Analysis of 2 AS Media openings

Insignia AS Media

by

Olivia Sharrock, Sophia Khan, Sophie Ongley, and Megan Rider

Within this analysis I will be looking at the camera angles, mise-en-scene, titles and music used in the AS Thriller Opening.

Firstly, the camera angles which are used within this opening are very

effective because they show every angle that the audience would want and need to see to not only know what is happening, but also to create suspense. The blurry effect used within the first shot, allows for the perspective of the main character to be recognised. The long shot from a birds eye view also allows the audience to see what is happening. With the character seen to be rather disorientated, the slight canted angle and blurry effect is used well. The long shot shows not only the character on the floor, but also a snippet of his surroundings. This then sets the scene for the audience and shows where the scene is taking place. This quickly cuts to a close up shot of the characters eyes, showing them rather squinted and again, disorientated. Quick cuts are then made from close ups to mid shots and also long shots, showing facial expressions reacting to an unknown tattoo, and the character standing up and exiting this setting. Further similar cuts are then made showing the character trying to contact his mum, to which there is no answer. The facial expressions and close ups used are allowed to create suspense because the audience will begin to feel scared for the forthcoming events. A quick close up shot of the character travelling on a skateboard in a different surrounding allows for the audience to then see that the character is no longer in the same setting that he was in earlier. This then creates suspense because it shows to the audience that there are different things in different places about to happen. An over the shoulder shot of a house then shows that the character is now walking towards his destination and that there may be things inside for him to discover. The same shot also shows

vehicles outside of the house. This then tells the audience that the property may be occupied which creates suspense. Mid and long shots are then used showing the male walking around the empty house. This creates suspense as it is unexpected and also leaves the audience feeling nervous as to what is going to happen. Furthermore, facial expressions used when showing close ups, mean that the audience are able to connect with the character and what they are feeling. Long shots of unknown posers of the characters tattoo on the wall then create suspense because it leaves the audience feeling confused and maybe even scared. Midshots then show the character crouching on the floor picking up and throwing news articles and letters which are all unknown to the audience. this the creates suspense because it may foreshadow later events within the film but due to it only being a short clip, this isn't clear to the audience. Furthermore, a close up of the characters face is seen in the final shot showing confused expressions. this is then used as a cliff-hanger which also confuses the audience and leaves them wanting more.

Sound is also a very good contribution to this thriller opening when creating a lot of suspense. For example, when the thriller starts, there is minimal non-diegetic music playing. However, when the camera angles and setting changes, there is also a change in the speed and tempo of the music. The tempo and pitch of the music then changes when the tattoo is shown to the camera. This then shows and insinuates that there is something about the tattoo which isn't normal. This then allows for the scene to create suspense. All throughout the opening, the non-diegetic music changes dependant on what is happening. The pitch tends to be either very high pitched or very low pitched when something big happens. The volume is also projected a lot louder, notifying the audience that it is something to be recognised.  

This then creates suspense because it will leave the audience frightened and wondering why there is such noise.

The titles within this opening are very clear and bold allowing for the audience to be clear on what the film is called, and who was involved in the making of it. The opening begins with the company of the film makers being shown. This is large and dark, allowing it to foreshadow the tone of the opening. This is then followed by a title opening made by the students which is very professional. I like the idea of incorporating something like this within our opening, as it shows that we are creative and able to think outside of the box.  The name of the film is also shown along side the back of the characters head when it is a POV shot. The font is clear, bright and bold. Although the font is white on a light background, it isn't too light, therefore still being visible and bold. Further into the opening, names begin to appear on the screen showing what people have taken part in what roles within the film. These are of smaller size and are white in colour. These then are also shown to appear and disappear
gradually. The font is an obvious blocked font all in capitals, allowing the writing to stand out well.

The mise-en-scene used within this opening is very good because it creates a large amount of suspense. Costume and clothing within this is very simple but does create a lot of suspense because of how normal everything seems to be. The dark clothing also foreshadows from the outset, the theme of the thriller opening. Furthermore, the tattoo that is used as part of the costume and clothing is very effective because it isn't somethings that you expected to see. This is due to him being a 'young' male and him also being in unfamiliar surroundings. Furthermore, if a male was to have tattoos, there are no need to being attention to them. However, the fact that they have bought attention to a tattoo, creates the idea of branding/imprinting. Another use of mise-en-scene that is effective is an empty house. The empty house is very effective because it insinuates that the male has come home to his family household to find everything gone. This creates suspense because you don't know where the stuff has gone, what has happened or what is going to happen.

