1. Analysis of Opening Film Techniques Employed – The Ring
Film Techniques Examples of typical film techniques used and why–
Illustrate your findings with references to actual
onscreen moments.
Titling – colour, font style, DreamWorks is an
over image or black, American Film Studio
timing, credits which directors, produce,
presentation etc and distribute films, video
games and television
programming. It has now
produced or distributed
more than 10 films with box-office grosses totaling $100
million each. – lasts for 21 seconds.
Credits may not be used because the story line was
important and director wanted to grab viewers’ attention
immediately.
Camera Movement
(panning, tracking, crane
shot and crabbing etc)
Framing of Shot Close up is used to give the audience an insight into the
(CU, MLS, ELS etc) mind of the character, to show what kind of emotion is
being shown
Long shot is used to show the surroundings of where the
scene is being shot. Zooming out shows the that the
director wants the audience to know what is happening,
Camera Angles (high and High angle shows that the character is less significant,
low angles etc and that the other person is looking down on the other
character. Low angle shows that the character is looking
up towards the other character and makes the social
group fearful.
Selection of mise-en- Darkness, light in bedroom is dull only lampshade is on
scène including colour, Located in the girl’s house, in the middle of nowhere
figure, pops, lighting, 2 teenage characters, in their school uniform (home alone
objects, location and at night)
setting;
Editing directions A quick cutting rhythm is used to create tension in the
(Match cuts, jump cut, scene.
reverse shots etc)
Sound techniques Digetic – sound of television
(diegetic, non diegetic, Non-Digetic – Girls talking, become scared: “Who told you

2. silence, dialogue that?” – From talking quietly becomes louder as they get
scared. Then quietly says “I’ve watched it” – is worried
Blurred noise of television – switched on by itself
Whilst girls are talking noise of rain is still being heard
from outside
Actor’s positioning and One girl sitting on floor leaning again bed, the other girl
movement lying on the bed above the other girl, when the girl begins
to tell story she gets up and sits on the bed and the girls
come close to each other.
Narrative Structure
Who is the hero and who At this point in the film, you do not know who the hero or villan is,
is the villan? but you figure out who the victim is.
Where is the story set? The beginning of the story is set in the victim’s house, which tells
What does this tell you us that something will happen in the victim’s house, but the
about the genre of the audience is not fully sure about what will happen.
film?
How many principle There is one principle character in the opening film and the other
characters are there? girl is her friend who is only shown in the first two minutes.
How is the story told? The story is told chronologically. This shows that whatever’s
Chronologically? Or does happening is in the present, nobody really knows what will
it switch between present happen.
and past? And what is the
effect?
What questions are you You want to no what happens. Does the girl die? Who else dies?
left with? Does her boyfriend die? Do her parents find out what the cause of
her death was?
Which theories can you
apply to these openings?
How can they be applied?