AS Coursework: Film Openings

Nacho Libre (Jared Hess, 2006)  

Nacho Libre DVD Cover

Budget: 
$32,000,000

US Box Office: 
$80,197,993
UK Box Office:
 £3,297,259

Opening Weekend:
$28,309,599 (USA) (18 June 2006) (3,070 Screens)
£993,948 (UK) (13 August 2006) (366 Screens)

The length of the opening scene is 2.50 minutes

Company Idents:
Paramount
Nickelodeon Movies
Other companies (Idents not included)
Black and White Productions

Titles included in the opening scene:
'Jack Black' - The main star's name comes before the film title itself
'Nacho Libre' - The film title
'Ara de la Reguera'
'Hector Jimenez'
'and Peter Stormare' - Characters
'Richard Montoy'
'Troy Gentile'
'Casting By' 
'Jory Weitz'
'and Carol Lewit'
'Co-Producers'
'Damon Ross'
'Ricardo del rio Galnares'
'Costume Designer'
'Graciela Mazon'
'Edited By Billy Weber' - In one full sentence proving his importance to this film
'Production Designer'
'Gideon Ponte'
'Executive Producer'
'Steve Nicolaides'
'Produced by'
'Mike White'
'and Jack Black' - Mentioned for the second time in the opening credits
'Produced by'
'Julia Pistor'
'Produced by'
'David Klawans'

Shots Used in Opening scene (opening 20 shots)
1: An OTS, used to show what the character is holding and to also view it from his perspective
2: MS, to show what one may be wearing and to knowledge the audience as we now know he is looked after by a nun
3: CU, to the Tv in which cartoons are on maybe to symbolise the characters young age
4: CU, to a grave so we know this character is something to do with a church
5: CU, as he tears the beads of a Jesus Christ cross to symbolise his religion

6: OTS, of his Nacho Libre vest

7: MS, putting his mask on, to show the scenery around him and the costume designing involved as of his wrestlers outfit
8: LS, in the graveyard again to show his surroundings a LS is used
9: LS, punches statue
10: MCU, to the character lying down, to show his emotion (that he is tired)

11: MS, as he is taken away, this is used to get to grips with the other characters which are obviously monks due to their costume design
12: CU, to the tap
13: LS, used to show the chapel and the hosing down of the boy

14: LS, hit with towels
15: LS, putting his clothes on
16: MCU, taking his mask of a MCU is used to show his emotions

17: MLS, opening of the door to reveal the boy
18: Shot of the table
19: MCU, of the boy
20: MCU, of the monk

The opening scene ends with a transition as the young boy raises his tray of food as his head leaves the cameras view the transition is that of a new shot, the character when he is older is revealed to the audience. We get the sense that the character has been doing that all his life.

The exposition provided to the audience is that a young boy has been raised by monks in Mexico due to his appearance and the shots provided to show religion through the use of mis-en-scene. The boy has been shown to be very enthusiastic about wrestling but as the opening scene finishes the audience sees that the character has not progressed with his life.