Inner Evil AS Media

by

Kristine Gulden

Titles are shown at the beginning of this thriller opening which make the opening look very professional. The use of bright colours of the badge against the dark background, makes the titles clear and bold. The transition into the dark 'Lionsgate' titles then foreshadows the theme and the overall feel of the thriller to come. The clear and bold white titles with a easy to read font allow for the wording to stand out. Even though
the writing is white, the light background doesn't make the writing invisible. The titles then show the name of the main character when she looks into the mirror. At this point the character is looking at herself as we discover who she is. I like the fact that these two things coincide and would think that this would look good within our thriller opening as well.  However, at this point there is quite a problem with visibility where it comes to some of the names. Due to the font colour being  white and the background being very light, it is rather difficult to make out what is on screen. The final titles on the thriller opening is the reveal of the film name. This is on a dark background and also clears up what the film is about.


Camera angles are very effective within this thriller opening because it helps create a lot of the suspense which is created. The opening begins with a moving shot of a close up of the main characters body. The shot then shows her face looking up at the camera with what seems to be a bullet hole in her forehead. This then creates suspense because the cause of this is unknown, leave the audience on the edge of suspense. This then switches to a shot of the charcter waking up. The close up of the females face shoes her expressions and panting. showing that its just a bad dream. Many different shots throughout the opening switch between close ups, Midshots and long shots. These then accentuates the things that play a big part within the opening. For example, a key which she has a vision about. All of these things that are highlighted, shows that there is something playing with her mind. This creates suspense as they constantly don't give away too much information, thus keeping the suspense high. Other examples include editing of different close ups over the top of the other to create a slight canted angles. Long shots also show the female looking over her shoulder and being paranoid, creating suspense to what might be there.

Analysis of a thriller - Sixth Sense

Within this blog, I will be analysing the film Sixth Sense on three different moments within the film that suspense was created. I will do this by looking at mise-en-scene, camera angles, editing and sound.

The first moment that created suspense is at the point beginning 34:33. Within this scene, Cole is sitting at his desk at school and is blowing his pencil back and fourth. The close up of just his face blowing the pencil back and fourth allows for the audience to be aware that there is something building up. It also allows the audience to be focussed specifically on what they need to be focussed on in order for suspense to be created. The silence within this scene also allows for suspense as there is just the diegetic sound of the pencil rolling. The next shot then shows a series of long shots of Cole's teacher within his classroom as a POV shot. The teacher of the class then begins to ask a number of questions about the history of their school. This then allows Cole to answer but however, he is seen to be incorrect even though he knows the is right. The POV shot os Cole then shows that the whole class including the teacher is giving Cole a very disapproving look based on his answer. This creates suspense because it allows the audience to feel almost humiliated the same way as Cole would. Also, these disapproving looks spiral into the thing that makes Cole snap. The match on action quick cuts then show the conversation between the teacher and Cole, always using mid shots to display facial expressions clear enough but also the reaction of body language. The mid shot then shows the final disapproving look which leads to the suspense being created as it is the beginning of a scary moment within the film. The silence within the scene also makes the environment very uneasy, as the audience is almost waiting for something

to happen. The silence allows for a jumpy moment which may be unexpected.

