2. CONVENTIONS Having the male character as negative. Dark clothing for the negative characterwhich immediately sets the tone for the movie. Strings instruments to create a mysterious sound which also set the scene City – This follows the typical horror movie technique of having something big happen in a city where there are loads of witnesses. This allows interaction with the public and shows how people react to the situation. Rapid jump cuts-suggesting the action and also adding to the shock of the events in the movie. This movie does not use pathetic fallacy which is unusual for a movie of this genre. It has been subverted and used Bright weather to begin the movie.
13. SOUND We hear music right at the beginning-fades in. The main character speaks at the beginning. music stopped. The voice is deep and has an echo to it emphasising the negativity of the character. Having the background silence also adds to the atmosphere. Then music comes back in more upbeat suggesting its a action, thriller or horror movie.(non diagetic sound) Music-mysterious –string instruments with drums and quicker pace when it gets more into the movie Music plays throughout the credits Sound of car doors being closed-enhanced- No sound of the environment just the music.
14. CAMERA TECHNIQUES Close up of the main character right at the beginning before seeing anything. Cuts to a low angle shot of what looks like a theme park Low angle shot rises into establishing shot to tell us that the movie takes place in an American city. Cuts to the place where the main action happens. Cuts back to the main character in a vehicle. Point of view shot.(over characters shoulder) Quick jump cuts of significant places in the bank (where the crime takes place)- pace suggests action happens in this area. We get another shot of the bank The shots jump from The bank to the main character back to the bank which tells the viewer that the action is going to take place in the bank. Long shot showing the environment of the people in the film.
15.
16. CONVENTIONS Helpless blonde which allows the audience to immediately identify the victim of the story. String instruments/eerie/shocking music which sets the tone of the movie. Male character the negative character. Old Abandoned house City Pathetic Fallacy
17. TITLES The titles are split-one colour is light and the other is dark suggesting its a psychological thriller. This also suggests split personality The pace of the titles also suggest mysterious action and the personality of the main character. The broken titles along with the music makes the audience feel uneasy
18. MISE EN SCENE The time and date at the beginning replicates a police report so its almost as if we’re looking back on the crime. The date has no year which makes it mysterious as it could happen at anytime The female character is in white underwear suggesting she is innocent. The white underwear worn by the woman in the hotel room creates an innocent image for the female although she is a negative character.
19. Sound The music immediately jumps in . String music creating a tense atmosphere. The effect of having the music jump in imitates the shock of the movie and presents its genre. The strings add an atmosphere and tone to the movie. They also suggest the personality of the character committing the crime.
20. CAMERA TECHNIQUES Establishing shot to tell us where we are Smooth cuts until we get closer to the main characters then the cuts become more jagged Peep through the window-voyeurism. This is also repeated in the end as we go into Norman’s mind and hear his thoughts. We see the main characters face immediately which tells us she is the main character- she is laying down showing us that she is less superior than the man standing above her.
21.
22. CONVENTIONS Set in the night (slight pathetic fallacy) Low key music (cello sound) String instruments Dark colours – black - these conventions set the tone for the movie allowing the audience to become edgy and anticipate the events of the movie.
23. TITLES The titles fade in over coloured backgrounds. The filling of the titles is see through. The title of the movie comes up in carnival colours and design and then fades into a black colour which turns into smoke and vanishes off the screen-this emphasises the thrilling events. The edgy font sets a edgy and nervous tone for the movie.
24. MISE EN SCENE Close up of the rides. We see a fortune teller in a box with a frightening face which suggests the victims may be challenged. When we get the title of the film we also see an image of playing cards suggesting the psychological side of the movie. There is a Image of a devil which makes the audience anticipate a demonic theme. Plaque card saying “do you believe in fortunes” Makes the audience feel uneasy/tense. Image of mechanics also suggesting its psychological side. On the Merry go round they show a mirror image. On one side the ride stays at the same pace and the other speeds up. Image of sharp dangerous objects The word ‘death’ in a ball game with nails
25. SOUND Low key music(cello sound) string instrument as soon as the movie begins. The pace is slow and smooth which adds a tense atmosphere. The music gets a drum beat which imitates a pulse. The pace becomes quicker We hear screams in the background over the deep music. The music becomes more rapid as we get an image of mechanics More screams heard- louder
26. CAMERA TECHNIQUES we get close ups of the area showing significant areas. Establishing shot of a theme park Low angle shots of different rides in the them park. Pace of the cuts is slow making it more mysterious. A lot of fading technique used The movement of the camera is smooth A lot of close used to show different elements of the environment. The cuts and the music speed up at the same time
29. TITLES Having the titles in mid air suggests suspense. The titles are large and appear as if they are on the buildings . Grey colour and sharp direct font which sets a edgy tone for the movie. The hard colour and font also imply that the movies events will make the audience feel on edge. The camera does a pans across the names slowly They are written in a bold sharp font
30. MISE EN SCENE The billboards of couples feature blonde women which suggest that the victim/s of the crime could be either a blonde female or couple.
