1. Step outline for film opening of The Purge
Genre: Horror (cert. 15)
Description of action Timings Mise-en-scene Sound Camerawork Editing Typography
Universal ident 00:00:00 -
00:00:23
The well-known
universal studios ident
is shown with the
word universal being
across the earth.
Non–diegetic
low-key, heavy
music is
echoing at
different levels
of sound.
The camera
pans around the
earth and then
the words
universal pan
across as well.
Then a long
shot of the
earth with the
words is shown.
Fade to and
from black
transition.
The word
universal is in
large, bold
silver, simple
typography.
Blumhouse ident 00:00:24 -
00:00:40
Everyday objects
such as a chair are
shown floating mid
air in a dark room.
A girl is then shown
wearing a white
dress before the
blumhouse words are
shown.
The camera jolts
around slightly
at the beginning
and then moves
in a fast
smooth motion
around the
room.
Fade to and
from black
transition.
The words
blumhouse
productions are
shown bending
around the
corner of a wall
and are in
simple capital
letters with a
dark washed out
effect on them.
Platinum dunes ident 00:00:41 -
00:00:54
Dunes of sand are
shown before the
words platinum dunes
appear on the
screen.
The camera
quickly pans
across dunes of
sand and
continuing when
Fade to and
from black
transition.
The words
platinum dunes
are in silver
capitals, spread
across the
2. the writing
appears.
screen.
Info on crime rate 00:00:55 -
00:01:05
Information of
hypothetical crime
rates in America are
shown on the
screen.
The camera is
stationary for
the whole
scene.
Fade to and
from black
transition.
The writing is in
yellow, typed,
simple font that
is quite small.
Blessed our new
founders
00:01:06 -
00:01:17
The camera is
stationary for
the whole
scene.
Fade to and
from black
transition.
The writing is in
yellow, typed,
simple font that
is quite small.
Fades from black to
the writing and then
fades back to black.
00:01:18 -
00:01:21
The writing “universal
pictures presents” is
on the screen.
Non-diegetic,
soft orchestral
music in a high
key.
Fade to and
from black
transition.
Capitalised,
simple font,
similar to ‘Arial
narrow’. The
words ‘universal
pictures’ are
larger than
‘presents’,
making them
stand out,
Fades from black to
the writing and then
fades back to black.
00:01:22 –
00:01:26
The writing “A
platinum
dunes/blumhouse/why
not production” is on
the screen.
Fade to and
from black
transition.
Capitalised,
simple font,
similar to ‘Arial
narrow’. The
words ‘a’ and
‘production’ are
in a much
smaller font
3. size.
Fades from black to
a man repeatedly
shooting another man.
00:01:27 -
00:01:29
The screen has faint
horizontal lines across
it, which suggests it
is being played
through a old-
fashioned video
player.
The shooter is
wearing a chequered
short sleeve shirt and
the victim is wearing
a dark jumper with
the hood up.
The scene is
shot in a
medium/long
shot, with no
movement.
Fade from black
transition and a
sharp cut from
scene into the
next scene.
There is video
information in
the top right
hand corner of
the shot. The
font is
computerised,
like it has been
typed.
Also there is an
actors name in
the middle of
the screen in
the same
computerised
font.
4. A sharp cut jumps to
the next scene,
where a group of
people are attacking
someone.
00:01:30 –
00:01:32
A group of people
wearing jumpers with
the hood up are
repeatedly kicking
another person. At
the same time other
people are looking
around to see if
anyone is coming.
The scene is in
bird eye view,
like the camera
is looking down
on the people.
The scene is in
black and white
with the people
almost glowing
like they are
being looked at
through an
infrared camera.
The scene cuts
straight to the
next scene.
There is video
information in
the top right
hand corner of
the shot. The
font is
computerised,
like it has been
typed.
Also there is an
actors name
below the
information in
the same
computerised
font.
Abruptly cuts from the
previous scene to
man walking
backwards and firing
a gun.
00:01:33 –
00:01:35
The man is wearing
baggy, dark clothes
and a hat.
The scene is a
medium, shot
and the camera
is stationary.
Sharp cut into
and out of the
scene.
There is video
information in
the top right
hand corner of
the shot. The
font is
computerised,
like it has been
typed. There is
also an actors
name slightly
below and to
the left of the
5. information and
in similar font.
