3. Opening sequence conventions:
A diegetic soundtrack is used in the opening of the film. It usually sets the tone of the
film and indicates what genre the film is and starts off slow paced. Also, the music is
piano music which is often related to and used in ballet, this could be a way of
introducing the story.
Genre conventions:
The music is slow piano music and is rather eerie. This helps to create a sense of
enigma as the audience doesn’t know what is going on. The tone and nature also helps
to build up suspense as the audience gets the idea that something is going to happen
but doesn’t know what.
4. Opening sequence conventions:
The audience sees a hand holding a piece of black chalk. This introduces a character,
who they assume is the protagonist.
Genre conventions:
Low-key lighting is used throughout the opening sequence of the film. Low-key lighting
is used to create tension and cause enigma as the audience know something is going
to happen but don’t know what. The low-key lighting could also suggest the inner
darkness of the protagonist. This idea is furthered by the use of the black chalk as the
colour black has connotations of darkness and the unknown.
5. Genre conventions:
Montage editing is used in this scene and indeed throughout the
opening sequence. It is a technique used (especially
psychological thrillers ) to build up feelings of tension and
suspense. This is because the audience doesn’t know what is
going on which adds to the sense of enigma.
6. Genre conventions:
In the opening sequence the character, who the audience assumes is the
protagonist, is colouring in with a black piece of chalk. As the opening
progresses the screen gets continuously more coloured in until the screen
is completely black. During this period, the music speeds up and
intensifies. This creates a tense atmosphere and a sense of enigma as the
audience wonders what is going on. The colour black has connotations of
darkness, danger and fear which adds to the aforementioned feelings. The
black chalk could also further the idea of showing the inner darkness of the
character.
7. Opening Sequence conventions:
The title of the film is shown.
Genre conventions:
The background colour is black, a colour with strong connotations. The colour black has
connotations of darkness, danger and the unknown. It also has links to mystery and fear
which are common in psychological thrillers. The colour choices creates a feeling of
tension, helped by the intense music in the background, which leads to a sense of
enigma where chosen colours give the impression that something of great significance
is going to happen and create the sense of enigma as the audience doesn’t know what
to expect. Also the text use is bold and block which makes it stand out. This helps to
emphasise the emerging sense of danger.
