Opening sequence analysis: 21 Jumpstreet

Opening sequence analysis: 21 JumpStreet.

A pair of underachieving cops are sent back to a local high school to blend in and bring down a synthetic drug ring. 

Directors: Phil Lord and Christopher Miller

Writer: Michael Bacall

Stars: Jonah Hill, Channing Tatum and Ice Cube.

Institutions: Columbia Pictures, Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures, Relativity Media, Original Film and SJC Studios. 

The film opens with the year at which it is set in. This gives the audience an insight as to why the characters may be dressed, talk or act the way the do, it also explains why the song "The real slim shady". 

The scene then leads on to show a yellow school bus, this shows the audience that it is set in a typical American high school. The shot then goes to a mid shot and focuses on one of the main characters. The colours that the audience is presented with portray a bold effect which adds a serious tone. 
 As an audience we are introduced to one of the characters just by this one swift change of shot. Although we are introduced to the first character, there is an enigma as we can only see the back of the character. This limits the audience to information and confuses them, therefore they have to try and figure out who he is and why they can only see the back of him. As the character steps off of the bus, the camera zooms slightly on to him which tells the audience who their main focus should be. The lighting on this scene is bright and is uplifting. 
The text that is shown every few seconds flashes and is in the colours of blue, red and white. These colours, flash effects and the siren sound effect indicates that the film is associated with the police. 
Further on in the scene, the other high school students are all together, talking, socialising and are in groups, however this particular characters that we are following round is by himself and is not talking to anyone, this therefore signals that he may be a very lonely character with limited friends and social groups. 
The characters attention is then drawn to the prom poster that is being promoted in the back. The poster is a common characteristic of a high school. 
Next we are finally able to see the characters face, his appearance correlates to the song that is playing. This is because Slim Shady was an iconic celebrity back in 2005 and was seen as 'cool' and was able to fit in and therefore the character Schmidt (first introduced to) is dressed like him in hope that he can fit in.
The goofy smile and wave suggests that Schmidt is trying to make friends with someone and is not popular, 'cool'  or able to fit in with others.  Schmidt proceeds to again focus on the prom poster, this indicates to the audience that he is looking for someone to go with. 
As soon as Schmidt looks away from the poster an attractive young girl is walking in his direction, he then becomes awkward, nervous and panicked, from his body language you are able to identify that he is uncomfortable around girls. The scene then progresses to him stopping the girl and talking to her, in the background the music quietens down and you are bale to hear his heart beat, this signals to the audience that he is nervous when trying to talk to girls and it isn't a regular occurrence for him.  

The shot then turns into a shot-reverse-shot so the conversation can begin. Schmidt then proceeds to talk, however he keeps repeating himself which shows he' not a confident person and emphasises his anxiety when talking to girls. 
The camera proceeds to zoom him on his expressions we are able to identify how he is feeling.  As their conversation continues, it is shortly interrupted by a boy who is seen to be the opposite of Schmidt and is 'popular', this boy is Jenko and is much more confident than Schmidt. 
As Schmidt is interrupted and is laughed at he then denies that he was asking the young girl (Melody) to the prom and again we are able to see how insecure and nervous he is around girls and popular people. 
Jenko then starts to mock and make fun of Schmidt which emphasises Jenko's character as the 'popular' boy. He also talks about how Schmidt is a 'nerd' and isn't good enough for Melody, this then embarrasses Schmidt. 
The school bell then rings and Jenko is called to the principals office which indicates he is  a trouble maker. Schmidt then leaves and is again by himself and lonely. 
Once Jenko is in the principals office, he is more concerned about being prom king and popular than the fact that he hasn't achieved any good grades. 
The next bilateral shot portrays the two characters are mirroring each other. The pillar on the left has the prom poster which shows that Jenko is the popular one out the two, whereas Schmidt  is still lonely, although the boys are from opposite worlds they have in common that they're both upset and sad.  The background music turns to dreary music so that the audience feels sympathy for them. They both shortly get up and leave.