Opening scene research on a action Film 'Baby Driver'

The Action Film opening sequence I'm going to be analysing is from the film 'Baby Driver' which was released in 2017, directed and wrote by Edgar Wright. Starring actors including Ansel Elgort, Jon Bernthal and Jamie Foxx. The Film had a budget of $34 million USD. At the box office it received good profit making $226.9 million USD worldwide.

'baby Driver' Is about a music-loving orphan that is very talented go-to getaway driver for heists. Paired with a great soundtrack picked out for every Job in the film. A high packed action film throughout. The opening scene skillfully introduces us into the world of the film, it manages to set up a few of the main characters and shows us many ways what this film could be about, without any type of dialogue in the opening. We can tell the genre admittedly is action because of the fast pace moving scenes throughout the opening sequence. The opening is set up into two parts (scenes) that are the first one which is the set up and then the 2nd part is the getaway.

Edgar Wright sets up the opening using what the audience sees and hears to try and set up the world of the film. This is done well by Edgar Wright because even before we see anything we hear a high pitched tone that fades into a non-diegetic musical tone. suggesting and planting the idea to the audience that the film may be setting up a film where maybe the main character loves listening to music. It would make sense that we hear the music before we see anything establishing that music will be a critical part to the film.

The first 3 opening shots when it fades in from black quickly and easily give us context for this world and set up the main character. The first shot when it fades in from black shows passing cars and a bank We also see on the sign it tells us the first location of the film which is Atlanta in america. 

Continuing from the same shot it shows a bright red car that fills up the screen, calling attention to itself as it is the most important piece of this scene. We as the audience can start to piece together the materiel for the film we will probably be able to start guessing from this one shot that the scenario that is being established here is a bank robbery.

The second thing we as the audience see is an Ipod clearly establishing that this is set in a modern time. also this is the first step establishing the fact that the music in 'Baby Driver' soundtrack is actually a part of this world making it a diegetic sound, we are hearing what this character is hearing, the music isn't just something for the audience. by making this the second shot of the film, Wright is also emphasising the important that music will play in the film.

given the close up shot we can assume this character 'baby' is the main character, and given his skills is we can assume that he is the getaway driver for this robbery.

When 'Baby' starts to play a song on his ipod each of the next 4 cuts happen on beat with the music. even the man chewing gum next to baby is chewing in tempo with the music. As the crew gets out of the car the slamming of the car doors, opening and closing of the trunk and their footsteps, as well as the sounds of vehicles beeping and passing in the street, all synchronize with the music. So in the first seconds of the film the audience is already introduced to the stylistic movement for the film suggesting that the characters within the film are going to be in sync with each other to the music that 'Baby' is playing. he's also relaxed withich adiimtlety tells us he is calm  and confident in his abilities.

At 48 seconds into the film the crews masks go on which now definitely manages to tell you the situation going on in the scene as Wright has now made it very obvious. This is where another important decision happens, even though the more interesting part of the scene the movement of the action is moving into the bank, Wright uses a wide/ over the shoulder shot and perspective to separate 'Baby' from the crew and we as the audience stay in the car with him again the director's way of showing and not telling us what is happening it also manages to entice the audience as they want to know what is going on from the perspective in the bank.

This manages to get the audience comfortable with 'Baby' as we can assume he is the main character and to see what his character is like, and we can assume that the fact the camera didn't go into the bank with the robbery that this whole film is going to play out through 'Baby's' perspective. Which could be the director's way of separating us and him from the criminal world. This manages to get us to sympathize for him for being left out. To further establish this, Wright uses a sequence of baby singing along to the song to contrast 'Baby's' attitude and how he acts. 'Baby' is a getaway driver, but he acts like a kid who is having fun. 

Wright reminds the audience that the separation that he has from the rest of his group is just an illusion, the passing of a police car wakes up 'Baby' from his enjoyment and his view of the bank robbery through the window and a pleonastic sound if a gunshot and seeing it, serves as a harsh reminder to 'Baby' and for the audience of what he is involved with. There is another close-up shot of 'Baby's' face and this closest we get to his face so far to really show off his emotions, to emphasise the importance of the situation he is in. This could also be trying to show from the director there could be a sense of conflict between his own character. For example the relationship to the crime.   

The second part of this opening scene is the getaway which consists of so many shots spread over 2 to 3 minutes, and having so many changing shots showing the fast pace action is a good convention to show that the genre of this film is going to involve a lot of action. 

This way of cutting each shot quick also works like a musical montage of a car chase, rather than a real life example of a car chase. The getaway mainly focuses on 2 things 'Baby' and the car, during this scene we don't see much of the conflict of the scene the police the director just makes you think you do because of how fast the scene is moving. Aslo, their lights appear lots throughout as clear reminders of the danger approaching or appear in a reflection in the shot to remind us that the police are onto him. 

Most of the time the camera is spent on 'Baby's' driving, and the reactions from the other characters in the car. For example there are certain looks that 'Baby' receives from the character in the passenger seat of the car. This expression gives the audience the idea of the skepticism that this character shows for 'Baby'.

Wrights directing of this scene doesn't just show a big flashy action opening to get the audience hooked it also subtly gives to the audience information that can help and think of what is to come of the story ahead of them.