A presentation we did in our Media studies lesson showing the whole class our interpretation of what we saw in the opening sequence of Silence of Lambs and what the effect was.

2. Micro element: Sound.The opening sequence of The Silence of the lambs uses a great deal of the micro- element -
sound; both diegetic and non diegetic, to express to the viewer lots of the key features as well as
mood and other effects.
Lots of diegetic sound is used to set the location/environment, for example when the protagonist
runs back towards the building, before we know what it is, diegetic gunshots among the silent forest
infer that it is some sort of military or police facility, as well as that, the film has an underlying theme
of law and possibly crime.
 The quietness of the forest whilst she runs suggest it is an isolated area, away from civilisation,
also it could be seen as an insight into her character; a reference to her being very independant or
somewhat of a lone wolf. This effect, coupled with the non diegetic music(which has dark
undertones), creates suspense, making the viewer tense, in anticipation of something bad
happening.
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3. Sound part 2:Once the protagonist enters the FBI facility, diegetic background sound is used
to display the type of work environment she is in. For example before she
enters the elevator, we can hear lots of male murmuring and banging sounds,
suggesting this is a more manual work area. It also highlights the larger male
presence here, conforming to gender stereotypes of this kind of work being
more suited to men.
As she exits the elevator, the diegetic background sound changes the mood of
the scene, as well as the atmosphere. Now we can here more stereotypical
office noises such as phones and printers, showing that this work area is more
catered to office style work involving boring “paper pushing” desk jobs.

4. Micro element: Editing
In the clip from ‘Silence of the Lambs’ uses editing to represent the mood and
atmosphere; amongst other things to the audience.
● At the beginning of the clip the editing is slow paced and flows freely in order to show a more relaxed
atmosphere, even though the protagonist is running through the woods alone, the editing placed with the
sound makes the viewer feel as though nothing bad is going to happen and puts them at ease.
● Throughout the opening scenes we see credits that have been superimposed over the original images, this
gives us some knowledge into the cast and crew that are involved in the film.
● The woman (protagonist) is doing and assault course, she is doing this with some speed and to show this
to the audience a jumpcut is used when the woman is running from one obstacle to the next to give us an
idea of how fast she is running, it makes us feel slightly on edge, even though we can see that she is
taking part in an obstacle course as soon as we see anyone running fast, our immediate thought is to think
that they are running away from someone or something. The jumpcut emphasises this as we cannot see
parts of the run that she is taking, suggesting not only is she running fast but also for a very long time.
● When the protagonist is walking into the FBI building, we see the camera hesitate on the sign that says
‘Behavioral Science Services’ before there is a cutaway to the woman walking down the corridor, the way
the arrow on the sign was pointing. This gives us, as the audience a bit of background information into
what the woman is doing and where she is going, but not so much that we are distracted from the
protagonists actions.
● Towards the end of the clip the man and the woman are in deep conversation and we see that a match cut
is used during the conversation. So when the man is talking we see the woman's face and vice versa. This
means that we can see the other person's reaction to what has just been said. For example when the man
mentions Hannibal Lecters name a match cut shows us the womans face so we see her reaction and the
fact she tries to take this in by repeating ‘Hannibal the cannibal’. Without the match cut we would only hear
these words and not see her face, therefore not understanding the full intensity of the situation.

5. Silence Of The LambsSilence Of The Lambs
Mise En SceneMise En Scene

6. ContextContext
 We can tell the film was set in the late 20We can tell the film was set in the late 20thth
centurycentury
 The actress is wearing trousers, jumper andThe actress is wearing trousers, jumper and
trainers and very light make up whichtrainers and very light make up which
women would not wear before the beginningwomen would not wear before the beginning
of the 20of the 20thth
centurycentury
 She’s also exercising outside on her ownShe’s also exercising outside on her own
which makes her appear as an independentwhich makes her appear as an independent
woman.woman.

