1. Analysis of Opening Film Techniques Employed: Rock N Rolla
Film Techniques Examples of typical film techniques used and why–
Illustrate your findings with references to actual
onscreen moments.
Titling – colour, font style, The titles are placed on a dirty wall that seems to be in a
over image or black, prison cell. This suggests that the film will involve some
timing, credits sort of criminal activity. The dirtiness of the walls and the
presentation etc lettering suggests that this film is not based around posh,
clean people. It is going to be about criminals who are not
afraid to get their hands dirty. Some titles look as if they
have been spray painted onto the wall, this shows to the
audience that it is not only big time criminals in this film,
but petty thugs are also involved.
Camera Movement In the beginning, the camera crabs along to the right
(panning, tracking, crane whilst shaking a bit. This makes the audience feel as
shot and crabbing etc) though they are in the movie, and they are the ones
looking to the right. This is a good technique because it
draws the viewers in and makes them feel as though they
are in the film. The camera then begins to zoom in slowly
to a man with his back facing us. This makes the
audience feel as though they are creeping up on this man
and the get the sense that when they get as close as they
can to him, he will catch them and they will get a shock.
This keeps the audience on the edge of their seat and will
keep them interested enough to carry on watching the
film.
Framing of Shot The only framings we can really see in the opening
(CU, MLS, ELS etc) sequence are medium shots when they show who is in
the film. This allows the viewers to see the identity of the
characters yet they can see enough of them to get a
sense of what they’re character is like.
Camera Angles (high and Most of the camera angles are at eye level, but a few of
low angles etc them are high angled. This shows the people in the shot
as lower than the people watching the film, it makes them
seem small and petty.
Selection of mise-en- The director uses very dark, sandy, and grey colours to
scène including colour, give the viewer a sense of a dirty prison cell. This shows
figure, pops, lighting, the characters as criminals. The location is kind of set out
objects, location and like a prison cell as well, it is in a dark room with all the
setting; curtains drawn which make it seem as though these
people are cut off from society. The costumes that they
wear are normally men with their shirts off, showing off
their muscles. This is to maybe give the audience a sense
that these people are involved in a lot of fights or that they
look like they have just gotten out of bed to show a laid
back attitude/lifestyle. Showing this laid back attitude will
make the audience want to continue watching because
everyone dreams for that laid back lifestyle
Editing directions At some points, the camera will speed up to give the
2. (Match cuts, jump cut, audience a shock and to make it seem like it has quickly
reverse shots etc) been branded into their heads. Like branding cattle, quick
like a flash.
Sound techniques The music used over the opening scene is a blues/Rock
(diegetic, non diegetic, and Roll tune. It has a very hard beat to it, which makes
silence, dialogue the film seem more violent, yet the blues aspect to it,
gives the film that laid back feel.
Actor’s positioning and The actors’ movements are very limited, which adds to
movement their laid back attitude. The only time when some real
movements occur, they tend to hand a gun in their hand.
This suggests that that they have a lad back lifestyle but
when they have to, they can get very violent. This keeps
he audience on the edge of their seat because they do
not know when a character will switch and become
violent.