Opening title sequence - Green Street

Opening title sequence - Green Street

• 1.
  Opening sequence analysis– Green Street Hooligans Green Street begins with a brief introduction to the companies that produced the film, but then jumps straight into the action. Straight away there is a low an out of focus shot of a trains headlights, which quickly jumps to a low angle establishing shot of the train station in which an event is going to occur. We can hear some voices singing, as the camera is next placed low to the ground away from the top of the stairs. It slowly tracks forward, at a low angle, as the characters emerge jubilantly from the staircase. A low shot is maintained as the characters walk past the camera. The next shot is a medium close up of a man who was peacefully reading his paper at the station until he was disturbed by the football fans singing through the station. This distance is used so the audience can see that the man is unnerved by the fans’ presence, and feels they might randomly go mad at him for no particular reason, as these people are portrayed as violent. A long distance tracking shot follows the characters along the platform from the other side of the tracks so we can see what the characters are wearing, their behaviour etc. an over the shoulder shot is next, used to show the characters looking towards the other side of the tracks. Pull-focus is then used by the camera as the characters realise that there are some rival football fans on the other side of the platform, and so the camera turns to a deep focus to get both sets of fans in full focus. A series of shot and reverse shots follow as the fans exchange insults, and medium close ups of the leaders’ faces as they react to the abuse that they are receiving. As these harsh words are being given, the camera at a distance that would put the audience as a member of each firm standing at the side of the tracks, the camera is hand held to give it slight motion, as if the audience is the cameraman. This makes them feel a part of the firm themselves, which will appeal to the target audience of the film, football match goers and fans of action films. Once the insults start getting personal and more threatening, the camera gets a closer shot of Pate’s face to show his anger, and his thoughts of kicking this other bloke’s head in is written in his facial expression. The swaying of the camera also increases as does the tension between the two sets of supporters, and the audience will now get the sense that things are about to heat up, and therefore adrenaline begins to pump in the characters. In turn
• 2.
  they sway more,and as the camera is meant to be the audience as a member of the firm, it sways more too. As the situation heats up, the camera becomes looser, freer flowing, and begins to close up on different firm members faces to show their anger. It also uses the rule of thirds by focusing a different character in the central third, as the attention switches from member to member. There is then synchronous sound of a train braking, which separates the two sets of fans for now. There is then a fast forward motion as lights flash past the camera, and the action switches to outside where there is a long distance shot of a man smashing someone into a phone box. This distance is used so the audience can see the full extent of the violence, with the camera perfectly placed at a side view so it can capture the whole of the action. A low angle shot is used to show Pete being the more dominant in his individual fight, as he is above the other man as he head-butts him. This shows he is taking the lead in the fight, and is ready to finish him off. The camera then switches to handheld again as the audience can see multiple fights going on in one shot, and the camera pan’s around to capture every hit. Most of the shots of the Green Street firm are from a low angle, as they are dominating the fights so the low angle gives them the sense of superiority in the shot, something that the audience should pick up on. More close ups of the characters faces follow as the audience can see the anger on their face, and how much they are emotionless at really badly beating the Tottenham firm members up; even with blood flying everywhere the West Ham firm are still focused on hurting the opposition even more. The final shot in the opening sequence is a worm’s eye view of inside the phonebox, as one man gets his head smashed through it. Ambient sound of drums intensifies throughout the brawl as the action heats up.