This will allow me to understand the micro elements in a film opening in the thriller genre which will benefit the production of my film opening

1. Understanding Micro Elements
in film openings
By Travis Quailey

2. Cinematography
We can see in the opening shot how they used a different camera techniques e.g pan shot
and close up shot) in the opening sequence, because it starts with a tilt on the main
character daughter playing and some shots close up shots on the father and her
daughter, which suggest the close relationship between them.
A beautiful tracking shot then when the father go to open the door and the frame moves
from side to side a lot, this shows that something is wrong and maybe something is about to
happen. The music also here playing a big role when it change to a slow and calm which
make the scene more scary and create the suspense of the film.
In the shot of the father attacked and fall on the floor they use a tilt shot to suggest the
father is impotent and helpless. Then fast moving shots for the scene where the robber is
beating his wife and stealing the objects in the house, they are all fast shots and they have
used action and reaction from the father when they attacked his wife.
There is few close ups of the father struggling on the floor which suggest his impotent and
helpless. In the end of the scene, the thieves go out with the daughter then they show father
in a close up of his eyes, his eyes close that suggest that he has given up.
Lighting also plays a major role with the viewers feeling and perceptions of the scene and
characters. The entire scene is in soft low light, light not directly from the source, to provide
the impression of good night for the family

3. Diegetic
Diegetic sound in the opening scene of the film law
abiding citizen happens when you hear the beads
which the father and daughter are making, the
mother who is clearly cooking a meal for her family
and as the door rings you can hear an aggressive bang
noise which turns out to be a pair of burglars.

4. Performance
Facial Expression – Shows emotion which could make the
audience feel bad the characters
Body Language – This gives everyone an idea of what the
characters feelings are in the film and what could happen
next in the film
Action(fights and abuse) – Makes the film much more
exciting and gets you involved in the film
Sound effects (items braking and people being attacked) –
Exaggerates the stunts and action which makes it sound
more realistic

5. Mise en scene
(Setting, costume, figure
expression, props)
In this shot the audience gets a glimpse of scene with one of the main characters of the
film and as it is a calm scene where he is sitting down next to his daughter. The audience
can learn more about the story and what could happen next. As it is a slow start to the
beginning of the story its bringing tension to the audience by making them want to know
more about the characters. Costume is like a family man kind of look which is casual and
nothing special.

6. Extreme close up
Extreme close up is basically like a close up but even closer, this is
a scene where the wife is being raped in a scene and as it is a 15 it
doesn’t show the full extent of what is going on in the film but
shows her facial expressions which makes you understand that
the woman is in serious pain. This emphasis’s the scene a whole
lot more than a close up this is why it is called an extreme close
up.

7. Close up
A close up shot is an effective shot in a movie which is used
by a lot of different genres such as action, horror and sci-fi
for the audience to get involved in the film more by showing
the characters feelings by his facial expressions which could
show what might happen next in the film.

8. Medium Shot
It shows medium shot of one of the robbers in the film with
his facial expressions and body language showing he is
clearly upset about the situation and what is happening to
the main characters family which is an effective shot and
typical convention of a thriller.

9. Pan
This a motion video shot where a woman in the movie is
thrown across the room to stop her from assisting her
husband during the robbery. This shot is very effective
towards moving action such as hand-to-hand combat.