A sharp cut goes into
to the next scene of
a group of people
fighting and a group
of men running over
to join in
00:01:36 –
00:01:39
All the people are
wearing casual
clothing, such a
tracksuit.
The camera
zooms out to
show the clump
of people
fighting and then
zooms back in
following the
men running
and joining in.
A sepia effect
is put on the
scene. There is
an sharp cut
into and out of
the scene.
The scene has
capitalised
writing on the
bottom of the
screen, there is
video information
on the bottom
left and camera
information on
the bottom right.
All the writing is
in typed font.
Also there is an
actor’s name
that appears in
the middle right
of the screen in
similar typed
font.
Sharp cut into the
next scene of two
men firing guns over
a car.
00:01:40 –
00:01:42
The men are wearing
slightly formal
clothing, a jacket and
neat trousers.one of
the men is wearing
a baseball hat. The
car is old fashioned
The camera
follows the men
running up to
the car and
jolts slightly
when the shots
are fired.
Sharp cut into
and out of the
scene.
Also an effect
is put onto the
screen so the
only two colours
The time is
displayed at the
tope right of the
screen in
computerised
font. Below that
there is an
6. and shops of some
kind can be faintly
seen in the
background.
are green and
white.
actor’s name in
typed font and
below that there
is video
information in
the same
computerised
font.
Sharp cut into the
next scene of a
person attacking
another person in an
empty dark alley.
00:01:43 –
00:01:49
The two people are
wearing dark clothing
and are right by a
streetlight. The man
being attacked is
lying on the floor
while the other man
beating him with bat.
It is a long
shot and the
camera is
stationary. The
people are in
the far left
corner of the
shot are far
away from the
camera.
Sharp cut into
and out of the
scene.
Fading in and
out of an
actor’s name.
There is video
information in
the bottom right
of the screen in
a capitalised
typed font.
Above this
information an
actors name
appears in a
similar font.
A sharp cut into a
woman covered in
blood slowly standing
up and beginning to
walk away.
00:01:50 –
00:01:51
The woman is
wearing a small grey
dress, she has long
hair and he face is
blurred out. Also she
is covered in blood
and has no shoes
on.
The shot is a
medium/long
shot with
women
positioned in the
left side of the
shot.
Sharp cut into
and out of the
scene.
Also there is
pixelated
changing of
colours in the
scene to show
it is a video.
Fading in and
There is video
information in
the top right of
the screen in a
capitalised typed
font.
Also, two
actors’ names
appear on the
screen, one on
7. out of actors’
names.
the middle left
of the screen
and the other in
the right middle
of the screen.
A sharp cut into the
next scene where two
men are punching
another man.
00:01:52 –
00:01:53
The three men
wearing nice shirts
and trousers and two
are attacking another
by some yellow
bollards.
It is a medium
shot and he
camera is
stationary.
Sharp cut into
and out of the
scene.
There is video
information in
the top right of
the screen in a
capitalised typed
font.
A sharp straight cut
transition into the next
scene of a building
on fire as people run
past
00:01:54 –
00:01:57
Shutters of a shop
can faintly be seen,
through the out of
control fire that is
blaring. People are
running past the fire
in either panic or
after someone. One
person running past
is holding a bat as
a weapon.
The scene is a
long shot and
the camera is
stationary.
Sharp cut into
and out of the
scene.
There is video
information in
the top right of
the screen in a
capitalised typed
font.
Also, two
actors’ names
appear on the
screen, one on
the middle left
of the screen
and the other in
the right middle
of the screen.
Straight cut into a
man shooting
00:01:58 –
00:01:59
A man wearing a
dark jumper with the
The scene is a
medium/long
Sharp cut into
and out of the
There is video
information in
8. someone in a car. hood up, shoots
someone in a white
car then walks away.
shot and the
camera is
stationary.
scene. the top right of
the screen in a
capitalised typed
font.
Also there are
the words
“casting by Lisa
Fields”
underneath the
video information
in similar
capitalised font.
Straight cut into a
man wearing a helmet
walking across the
screne, oblivious to
the fire behind him.
00:02:00 –
00:02:02
A man wearing all
black with a helmet
on, walks across the
screen, not noticing
the very large fire
behind him.
