Analysis of Lesson 26/11/2009 By Ellie Mannix

Firstly, today in lesson we had to prepare our presentation of our specific film genre - western. We were then presented with the remaining of the class' work. We moved round the class room, listening and watching each groups films they analysed and the conventions for this specific genre.

Each group did a review of an opening sequence explaining its conventions and how they are used. Everyone's different sequence' showed different conventions of that specific genre as well as the conventions of an opening sequence.

Group 4 researched into the film genre 'Crime and Gangster'. They introduced us to the conventions of this specifc genre; it is usually associated with death, crime, drugs, illegal actions, situated in an urban setting where the hero goes after the criminal. Nevertheless these films normally glorify the rise and fall of a particular criminal(s), gang, bank robber, murderer or lawbreakers in personal power struggles or conflict with law and order figures.

As a group they analysed the opening sequence of 'Lock Stock and two smoking barrels' where it is clearly identifiable to the audience who the 2 main characters are, one of the times this is portrayed is when they were running away from the local police authority, not only establishing the two characters through the use of an extreme close up but the genre of his specific film. The opening sequence also identifies the setting; a run down urban area of London. It is made clearly identifiable when the characters are running down a dingy alley away from the police which are represented as inferior and negative as the criminals have got away, this adds pace as the adrenaline of the audience increases as they become hooked on what will happen next.

The dark, dirty eary setting adds to the mystery of the plot as it is only the opening sequence in which we await for the rest of the film. Also in this sequence, the slow paced editing

The very first shot we are introduced to is the main character selling items which were ''not stolen, just not paid for yet' introducing to the crime in this film as he is selling stolen goods on a street which in inevitably illegal - crime genre.

We were then introduced to the idea that the slow pace editing of the two main characters escaping relates to establishing the men and the setting and situation they are in, slowing down the pace for the next activity.

The voice over is then heard, which helps the audience familiarise with what they have just watched, relating to crime and gangster as they voice overs are stereotypically used to introduce to the audience the film.

Moreover, the credit sequence in imbeded into the film,, cutting in between the opening sequence.

Lastly, the music in this opening sequence is extremely rapid, which also creates the pace and adds to the adrenaline of the storyline.