31. SOUND Music is deep and slow and then abruptly changes tone and pace. There is a dominant string instrument which changes the pace of the music as it uses sharp defined notes You hear a female voice before you see any people suggesting its psychological
32. CAMERA TECHNIQUE Establishing shot is the first thing we see. Cuts to a closer shot of the city Quick pace cuts to different area’s of the city. The cuts are staccato Birds eye view of the city Does a scan of the city as if searching for a victim The cuts are quite sharp. Split edit
35. TITLES In-between titles we get quick flashes of an imagine that look like a train. The titles are in white on a black background and then they turn into a moving object and fade. The tiles are in white.
36. MISE EN SCENE The empty train station adds to the tense atmosphere . The black coffin in the centre of the white room suggests impurity or tainted innocence. The female character is wearing black. A male character wearing all black joins the female character. She appears comfortable with him. In the train station there is a small analogue clock. showing the time although it is unclear what the time is we are aware that this occurs at night. There is another clock as the woman and man leave the station. Unlike the other clock this one has a dark outlining. It shows the time 3:05
37. SOUND The first thing we hear is the sound of a plane engine however there is no picture on screen. Eerie music- string instruments used. The shoes of the female character is enhanced Echo The non diegetic sound of the train and plane engines. There is a zoom into the coffin and there is a loud bang (could be the lid of the coffin) the sound shocks the audience. This adds tension. When the characters exit the station the music becomes softer but this adds to the mystery.
38. CAMERA TECHNIQUES First image is a long shot of a blonde woman sitting at a train station. We only see the back of the woman. We then get a zoom in. This suggests she is the main character. There is a quick jump to the face of the woman then we zoom into a close up of her face. We to a white room with a black coffin in the centre signifying death After dialogue we jump cut back to the train station- his shows memory We get a birds eye view of the empty train station as the main characters get onto the train. The majority cuts and scenes are fluid. Cut back to the white room with a coffin
39.
40. CONVENTIONS A male character An old abandoned house hidden by plants Pathetic Fallacy
41. TITLES The titles fade in subtly which could suggest a hidden message in the film. The Tile of the movies appears in white-purity and then fades into red which suggest corruption. Its also a symbol of passion/blood.
42. MISE EN SCENE Zoom into the laptop on the table through the window. The costume of the man (dark clothing dark hat) suggests he is a negative character. He wears glasses which could be the metaphor for the window. The mirror next to the bookcase which introduces the character in his home. The sofa and having the man sleeping on the sofa tells us about his social class as well as the clothing( when he’s sleeping on the sofa are tattered and dirty ). The book case and letters on the table next to the laptop suggest he is a writer of some sort.
43. SOUND First sound heard is the window wipers which builds up tension. Then the sound of the characters voice. There is a scream which shocks the audience. The music is soft but has a deep undertone which makes I sound sinister and suggests that the movie contains thrilling or horrific scenes. Split edit. We hear the voice however the character is not speaking suggesting it is psychological.
44. CAMERA TECHNIQUES The first image is presented by a close up of the character. We see his facial expression which suggest that he is the main character and he is the destructive one. The fade out of the car into the sweep across the river. The close up as we look into through the window- voyeuristic . Before we get to the house there is a shot of the forest surrounding the house. The use of using mirror image to show the character on the sofa.
45. WHAT I HAVE LEARNT From analysing 6 openings I have learnt how to present different ideas of horror/thrillers in limited timing. I have also learnt how to show themes of the movie using font, camera techniques and mise en scene. This task had also shown me what kind of film production companies produce thrillers and horrors and it has made me think about what Production company I would like to use.