The scene is a
medium/long
shot and the
camera is
stationary.
Sharp cut into
and out of the
scene.
There is video
information in
the top right of
the screen in a
capitalised typed
font.
There is also
information about
the costume
designer in the
middle left hand
side of the
screen in similar
font.
Straight cut into three
men punching another
man.
00:02:03 –
00:02:06
The men are wearing
casual clothing, a t-
shirt and jogging
The scene is
shot in a high
angle camera
Sharp cut into
and out of the
scene.
There is video
information in
the bottom right
9. bottoms. The man is
being beaten up on
the side of the
street.
shot and the
camera moves
with the men as
they travel
towards the man
being beaten up
who runs away.
of the screen in
a capitalised
typed font.
Straight cut into an
empty street with a
man being shot
repeatedly at the end
of the street.
00:02:07 –
00:02:09
There are plain
building on the left
hand side and a
large range rover
park also on the left.
In the distance you
can seen a man
repeatedly shooting a
person lying on the
floor.
The scene is a
long shot and
the camera is
stationary.
Sharp cut into
and out of the
scene.
There is video
information in
the top right of
the screen in a
capitalised typed
font.
Also there are
the words
“music by
Nathan
Whitehead”
underneath the
video information
in similar
capitalised font.
Straight cut into a
group of men kicking
and punching another
man in a deserted
area.
00:02:10 –
00:02:13
A pile of wood can
be faintly seen in
the background of
the scene, along with
a building. There are
three men violently
kicking and punching
The scene is
shot in a high
angle camera
shot and the
camera is
stationary.
Sharp cut into
and out of the
scene.
Fade transition
of writing onto
and off the
screen.
The name of
the person who
edited the film
appears in
middle, left of
the screen in a
capitalised,
10. another man. simple, typed
font.
Straight cut into a
deserted area and a
line of dead people
are laying down on
the floor.
00:02:14 –
00:02:16
Five dead people are
lying down in a line
across an empty bit
of concrete on the
side of a street.
The camera is
at a slight high
angle and is
stationary.
Sharp cut into
and out of the
scene.
Fade transition
of writing onto
and off the
screen.
There is video
information in
the top right of
the screen in a
capitalised typed
font.
There is the
name of the
production
designer in a
similar font.
A straight cut into a
restaurant of people
panicking.
00:02:17 –
00:02:21
Shots are being fired
into a restaurant
where people are in
panic trying to leave.
The camera is
stationary and is
positioned in the
top right of the
restaurant like a
cctv camera, so
the shot is a
slight high
angle.
Sharp cut into
and out of the
scene.
Fade transition
of writing onto
and off the
screen.
There is video
information in
the top right of
the screen in a
capitalised typed
font.
The name of
the director of
photography
appears on the
screen in a
similar but
smaller font.
A straight cut into a
person crawling
behind some posts.
00:02:22 –
00:02:25
A person wearing a
blood stained shirt is
crawling away behind
The camera is
stationary
throughout the
Sharp cut into
and out of the
scene.
There is video
information in
the bottom left
11. some yellow posts. scene and it is
a medium shot.
Fade transition
of writing onto
and off the
screen.
of the screen in
a capitalised
typed font.
The name of
the co-producer
appears on the
screen in a
similar but
smaller font.
A straight cut into a
building a car on fire
in a vandalised empty
street.
00:02:26 –
00:02:27
An empty street is
shown with a building
and car on fire. The
fire is large and out
of control.
The camera is
stationary and is
a fair distance
away form the
fire. Also it is a
long shot.
Sharp cut into
and out of the
scene.
There is video
information in
the top right of
the screen in a
capitalised typed
font.
A straight cut into a
man shooting another
in an office.
00:02:28 –
00:02:30
A man with a blue
jumper on is shown
repeatedly shooting
another man, you
can only see the
back of the shooter
and the victim is
shown falling to the
ground.
The camera is
stationary and is
placed in the
left corner of
the office.
Sharp cut into
and out of the
scene.
Fade transition
of writing onto
and off the
screen.
There is video
information in
the middle right
of the screen in
a capitalised
typed font.
The name of
the producer
appears on the
screen in a
similar but
smaller font.
