1. Film openings research edited:
The scene starts with non-diegetic music and
non-vocal speech (subtitles.) This creates an
eerie feel and makes the audience think of
what’s going to come next. Thus connotes the
genre of thriller. I could use this in the planning
of my project, as the effect of this created
suspense and so would be effective in my film.
The music then stops and we see two men
talking to each other. The clothing and
background makes the audience believe that
the film is set in the future as you would not
see this sort of clothing in the modern day.
There is a lot of match on action shots which
creates continuity within the scene. During the
question time, the character on the left asks
the other a personal question to which he
doesn’t answer.
He doesn’t answer as the scene is cut to the
next shot where the sound of someone
screaming can be heard. This effect makes the
audience question why it was that the film was
made this way, so we wouldn’t hear the
characters answer. This connotes the genre of
thriller and suspense.
2. In the next shot, we get a sense of
juxtaposition. Previously we saw the two men
in bright colours with a cheerful mood;
however in this shot dark, dull colours are used
to create a tone of fear and frightfulness. This
is what you would expect from a typical thriller
movie. This connotes the theory of Todorov, as
there seems to have been an equilibrium,
which is disrupted by the next scene. There are
no other sounds or noises apart from the girl
and her sister talking. This scene creates an
ambiance that the place is very run down and
conveys poverty within the film.
The final shot ends with the girl putting her
sister to bed and getting ready to leave the
house. This links with Propp’s character theory
in that there is a hero character in a film which
is shown through Katniss comforting her sister.
The silence in the background connotes a
gloomy feeling and makes the audience
wander why she is leaving.
3. At the beginning of the clip, there is non-diegetic
background music with creates an ambiance of
suspense and tension, which makes the audience
what it is that the character is about to do. We are
introduced to the first character on a dark, night
which connotes that he is an illusionist and doesn’t
what people to see how he has done his trick. This
scene uses shot/reverse shots and close ups. This
makes the audience feel involved in the film and
can’t wait to see what will happen. This links with
Propp’s character theory, and suggests that this
character is a main one.
In the next scene we see that the character has
correctlypredictedthe cardthat the girl had chosen,
but not only that; has managed to get it up on a
building. The background music then changes to
more of a dramaticsound,which connotes a feeling
of the audience of shock and confusion and relates
to the genre of thriller. The change of music could
work really well in my media product as I’m hoping
to make the audience feel edgytoo. An establishing
shot is used to show the setting of the illusion but
also shows the time of day; evening. This connotes
the thriller genre as most films of this genre are set
later on in the day.
4. The next scene starts with another main character
(again, connoting to Propp’s character theory) off
screen saying ‘Look into my eyes.’ From this we get
the impression that this too may be another main
character inthe film, andthat he is a hypnotist. This
scene uses a lot of extreme close ups and
shot/reverse shots,toshow the emotionandfeeling
on the victims face, when being asked quick rapid
questions. Thisfeaturemakesthe audience feel as if
theyare part of this shot and can unease them with
the quick questions. We can see that the victim’s
facial expressions and see that he starts to sweat
and looms uncomfortable, which suggests that the
character is interrogating him and relates to the
genre of thriller. This is also show by the proximity
by the two characters. The main character is getting
closer to the victim as if he is trying to get into his
face and show him who is of higher authority.
We are then introduced to another main character;
a magician. An establishing shot is used to convey
the setting of this next scene. Dramatic music is
playedinthe backgroundwhich connotes the genre
of thriller.
In thisshotwe see the character performinga magic
trick in front of the public. The use of a close up to
show the trick is effective as it makes the audience
feel asif theyare there watchingthe trick with their
owneyes.The character andobjectare inthe centre
of the screen, which makes the audience focus on
that part, suggestinghe isamaincharacter linkingto
Propp’scharacter theory. Before we are shown how
he doesthe trick, the genre of thriller is shown with
the non-diegeticbackgroundnoiseandthe feelingof
how he has done this magic trick.
The next shot is set inside in a dark room, with
flashing lights. This is where we are introduced to
the final main character. The dark gloomy lights
makes the audience feel suspense and tension;
linkingtothe genre of thriller. The darklights is very
effective and is something that I may like to
incorporate intomyfilmopening, as this too will be
of the thrillergenre. A close upshot isused to show
the cufflinksonthe girl.Mostof the audience would
expect her to break herself out of these.
