Sawsan Ahmad Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Media Coursework
An analyse of the title sequence of
Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
Introduction
In this essay I am going to analyse the title credit sequence of the “Fresh Prince of Bel- Air”. I am going to talk about the camera shots and angles for each scene; the different mise-en-scenes and the unusual narrative in the beginning. I will also mention the different type faces (text) used; the characters; the language; colors and music. The “Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” is a typical American teenage show; with a big multi-media star. Will Smith is already known as a rapper. The show has already been a long-running success and is famous all over the world. The “Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” is based in America in 1988 it is a situation comedy (sitcom). I am going to begin this essay by addressing the unusual narrative. This goes on for the whole of the title sequence. It explains the story in RAP (rhythm and poetry). It begins off by saying: “Now this is a story all about how my life got twisted upside down, and I would like to take a minute so just sit right there and I’ll tell you how I became the Prince of a town called Bel-Air.” This makes the audience attracted and wants to see how he became a “Fresh Prince of Bel-Air”. Fresh Prince got into trouble because of fighting so his mum sends him to California to live with his Auntie and uncle in Bel-Air.
Story format
The “title credit sequence” is told in a story format. It is set in Philadelphia. Fresh Prince is spinning on the throne and in the background there is graffiti and teenagers like graffiti also teenagers are confused are confused because his life will change and he will be treated like royalty. Fresh Prince is doing graffiti on the wall and a police comes and tells him off so then Fresh Prince pretends he is spraying under his arm-pits. Many teenagers like people who are naughty and also they get in trouble by doing naughty things and they think it’s funny but its vandalism. They want to be cheeky like Fresh Prince. Fresh Prince is playing basketball but he misses the hoop so the ball hits a big gang and they start to bully him. Teenagers get attracted to it because they like the way the gang hits him and also teenagers get attracted to the show even more to find out what happens when he gets beaten up. Later, onwards Fresh Prince mum finds out that Fresh Prince has been in a fight so she gets angry at him. Even though Fresh Prince will be cheeky if he goes there but his mum wouldn’t know about it and he will be free and his mum wouldn’t tell him off because he will be far away. In the song Fresh Prince says “I begged and pleaded with her day after day. But she packed my suite case and sends me on my way.” So teenagers like it when other people get told off but they don’t like the fact if their mum sends them away even though if you beg her and tell her don’t send me away but still she does so teenagers like to see what happens when he is moving. Fresh Prince is on his way to Bel-Air and in the background theirs a lot of greenery places and theirs a big green mountain with the sign of Hollywood on top of it. Fresh Prince however, reaches at his auntie’s mansion and he gets out of the taxi and he stands at the massive door confidently waiting for the door to be opened. Teenagers nowadays like to travel alone they like huge mansions and also they get attracted to the Hollywood sign because that’s where the actors are and there is fame and also a lot of rich people there. Also, it’s the first chance to be alone so they are free and they can do what they want. When Fresh Prince arrives at his auntie’s mansion he has fun with his cousins and he can do what he wants so teenagers are attracted to the massive mansion so they are going to talk about it and they will also talk about the beautiful site in the background.