7. The clothesThe clothes
 The second character to be shown wears an FBIThe second character to be shown wears an FBI
capcap
 This sets the mood of the play because FBIThis sets the mood of the play because FBI
creates a sense of mystery as most ordinarycreates a sense of mystery as most ordinary
people would not know who works for the FBI orpeople would not know who works for the FBI or
what they’re currently doingwhat they’re currently doing
 Makes the tone of the film more serious becauseMakes the tone of the film more serious because
the FBI are supposed to sort out crime problemsthe FBI are supposed to sort out crime problems
 The FBI cap indicates there’s an enigma.The FBI cap indicates there’s an enigma.

9.  There is also an older male who wears a doubleThere is also an older male who wears a double
breasted suit, a tie, a waist coat and glasses withbreasted suit, a tie, a waist coat and glasses with
frames that are very roundframes that are very round
 This shows he’s more powerful than the femaleThis shows he’s more powerful than the female
character because he looks much more groomedcharacter because he looks much more groomed
& neat, his clothes shows he’s wealthy and has a& neat, his clothes shows he’s wealthy and has a
high working position.high working position.
 He’s also looks older and more authoritiveHe’s also looks older and more authoritive
because the types of glasses he wears looks likebecause the types of glasses he wears looks like
they were in fashion before the film was set andthey were in fashion before the film was set and
he also has grey hairhe also has grey hair

11.  In some ways the female protaganist looks moreIn some ways the female protaganist looks more
powerful because she’s entering her work placepowerful because she’s entering her work place
wearing what she likes while most of the men arewearing what she likes while most of the men are
wearing the same thing, being part of one groupwearing the same thing, being part of one group
making her stand outmaking her stand out
 You can tell the men in the uniform won’t be thatYou can tell the men in the uniform won’t be that
significant to the story line if they’re all wearing thesignificant to the story line if they’re all wearing the
same thing because they’re fulfilling their narrativesame thing because they’re fulfilling their narrative
function of creating a working environment for thefunction of creating a working environment for the
film.film.

13. Positioning of propsPositioning of props
 The images stuck up on the wall indicatesThe images stuck up on the wall indicates
an enigmaan enigma
 Can identify a theme in the film “crime”Can identify a theme in the film “crime”
which was already shown through the FBIwhich was already shown through the FBI
capcap
 It foreshadows that the pictures on the wallIt foreshadows that the pictures on the wall
could possibly be the enigma thecould possibly be the enigma the
protagonist is trying to solve due to herprotagonist is trying to solve due to her
bewildered facial expressionbewildered facial expression

15.  We can also tell the female protagonist isWe can also tell the female protagonist is
intelligent because she’s working in theintelligent because she’s working in the
science industryscience industry
 We know this because we see her follow theWe know this because we see her follow the
sign of “Behavioral science services”sign of “Behavioral science services”
 This also could foreshadow what she’sThis also could foreshadow what she’s
trying to solvetrying to solve

17. Lighting and ColourLighting and Colour
 The building she enters has a very greyThe building she enters has a very grey
colour scheme and it’s very dullcolour scheme and it’s very dull
 The effect could be to give you a falseThe effect could be to give you a false
sense of security because the building issense of security because the building is
dull and creates no atmosphere ofdull and creates no atmosphere of
excitementexcitement

19.  The lighting at the start is also very dark butThe lighting at the start is also very dark but
gradually gets lighter trying to show to thegradually gets lighter trying to show to the
audience it’s early in the morningaudience it’s early in the morning
 The lighting is very natural through most ofThe lighting is very natural through most of
opening 5 minutes probably trying to createopening 5 minutes probably trying to create
a false sense of security that there’s noa false sense of security that there’s no
drama happeningdrama happening
 The gradual process of the lightingThe gradual process of the lighting
changing could probably be to try andchanging could probably be to try and
create a slow pace again creating a falsecreate a slow pace again creating a false