LB - Analysing An Opening Sequence

Smokin Aces (Joe Carnahan, 2006)

Media Audiences

The Target Audience for this film is young males 16-25, students.

The audience readings for this due to the Target audience being male is that they will feel that they can relate to the film. As the gangsta lifestyle is seen as acceptable. Where as if a middle to older aged audience watched the film they would struggle to relate to the gangsta theme. The film is marketed for young adults who enjoy the themes of gangsta and violence, because of this the audience will feel they can relate to the film even if they do not have personal experiences that are similar to the film.

As a British teenager i feel that the opening is marketed at me, this is due to the sterotype that young british males like the genre of crime/gangster/thriller. I agree as the action and violence seems to be enjoyed by young British males. Where as i feel because of my gender and age see the film as a typical gangsta film with no new ideas in terms of plot. Due to the massive success of films such as Snatch (Guy Ritchie, 2000) and Lock Stock And Two Smoking Barrels (Guy Ritchie, 1998) i feel that more modern crime/gangsta films try to replicate the originality of these films, which i personally do not enjoy as much as these originals. Due to this i feel my evaluation of the film is that is lacks any new original ideas.

Institutional Context

The film uses stars such as Jeremy Piven and Alicia Keys. This is important as when people see such stars as these they are more likely to watch the film. Alicia Keys being used is also a example of the target audience as Alicia Keys fan base is mainly young people, so is used to help increase audiences of the film.

Working Titles Films as well as Relativity Media and Studio Canal produced the film. They are Independent Film companies.

The marketing for this film was interesting as they created a marketing campaign on Second Life, which is a computer game. This shows that they were trying to find advertising that is cheap and effective.




The colour use in this opening is interesting which i think we can explore in our opening.

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