the boxing scene. Again the lighting is very
dark in a very quiet empty place which enables them to keep a low profile
and not be worried about being seen. Some shots at the beginning have
also considered Claude Levi-Strauss binary opposition theory to indicate who
the more powerful/superior character is in the situation as you will see in my
next slide.

The use of slow motion works well in the opening as it allows the voice over to
be more clear. There is diegetic sound whilst the voiceover is happening
when the boxer punches the bag you hear his fist hitting it. When the boxing
stops, non diegetic music starts and starts a sound bridge when the dialogue
ends. The music is quite but speeds up and gets louder to build suspense and
then finishes when the body is ripped apart.

There is a lot of mid shots and there is also close ups and long shots, there is a
extreme close up of the handcuffs as it is an object of significance and that is
the moment which triggers the conflict. When the body is pulled apart, the
camera zooms from a long shot to a mid shot.

11. producer
Establishing shot, setting
the location
Slow motion opening.
Prop: boxing bag, non
diegetic voice over
Mid shot, Costume
switches from boxing
wear to suits.
Close up, object of
significance (prop)
Mid shot zoom to close
up. Props: chains
Over the shoulder
shot, humour
Over the shoulder shot,
binary opposition
Two shot, non
diegetic
dialogue
changes to
diegetic
Camera pans around and
then zooms and tracks cars

12. 
The costumes in this opening are the same as the other gangster openings,
smart, black suits. The props are also very similar with the traditional guns and
knives. But props such as cars and keys have also been used. The guns and
knives have been used to reinforce the fact that they are gangsters. The dark
lighting creates a tense atmosphere and allows you to predict something
bad is going to happen. Also like other gangster openings, when something
serious is happening, it always seems to me in a dark, secretive location.

The editing of the titles is clever as they slide in from right to left and the use
of non diegetic sound enhances the effect as it gives the impression that
cars are passing by, the sound is also in sync with the flow of the titles. This
sound is the start of a sound bridge which switches from non diegetic to
diegetic when the picture cuts from the titles to the car on the road. The
diegetic sound came from the dialogue, the banging in the boot, the
stabbing, the gun shots and the slamming of the boot. There was also non
diegetic dialogue at the end when there was a freeze frame on the third
character. Non diegetic contrapuntal sound also starts just after the dialogue
started as well.

There is quite a few different shot types and camera movements in this
opening. Close up mid shots, long shots, establishing shots, zooms and tracks.
The main close up and mid shots is of the gangsters in the car and the man in
the boot. The camera tracks the gangsters walking around the car. There is
also a close up of the gun because it is an object of significance.

13. First shot/camera
movement is a long shot
and the camera tracks
the car
Camera zooms in on
the body
Long shot of the 3 men
and the car boot.
Prop – stabs victim
many times
Producer/distributer
/actor – black and white title
Camera zooms in on
the car boot
Prop – character then Mid shot, zoom in to
shoots victim 3 times. close up of third
character. Non diegetic
dialogue starts as well as
contrapuntal non
diegetic sound.