FILM OPENING 2 EG - This is England

THIS IS ENGLAND (IMDb) 
(Shane Meadows, 2007)
Produced by Warp Films (+6); UK distribution: Optimum Releasing 
Budget:$1.5m
Box Office: $329,37 (domestic); $7,847,165 (foreign)

A story about a troubled boy growing up in England, set in 1983. He comes across a few skinheads on his way home from school, after a fight. They become his new best friends even like family. Based on experiences of director Shane Meadows.
We are presented with an unusual first medium shot of a small section of a room (as usually the first shot is an establishing shot that provides the audience with signifiers through mise-en-scene) this implies to the audience already that this is an indie film. The peeling wall paper is a signifier that signifies to the audience that the people who own this house must be working class. Also the framed picture and radio balanced on the chair also signify that the owners don't have enough money for basic house hold items like a side table. The jumper connotes that this film is set in the 80's due to its recognisable pattern.

 We then see a long shot of a young boy sitting upon bed. It is now clear that this is defiantly not an American film as this is not relatable due to the very unglamorous setting and cubby ginger youth wearing dirty Y fronts which we would now presume to be the main character as he the first few moments are centred around him.

Then we are finally presented with the establishing shot where the setting is finally revealed. The semi-detached house is situated in a council estate but in the bottom left hand side of the frame we can see a bike left untouched on the front lawn, this signifies that even though we would associate council estates with theft this must be a relatively safe area which contradicts general stereotypes.





This is then followed by an extreme long shot showing a slightly run down looking news agents. The audiences first opinion is that this shop could sell alcohol illegally and other dodgy items. 

A panning shot follows the boys movements whilst also revealing the interior of the shop, this is so the audience can see that this is just an ordinary news agents.












Then we see a medium point of view shot from both the boy and the shop owners perspectives. Both characters are placed in the right hand side of the shot this is so we can clearly see both characters facial expressions and surroundings.