Essex Boys (2000) Terry Winsor

Director: Terry Winsor
Writers: Jeff Pope, Terry Winsor

Cast

Charlie Creed-Miles - Billy Reynolds
Sean Bean - Jason Locke
Gareth Milne - Chippy
Alex Kingstone - Lisa Locke
Amelia Lowdell - Nicole




Scene analysed from : 1:24 to 5:38

On this Blog post I am going to analyse the Mise-En- Scene of the opening of the film Essex Boys. This would include everything. From camera shots to Ligting and Objects used in the scene.

Opening Titles of Essex Boys

The scene first starts off with a Long shot of Billy sliding a door open. The use of the Long shot allows the audience to Establish location which would be he is in a Garage, which shows isolation because there is no one else there other than him. This scene uses artificial non-ambient lighting, which shows chiaroscuro lighting. The use of artificial lighting in this scene shows fear because of the little light seen. The scene also uses Non-Diagetic sound, the door being slided open.

The scene then cuts to a Medium-Close-Up Shot of Billy trying to start the car. The use of the Medium-Close-Up shot brings focus to the character, enabling them to know who he is. This part of the scene uses Non-Ambient Lighting which is reflected from the street-lights outside the garage. This part of the opening scene starts the use of Diagetic sound, when Billy began speaking. This part of the scene is shot inside a car, which is a thriller convention because it shows Claustrophobia because it is such a small space. The casual sweater and watch Billy is wearing gives the audience thew first impression that he is just a simple guy.

The scene then cuts to a Medium Close-Up shot of Jason appearing on Billy's windscreen. The use of the Medium Close-Up shot brings the focus to Jason. The scene uses Non-Ambient lighting showing Jason's appearance what he's wearing from the top of his head and to the trousers that he is wearing. This part of the scene still continues on the use of Diagetic sound from the previous screenshot. The shirt and Jacket that he is wearing shows power that he has a much higher status than Billy.

The scene then cuts to a Long shot of the tunnel leading its way to Essex. The use of this Long shot suggest that the Tunnel is like the inside of a Handgun, that Billy and Jason are going to somewhere where terrible things would happen to them and that there is no way out. The scene uses Non-Diagetic sound, which is the Soundtrack. This part of the scene uses Artificial Non-Ambient Lighting which shows fear and shows exposure of the bad things that this could lead to.

The scene then cuts to a Close-Up Shot of Billy driving in the car with the light from the ceiling of the tunnel reflecting on his windscreen. The use of the close-up shots allows the audience to identify with Billy's emotion. He might be scared where this could end and shows uncertainty of what to do. The reflection of the light makes the windscreen look like it is a Jail Cell, which gives the audience a hint that if Billy doesn't stop now then this is where he might end up. This part of the scene uses Non-Ambient lighting from the reflection of the lights from the ceiling.

The scene then cuts into a Close-Up shot of Jason sitting in a Van waiting. The use of the Close-Up shots allows the audience to identify with his emotions, which shows that he is angry for some reason. In this part of the scene the sound changed back to Diagetic with Billy narrating what is happening in the scene.

The scene then cuts to a Long Shot of Jason beating the life out of his Friend. The use of this portrays the power of Jason over his "Friend" and that he is weaker than him. This scene uses Ambient lighting from the use of a lot of overhead lighting. The sound used in this part of this scene came from the workers from the surroundings probably encouraging the fight to go on, which goes on to the location, where this scene is taking place in a public surroundings where others can see which shows that it's challenging the thriller genre because thriller films mostly take place in dark, claustrophobic, isolated locations.

The scene then cuts to Long shot passing through a road. The use of this Long shot establishes location, this screenshot also shows where is this van going to go. This part of the scene also shows enigma, to the people in the film who might see the van because they don't know who or what is in the back that van. This part uses natural ambient lighting.

The scene then cuts to a Two Shot of Billy and Jason driving. The use of the two shot shows the different personalities between Billy and Jason. Billy is seen as this nice, and worrying person. On the other hand, Jason is seen as this Nasty and dangerous character. This part of the scene uses Diagetic sound, which is the interaction between Billy and Jason and the person that Jason hurt screaming for help in the back of the car.

The scene then cuts to a Long shot of Jason still beating up his "Friend" this shows that whatever his friend does Jason will always have the higher status and power. This scene was shot at the Essex Marshes, which shows isolation and that no one is there for his friend to cry help for.

The scene ends with a shot of the white van leaving the marshes. The shot shows isolation and that no one is there just like the life Jason.