Research:Analysis of an opening(Drama) - Kidulthood and Adulthood

The Kidulthood

Kidulthood is an urban drama film written by Noel Clarke based in inner West London.

It deals with drugs, alcohol, violence and gangs, which stereotypically is what teenagers are thought to be involved in.

The Trailer starts off with Distributor Company Revolver Entertainment logo and then immediately goes into flashing scenes in a very fast paced rate along with rap music in the background and some speech from characters. Throughout the opening of the opening scene, there is non-diegetic sound (low sound, high paced music) for effect. This sound is effective for helping establish the genre of the film because it helps engage the audience instantly to the film. It helps to develop some tensity of the scene which would give the audience a sense of something significant to expect to happen shortly later on in the film. This type of sound is sound that is effective for these type of films as it relates well to the context of particular moments in the film which is why the sound is effective in setting the urban genre of the film.

Immediately you can see that this film is dealing with gang related violence and includes alcohol/drugs, gangs, relationships and bullying etc..

We know that this is a teenage drama film as the characters are portrayed as young gangsters with some of the clips showing them still in high school. The trailer shows their challenges as they go through this stage of their lives such as relationships and gang related problems.

The trailer shows how the film has used the unfortunate stereotype where the black characters are the violent ones and are associated with drugs and weapons and in most of the violent scenes these characters are having arguments/physical fights or are holding a gun or knife with intent to do something.

There is no text during the trailer apart from at the end where the music is nearing its end and it says “Before Adulthood” flashes out “Comes” and then it shows some final scenes and “Kidulthood” is displayed.

The editing is mainly formed of quick cuts from one scene to another in a fast paced motion with some cuts including fades/flashes. The main sound is the music used in the background and some diegetic speech.

The particular language (slang words etc.) used by some characters (in particular the tough and aggressive) also is used for effect and meaning of the scene as it helps to set the urban genre by the audience acknowledging that it's set in London as they use London slang. This and all the points help to set up the urban genre of the film.

In terms of the plot, not much happens in terms of narrative in the film because in the opening two minutes the film attempts to set the scene instead of rather revealing too much narrative of the film. This is effective because if a lot happened in the opening scene or so then it would mean that the audience wouldn't be as likely to watch the rest of the film's plot etc. which is why it's better to do this. The plot helps to set the urban genre because it's a plot which involves rivalry of two anti-social groups in London which contains negativity which are all associated with films of the urban drama genre which is why the plot helps to set this genre, even though it doesn't reveal much in the opening scene of the film. The main storyline and enigma gained from the trailer would be that it is a film about rough teenage life in London and what the teenagers get up to and their struggles and clashes and the enigma being the audience wanting to discover more about what these teens get up to.

In conclusion the trailer is formed of fast paced quick cuts that shows the lives of these 7 Main characters and how they are friends or how they clash and the way they spend their time such as drugs and violence.

The Adulthood

The trailer does not start like a usual trailer with a title, the trailer jumps straight into action with a couple lying in bed and the zoom on the camera gets closer into the woman, who is speaking.

When the film reverts to its present time, there is immediate sound (diegetic) of typical grime/garage music that builds in volume as it shows the outdoor rave next to a street. This helps set the urban drama genre of the film because this type of music is associated to this type of film due to its location and people associated to the film (both the characters and the target audience) so this helps to appeal to its target audience. The use of no music in the flashback 6 years before is effective because it helps make the event more significant and helps it stand out, as with no music and no use of sound effects for a sound created - in example a punch - help to engage the audience closely to viewing of the scene rather than including music as well. This effectively links to and compliments the plot of the film which helps set the genre of the film because it displays tense and violent moments to help set the gripping side of it being an urban drama.

After the flashback, their isn't much evidence of the plot of the actual filming the opening two minutes. This is mainly because the film uses the flashback and it wouldn't reveal much in the opening because that would be pointless as it's trying to make the audience watch the rest of the film to make it a better film.

In the opening of the film, there is a good use and range of ways that mise-en-scene is used for effect of setting the genre in the opening of the film. In terms of costume, the characters are wearing hoodies, trainers, , tracksuits, snapbacks and characters smoking etc for the overall meaning of the scene as it's rave in London so this helps it to be effective.

In terms of acting and language, there is high use of slang and representation of characters being tough and 'hard' as characters are using typical london slang to communicate to others and the display of tough, rough acting helps to enforce mise-en-scene and the the genre of the film as it's set in a ghetto within inner London, this and all the the other aspects of mise-en-scene used in the film helps to set the genre of the film being a British urban drama type of film.

Comparison:

Both come across very similarly as they are sequel films. Both can be seen as working class and aimed at similar audience.