Opening sequences
Skins series 1 – episode 1
The programme begins with a montage of different clips and images, used to build up an idea for the audiance of what kind of content the episode /series is going to include. It also gives the audience an idea or ‘sneak preview’ at the kind of characters who make up the show.
The rough guideline of the storyline is aided by a happy, upbeat, repetetive peice of music, which is non diegetic. The music is partly parallel – when the montage displays the characters enjoying their youth, partying,having fun and taking part in social events; but ,on the other hand is contrapuntal when the images depict the underlining sadness of the series and gives a hint towards the major issue’s these adolesence have to deal with in their lives.
The montage is not seemless at all and is very obviously edited together. The Fade effect is frequently used to overlap the different images, perhaps to show how continuously busy their lives are, filled with constant changes and a mass of ‘overlaping’ issues, one on top of another. Cartoon like effects are also added over the clips, for example : cartoon smoke from a cigerette, or a bird flying away out of the shot, both of these could be a clear representation of rebelion, freedom, and the seeking of independence. Some of the clips in the montage are not of the characters at all, but additionally help to tie together a feel for the show, and the ‘teen drama’ genre. The photo’s display objects such as, cans of alcahol or road signs, once more creating the feel that these teenages have a lack of boundries and dicaplin, and are lost or searching for themseleves and their identities. More images are used to establish and help set the location; with, flats, houses, rivers, bridges, parks etc, showing the audience that ‘Skins’ is set in and around a city.
The title of the show doesn’t appear untill after the montage has ended. It flows in and the text jumps between being large and small, untill it settles on a black screen, where through the word skins, an image of a river can be seen. It then starts with an extreem close up shot of ‘Tony’ – a key character, the camera then moves away from his face, accumponied by the sound of church bells. Moving into a long shot, we can see his whole room, helping to show the context (that it’s 21st century) and also helping to build up Tony’s character. The dovet cover for a start is an anicial indicator of the types of topics explored within ‘Skins’ (teen sex and relationships), it has a naked man and women on the front of it, and gives of the idea that Tony is maybe quite a bold, overly confident, flirtaious,shameless boy, this image is in complete contrast to the sound being played, feasibly hinting at the idea that he may have different sides to his character, or may put up certain personas to others. Paralell music then cut’s in, and a rap song takes over from the placid music, a seemless string of clips of him in his room – doing press ups, weights and looking in the mirror approvingly all idicate that he is quite a vain and self absorbed character. Once more looking at the mis en scene, the fact he spends the entire scene in boxers is another sign of body confidence and arragance.
The lighting used is quite dull and naturalistic, reflecting the realism of suburban life. Enigma is created when the shot flips to the street outside – establishing the area, a scruffy looking character, in punk type attire (holey skirt, fish nets, revealing top) is linked to ‘Tony’ by a sound bridge where a phone can be heard ringing from outside and then when it reverses back to Tony’s room, can still be heard, allowing the audience to know that the two characters are somewhat connected but leaving them to guess why.
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