Scene Summaries – Hot Fuzz
The film begins with the sound of police sirens as non-diegetic sound whilst the films titles slides play, giving an instant impression the movie is linked to the police force. There is then a long shot showing a figure in the distance marching forward in a determined way, which is also an establishing shot, showing the audience that they are inside some kind of important building. The building appears very up to date and the automatic doors shown open very early in comparison to where the figure marching is, this gives the impression that the character has a dominating presence. When the figure meets the foreground a close up is used to show their expression and an extreme close up is used to show their police badge. These shots are used to help establish who the main character is and is a clever way of informing us of whom they are and what their names is. We find out from the uniform that he is wearing and from the police badge that the main character is a police constable called ‘Nicholas Angel’. The close us of his face also enables us to see that his expression is very stern and focused and the expression is something that appears many times throughout the opening two minutes.
The shots that then follow are very swift and quick and this is to show the fast past of ‘Nicholas Angels’ life as a police constable. It first cuts to a low angle of him making him appear very dominating and then swiftly cuts to an extreme close up of his feet walking at a fast pace. The camera then cuts to a side angle of him walking and then to an extreme close up of his shoulder, to show his police number, the frame then moves to be a close up of his profile. Special effect transitions are used to edit the shots together to emphasise the fast pace movement; this fast pace suggests a reflection upon how his entire life works and moves. Another side profile shot is used in a group shot of other police officers and the focus is entirely upon his face, the camera then pans round to gain a close up of him. The expression that the camera captures is the same expression displayed in the earlier close up of his face. This graphic match links the two unrelated scenes being shown to seamlessly put together the story of his police working life that is beginning to be shown.
Sound/Titles and Credits – Hot Fuzz
The film begins with the production company’s logos and instead of playing it in silence or with the company’s sound motifs, they are played with the non-diegetic sound of police sirens. There is silence and only the sound of footsteps as a silhouette character walks forward; this being played to silence builds anticipation and draws the attention of the audience towards the character about to reveal themselves. A voice over then begins, a stern male voice, evidentially of the man on screen and he introduces himself in conjunction with the extreme close up of his police badge shown. This voice over then continues and the fast shots and, quick transitions begin and he speaks as fast as the film being played goes. His voice and the words of the voice over match the to the point character being shown in the opening sequence furthering the idea this is what his character is like. Sound effects are also played and at the same time non-diegetic music starts up and adds effect to the fast pace lifestyle being displayed on screen. The music reaches a crescendo as the character reaches the end of him police force life story and finishes as he knocks on the door of an office (played as diegetic sound).
Screenshots – Hot Fuzz
1. Longshot- shot is used to establish opening location of police headquarters and gives you the first glimpse of the main character.
2. Close up- this shot introduces and establishes the main character and the close up highlights his stern expression which is graphically matched and continually shown throughout the opening two minutes.
3. Extreme close up- this is a cleaver and to the point way of informing the audience of exactly who the main character is, Nicholas Angel, and his job. The style of this deliverance foreshadows ‘Angel’s’ character type cast.
4. All of these shots happen at various points throughout the introduction sequence for Nicholas Angel and are all graphic matches. They are matched through the exact same expression on his face which gives the audience a clear indication into his characters personality. He is clearly portrayed from these shots as a well focus and determined character and a clear perfectionist (also shown by the story line); these graphic matches link unrelated scenes to create to show his life story within the opening two minutes. The way his told in this fast pace and swift manor, demonstrates to the audience how his life attitude is too fast apace and motivated.
5. All of these close ups appear at various times throughout the opening sequence and again, are all graphic matches. The close ups show Angle clicking a pen, clicking a remote and a man clicking a timer for a race that he has taken part in. This too helps to seamlessly link all of the unrelated scenes and shows the story of Angle in one continuous sequence. It also suggests that this clicking especially of his pen, along with the determined expression on his face, with continually appear throughout the rest of the movie.
6. Throughout the whole sequence many of the shots are cut together to show a mid-shot, close up and then extreme close up. This creates the effect of a face pace and quickly moving lifestyle, led evidentially by the main character Nicholas Angel.
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