Camera-
Throughout the opening sequence there is a variety of camera shots such as close ups, medium shots, wide shots, to get all the action going on in the sequence. Many of the shots use the technique of head-on towards the audience. In one clip the characters are running towards the camera, in a clip of a football match they are running at the camera with the football, this enhances the sense of involvement and excitement of the audience.
The opening sequence also uses a lot of low angled shots when the characters are playing football, this may be to get all of the body language in and make the characters seem dominant towards the audience, this low angle also to the audience makes the characters seem higher up, this may link to the characters being 'high' on drugs.
Another camera angle used is the wide shot/long shot, when Renton is in a room smoking drugs, this shot shows off Renton being alone in this empty room which signifies the isolation of him, that when he smokes he is all alone in his mind.
Editing-
A lot of editing techniques are used during the opening sequence. There is a lot of faced paced editing to drive the plot on and to signify the genre being action. The technique of action match is used when Renton is hit by a car and then shot is quickly to changed so that the audience looks as if they are the one who hit Renton with the car, this makes it feel more real for the audience. The editor also used eyeline match, with Renton, this effect puts the audience in the position of the characters and helps us feel empathy for them.
The editor used a montage of shorts to show time passing, giving the audience ideas of what Renton's life is like, and what he does to pass time. It gives us a lot of narrative in a short period of time. Although the short takes changing very quickly creates a lot of narrative enigma for the audience questioning what is going on, E.g. why are they running?
Sound-
The accent of Renton doesn't sound too educated, and gives us a clue of how he lives and where he lives, the conditions etc. There is also a voice over of Renton, and the dialogue he is saying gives the audience a clear understanding of his life, his attitudes and values and gives a lot of information about the character helping the audience relate to his life.
There is non-diegetic sound of a soundtrack playing whilst the action is going on, the soundtrack is fast paced which links as to what is happening on screen. The soundtrack is fast which creates a sense of urgency and panic for the audience. The beat of the soundtrack sounds a lot like a heartbeat possibly Renton's.
Visual-
Setting/Costume- The location in the beginning looks like quite a rich city, which juxtaposes what he is wearing, the costume is dark and shabby for the boys showing their run down attitudes and personality.
Props- In the beginning with Renton and a mate running down the street a lot of things are things falling out of their pockets its emphasized quite a lot which signifies what little Renton has that he has to carry everything he has in his pockets loosely.
Body Language- A lot of the body language of the characters is quite lazy and laid back, this represents their behaviour. Their posture is poor signifying they haven't been brought up in a well-off family.
Facial Expressions- A lot of their facial features are scruffy, their hair isn't neat and tidy. A lot of their facial expressions are confused and dull, however sometimes they are laughing and smiling which means they could be high from drugs, or they are loving how they are living they feel happy and free.
Mise-En-Scene- In the last scene Renton is in a fire coloured room, this signifies the danger he is in by smoking drugs. There are also holes in the wall this could connote the holes Renton has made in his life, or the holes in his mind suggesting he isn't all there from drugs. There are also chairs stacked up against the wall this could represent that Renton wasn't alone at one point but emphasises how alone he is now with no one around him that everyone has left him or has died from his reckless lifestyle. Him falling to the ground creates the sense that he is dying and collapsing and panics the audience by creating the enigma off if he is dead how will the film go on, the smoke leaving his mouth can signify his soul leaving his body.
Audience-
The audience for this film would be an active audience as they wouldn't just watch they film they would have their own thoughts and opinions on the characters life they wouldn't just accept it. The film could create empathy for the characters by many of the shots being eye level. The primary audience would be teenagers that live similar to Renton. Although the audience could also be schadenfreude as they could get pleasure in seeing Renton's life as a struggle and how awful it is.
Ideologies-
The ideology for the characters would be a stereotypical teenager, in hoodies and scruffy clothing, doing drugs and drinking alcohol causing a nuisance in society. However, Renton's life is being portrayed as dystopian and he isn't doing well in life by smoking drugs.
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