However, we then see that she can’t undo them.
Rapid,close upshots and fast-paced music are used
to create a sense of fearfulness for the girl and
suspense. We hear her screaming; however it is
muffled increasing the intensity of a thriller film.
5. The opening credits begin with a close up of a
book being turned slowly by a mysterious man
in the background. The dark lighting shows that
the character in the back is going through the
book; this signifies that the character is looking
for something specific and can be classed as
having some kind of passion about a certain
thing or someone. The character shown could
be a main character or even a villain, which
connotes Propp’s Character theory. There is no
doubt left to the viewer that this films genre
includes suspense, and makes the audience
wantto learnwho thischaracter isand whythey
are going through a book in the dark. This
feature issomethingthatcould work really well
in my film opening. A non-diegetic sound is
thenamplified which creates a further sense of
suspense and mystery.
6. The title credits are then shown in a way that
looks like it has been handwritten. The sharp
edges to the letters, and the 'sketchy' font,
shows that the film could be of a thriller genre,
and thisrelatestowhatwe have already seen at
the beginning of the credits. The text then
jumps around repeatedly in the same spot that
couldmake someone feel uneasy and paranoid.
The genre of horror/thrillerisconnoted through
the mise-en-scene in the next shot where it is
followed by quick close up of various sharp
metal objects which implies that they could be
used for experimentation. The way that he
handles the tools are of a psychotic behaviour
therefore confirmstothe audience thatthe film
isof a thrillergenre.ThisissomethingthatI may
use in my media product as it made the
audience feeluneasy;something I would like to
do I my film opening.
The nextshotis anotherclose up,butthis time
of a teabagbeingdippedintoacup of water.
Thisconnotesrelaxationandleisurelyactivities;
it alsosignifiesthatthe characteris comfortable,
as theirmovementsare calmandslow. This
createsjuxtapositioncomparedto the previous
shots,thisisveryrelaxedwhere asbefore,and
we saw swiftmovementsof sharp,mischievous
metal objects.
In the nextshot,we getan insightof whatthe
character does inhisown time.Shotsare shown
of the character writingdown,inwhatseemsto
be a diaryor book.The book isremovedfroman
oldbox,indicatingthatthisissomethingthat
the character storesaway,as it may be a prized
possession,forwhichhe doesn’twantanyone
else tofind.The shothas beeneditedsothatit
isrepeatedoveritself,givingthe ideathatthis
character may be insane asit disorientatesthe
audience.
The shot alsoshowsthe character cuttingout
picturesandwords,againrelatingtothe idea
that he may be obsessedwith someone,or
something.We see thatthe handsare
repeatedlyshownwithbandagesall overthem.
Theylookroughand dry, whichsuggeststhathe
doesn’ttake care of hishealthiness. The ideaof
a psychopathistherefore strengthened,asit
showshe has concentratedsomuchon his
passionforbrutal torturing,he hasn’thad time
to lookafterhimself
7. At the start of the opening
credits, rock music is played
which connotes the genre of
thriller. This is also shown
through the dark gloomy
colours. We see fast extreme
close up of miscellaneous objects
and creates a mysterious feel
towards the audience. The dark
colours and the non-diegetic
music is something that I would
like to use in my media product,
as it makes the audience feel
edgy.
The mysterious feel is shown in
the next when we see a girl
covered in oil, and makes us
wander why she is covered in
this. The rock music in the back
ground begins to speed up and
gets the audience’s heart racing.
The fast paced music and dark
colours all connote the genre of
thriller and mystery.
8. In the next shot, we see a man
being set on fire which creates a
feel of violence and thriller. The
music gets louder and faster,
with addition to quick extreme
close ups on the person. This
connotes the genre of thriller
and makes the audience ‘sit on
the edge’.
We then see the previous man
drowning in water, with no
attempt to save himself. Again,
the colours are cold, dark and
gloomy which are the
stereotypical conventions of a
thriller film. The man could be of
significance and connotes to
Propp’s character theory.
The scene ends with a lot of
violence and fast paced music.
This is what you would expect
from a film of the thriller genre.
Close ups are used to create an
impact on the audience.
