1. Ali G Indahouse Screenshot analysis

Ali G Indahouse

(Mark Mylod, 2002)
Produced by Working Title (+2); distribution: Universal
Budget:£5m

 These shots are the opening shots of the film. We can denote that they are wearing heels and dresses is the middle of the day in a rough looking area connoting that they are located in a rougher area. There is a shot reverse shot here. There is also a head over the shoulder shot here. We can also denote that in the background behind these characters the area is rather unkept and dirty, also graffiti is clearly shown. Not much can be conoted from this brief

This shot appears after a brief confrontation between two women and a thug looking man. The camera is static but the car moving towards the camera as if making an entrance.

We can denote from this screenshot that the area is touch looking a rather dirty. This connotes where the film is set in and the area set it. this may lead onto what genre the film may be. The viewer is yet to see the central protagonist which is a sign of narrative enigma. The bright yellow car can be denoted, this may connote what kind of person the central protagonist is and also suggests there may be humour involved in the genre.

The opening montage to this is followed by a very exaggerated shoot out scene which is made comically to make the audience laugh. So straight away the genre of the film is revealed. This shoot out is also a dream, so after this opening shoot out 'Ali G' wakes up, snapping back into reality.

During the opening montage of the film, we see no character apart from extras used to create a sense of where the film is set. As the opening the montage finishes, we see actors which aren't included in the film, just the opening for a short period. We then see the main protagonist (Ali G) who enters humorously. Straight away we get a sense of the character personality.

Duration of opening = 3:10

Ali G Indahouse - Opening montage

• Sacha Baron Cohen
• Michael Gambon
• Rhona Mitra
• Ali G Indahouse
• Martin Freeman
• Kellie Bright
• and Charles Dance
  
  The opening shots of the film include a short montage of titles with backgrounds behind them. These background are outer city areas of America (where exactly is not provided).
  
  Duration of titles including company idents = 1:20 



The font is all in upper case and is also in bubble writing. The bubble writing may signify it being a comedy. The backround to these titles is a what looks like outer city area of America. Giving the viewer a sense of where the film may be set. 

The title of the film is clearly much larger than the rest of the titles. The backround behind this title is a rough looking alley involving a crime scene of some sort. 



 The 'and' is written much smaller than the name. It is also in lower case.

Ali G Indahouse (Company Idents)

Company idents of the film:

Universal is a distributor. (20 seconds)

Studio Canal is a distributor. (15 seconds)

Working Title is the production company. (10 seconds)

Film Opening (analysis, research and evaluation)

Whilst analysing, researching and evaluating the generic conventions of the film openings, i have come to a conclusion of the main aspects i have been looking for:

For example:

• Any narrative enigma? e.g. any glimpses of the set or the protaganist of the film
• The setting of the opening scene (denotations and connotations)
• Genre signifiers
• Audio (Diegetic or Non-Diegetic)
• Exposition 
• Use of camera angles and shots (e.g extreme long shot, close up etc...)
• The length of the opening scene and how the shot crosses to another shot (e.g cross fade, shot reverse shot etc...)
• The font of the Title and subtitles that may appear. They may be a certain font to connote or signify something significant 
• Props and locations (one location or multiple locations?)
• Editing 
• Costume (may signify the set or genre of the film)
• Characters (age, gender, class etc..)
• Sound/music (is it continuous soundtrack audio bridge?)
• Intertextuality - where the meaning of one text is linked to the meaning of another text
• The use of colours to help the viewer understand the atmosphere of the scence