Film Language

To analyse the film opening of 'Boyz in the hood' approprately, I will be looking at the: camera, mise en scene, sound and information in written scenes.

Camera
- Black screen at first with only audio available. Makes the audience concentrate more on their voices.
- A sudden start to the film when a shot of a stop sign is presented with the sound of a gunshot, this is sending a message to the audience to stop the violence.
- A pan shot is used when following the children down the street. This is because it also shows their surroundings clearly.

Mise en Scene
- The children live in a dirty neighborhood
- Wild hungry dogs with no owners are seen eating out of public bins and litter on the streets.
- A 'Stop' sign is shown along with a gun shot.
- A large hole in the wall in the street.
- Blood on the pavement and bullet holes in a poster of the president.
- White female teacher with all black students.
- The children are used to the rough neighborhood where they live. Everything they see is normal to them.
- Drawings of guns and violence in the classroom show how the children are exposed to violence and destruction.

Sound
- A lot of swearing among the children
- Gunshots
- Screams
- A crying boy
- Helicopter
- Police siren
- Dogs barking
- Telephone call while other scene is happening.

Information in the written scenes
- Children are chanting 'fight' and are not afraid of violence. Juxtaposes their age when they are expected to be innocent and pure.
- Dogs are starving and are malnourished.
- Dirty neighborhood filled with litter.