Something else also unexpected is the mise-en-scene. The mise-en-scene of a normal classroom, with children in uniform and a teacher in professional clothing, makes the audience also feel uneasy. This may be due to the connotation that children have when it comes to scary films, or the fact that the school is so innocent there is nothing that could happen which would be scary or unnerving. The POV shot of the teacher then shows the facial expressions of Cole as he asks the teacher not to look at him in that way. As the audience already knows that there is something rather scary about Cole anyway, they also know that if Cole gets angry something bad may happen. This is why the visibility of Cole facial expressions becoming angry is very effective. This also creates suspense because it's as if the audience have to wait and see what is going to happen to him. The sound of Cole shouting also makes the audience surprised as he seems like a very innocent little boy. The volume of him shouting also creates suspense because they can tell that he is about to 'snap', they just don't know in what way. The same camera angle is kept as Cole begins to get angrier, shouting at the teacher 'You're a Stuttering Stanley'. This then makes the teacher angry which is seen from the POV shout from Cole. There is also now non-diegetic sound being used within the scene which is rather unnoticeable at the beginning. It is of low tone and low volume but also a moderately high pitched. As Cole repeatedly shouts 'Stuttering Stanley' at the teacher, the cuts between the two POV shots become quicker. The facial expressions become more and more disturbing from both Cole and the teacher as the teachers stutter becomes very noticeable. At this point, the non-diegetic sound grows louder and faster and becomes more of a very high pitch. This creates suspense as the music is used as a build up, which then leaves the audience waiting to see what is going to happen. The sound then becomes at it's highest pitch when there is an extreme clos up of Cole's mouth as he screams 'Stuttering Stanley'. This all builds suspense as the audience

are waiting for something bad to happen. Then a POV shot from Cole shows the teacher getting extremely angry and banging his hand down on the desk which makes every one jump. This is then seen to be what the suspense was building up to as he shouts at Cole 'SHUT UP YOU FREAK'. This then reaffirms to Cole what everyone thinks of him. The POV shot from Cole showing the teacher very angry is scary as it is unexpected.

Conventions of a Psychological Thriller Opening

Black Swan

Within a thriller opening there are four different conventions that are featured. They are storylines, titles, music and camera angles. Within the different types of thrillers, they will be adapted to suit the type of thriller that is being featured. Within this blog I will be talking about the conventions of a psychological thriller opening within the film 'Black Swan'.

The first convention of storyline is rather simple within this opening title. It shows what seems to be a woman's hand using charcoal to draw a picture. The dark colour of the charcoal foreshadows the fact that the drawing is going to be of a black swan. The fact that it is also a woman's hand that looks very feminine, foreshadows that the main character in the film is a female ballet dancer that aims to dance the famous swan lake performance. This opening scene also links to the genre of it being a psychological thriller. This being the look of the hand drawing is rather hypnotic and entrancing. The idea of hypnosis is very common within psychotic treatments.

 

Another convention of a thriller opening is titles. Within this opening scene titles are very subtle but also rather effective. They begin to appear at the very beginning of the scene on a black background with a bold font but light colour. The font all being in capital letters foreshadows how bold that the film may be. As the first set of titles fade away letter by letter rather quickly, the charcoal in hand appears. Whilst the charcoal is in the woman's hand, more titles appear and then disappear the same way as the previous did. This then continues until the end of the title sequence, repeating each time, the appearance and disappearance of the titles. At the end of the titles, when the music becomes very loud and startling, the words 'Black Swan' appear on the screen in the same font and colour as previously used with the other titles. This then attracts the audience into watching the film because it builds and creates suspense. The use of the harsh font also foreshadows the theme and feel of the rest of the film.

Camera angles is another convention of a thriller opening. This is used within this opening as a close up for the whole scene. The close up of the hand drawing with charcoal doesn't yet reveal the identity of the person drawing but leave a lot to the imagination, by using a feminine hand with dainty fingers. This then foreshadows the fact that there is going to be a ballet dancer as the main character and the dainty finger also contrasts to the sorts of things that the character will be facing within the film.

The final convention of a thriller opening is music. This plays a very big part within this scene as it is used with the sound track of swan lake. This then foreshadows that the film is going to be based around the ballet production of swan lake. The music starts off very subtle at the beginning, playing a good role along side the feminine hand within the scene. The music then begins to speed up, as does the hand. This then leads to the thickness of the charcoal increasing and the gentle strokes of the hand becoming more aggressive. The music runs parallel to this theme by becoming louder, stronger and again, more aggressive. This can be seen in the picture above this. you can see the charcoal is very thick and has indeed snapped due to the force that has been used. This can then insinuate that the female character within this film is also going to 'snap' due to the pressure she is being put under; just like the charcoal. At the end of the scene, the music becomes very bold, loud and even

scary when the titles 'Black Swan' is being shown. This the juxtaposes the way that a swan is usually seen and ballet is usually portrayed.