codes and conventions used in film openings ( Lord of War)

Conventions of a film opening	Codes used to convey this convention (e.g. technical, symbolic, written)
The Hook!	Right at the very  start they use a technical code , using the camera there is a close up of the floor which has loads of bullets on it which is also a symbolic code and shows us that the film is going to be about guns and war as that’s what we relate to them objects. Then another technical code is used when the camera angle head to toe is used to establish where abouts the actor is, in the back ground we can see a burnt/still on fire village this hooks us in as you know that there will be action in the movie, then another technical code is used when the actor speaks to us and tells us about gun crime and gun use, which for the audience is very hooking as you want to learn more and gun crime is usually a very popular genre.
Set the scene (time? Setting?)	The scene is set in as it looks a poverty struck, African country. We can tell this by the establishing shot when the village behind is on fire and when they use the technical code and symbolic code  that shows point of view of the bullet it comes from a factory all the way to a very sandy and hot place with make shift houses, that’s how the scene is set. Using the technical codes we can tell its set in the present because when the actor is talking he gives relevant facts which are correct at that point in time and by the back ground and the weapons they’re modern all portrayed by the use of technical codes.
Introduce characters	Were introduced to the main character at the start when he talks to the audience in the establishing shot, we can tell this is the main character because usually the main character is the first person/people we see, we are presented the main character by the use of  technical code again with the head to toe camera shot of the character then a close up to show characters expressions.  The symbolic code of what the main character is wearing shows us that he’s a business man and he’s probably quite wealthy.
Introduce the genre	The genre is introduced straight away when we see  the bullets on the floor and the burning objects in the establishing shot through the use of technical codes and symbolic code to show the audience genre. we can tell it’s going to be about action as guns , fire and bullets are in the semantic field of action. Then when we follow the typical life of a bullet using a technical code again,  the point of view camera angle shows us that it’s going to be about guns and then we see the gun being fired and someone being killed, confirms the genre of action.
Credits	When the camera is following the life of the bullet we see the written code of the main actors name pop up onto the screen to start off, then we see the name of the movie pop up in a different font from then on we continue to see the actors names, the directors and producers names pop up onto the screen.
Narrative	The narrative used is when the main character talks to the audience about the guns ( which also sets the scene) the written and audio code is only brief then we hear a few words from the characters when they shift the boxes of bullets it adds a lot of affect that the only real audio code used is the main character talking.