1. Researchthe openingsequencesof several films.(Cinematography,editing,soundandmise enscene)
PanicRoom (2002)
Cinematography - A long,wide shotwasusedinthisopeningscene showingthe backgroundthe
locationof where the filmwasset, throughoutthe majorityof the openingsequence there are manycity
buildingswhichcouldindicate whattype of classthe charactersare fromor justwhere the filmisset.
Thismakesthe audience more aware of what'sgoingto happenand to geta feel for the filmasif they
were involved.These othershotsare mediumshots,low angle closeupsandcrane shots,the varietyof
shotsmakesthe openingsequence have more characterandto portay thatthe cityis a verybusyand
differentplace foreveryonewho visitsandlivestheirsothe directormaybe tryingto show thisinthis
filmsothe audience isaware of differentperspectives.There issome trackingshotsbutare less
frequentanddonot lastas longas the othershots.
Editing- The creditshave beentransferredontothe locationshotsatthe beginningof the opening
sequence whichcouldbe describedasaharsh text(Forexample,Gothic) andisina stone colour.The
use of the strongtextexpressedincapital lettersbutlackof colourwhichblendsintothe background
couldsuggestloneliness,somethingorsomeone beinglostorhidden.Thisuse of editinghelpsgive
some of the storyline awaybutverydiscreetly. The creditsare performedinacontinuitymannerand
passesveryquickly,thiscreatesaedgeyatmosphereforthe audience whichcouldpreparedthemfor
2. whatis goingto happennext.Thisisalsohelpedwiththe non-diegeticsound.Inaddition,the textis
mostlysetto displayonthe leftorrighthand side of the shot butthe main title 'PanicRoom'isplacedin
the centerand the fontis muchbiggerthan the creditswhichemphasisesthe meaningof the film.There
issome editedunnatural lightusedtomake the cityto appearmuchbrightthan it couldnormallybe
whichmakesitlookmuch nicerandimprovesthe backgroundscenery.
Sound- Nondiegeticsoundisbeingusedthroughoutthe openingsequence whichcreatesanedgey
atmosphere because eventhoughthe backgroundismade toolookreallynice andaplace where people
wouldlike tovisit,the musicsuggeststothe audience somethingcompletelydifferentwhichmayget
themto like twice aboutwhattheybelieve the filmtobe.
Mise en scene - The big,tall skyscappers,buildingandmanycars includingyellowtaxissetsthe scene of
a verybusycity life andanothernormal day.Duringthe film, the pale,wornoutmakeupeffectanddull
clothingsuggestsahorror/thrillerfilmandthe the beginningof the filmstartsveryquietlywhich
contradictsthe settingthe charactersare inbecause the citylife isverynoisydue tothe hundredsand
thousandsof indvidualsandtransportthatis movingaround.Also,whenthe robberytakesplace the the
three malesare inall black/dark clothingwhichindicatesarobberyandthat somethingbadingoingto
happennomatter what.The all black costumesisa large scale sterotype whichissuedall overthe world
for robberyacts andnegative events.
Jaws(1975)
3. Cinematography- Atthe beginningof thisfilmthereisapanningshotthat pointstowardsthe characters
at the beachwhichshowswhattheyare doingand that isa normal,happydayand the beach.The use
of the panning could indicated a predator looking and waiting for his prey, which in fact a shark does too.
Thismay be deliberate andsome audiencesmayalreadybe thinkingthisbecauseof the DVD/videocase
has a shark onthe frontof it.Duringthisfilm, there isarange of close up shotsthat allowsthe audience
to anaylse the moodandthe charactersexpressionstowardscertaineventsduringthe film.Also,shot
reverse shotwhichallowsthe audience toengage andfeel involved.Anothershotispointof view,this
shotis usedto showthe audience whatthe sharkseesbefore andduringhisattack.Thismakesthriller
effectwhichmakes the filmexciting,more interestingandcausesadrenaline rushesbythe audience.
Long shotsalsohas thiseffectonthe audience.
Editing- There are manycross cuts duringthismovie,anexample of thisiswhenthe femaleisbeing
attackedand the drunkenmale onthe beach.Also,jumpcuts,graphical match andfadingisusedto give
the filmmore character andso it can flow withoutlookingjumpyandmakingthe shotslookharsh.
Sound- The openingmusicisthe typical track of suspense andafearful attackand relatestothe
meaningof the filmthatsuggestsomethingbadisgoingtohappenor sometimesnothinghappensatall
but the directorwantsto playgameswiththe audience.Thiscanmake the filmmore funand less
disappointingasaudiencesgetfed andupboredif theyalreadyknow whatisgoingto happenjustby
the musicor lighting.
Mis enscene - The locationwasat a large,sandybeachon a hot summersdaywhichconnotations
suggesthappinessandeveryone canrelate toa nice,relaxingdaythey hadon a day like thatwhich
couldmake themunaware and unconsciousof whatisgoingto happen.The charactersclothingisvery
natural and basictypesof clothingat the beach.E.g womeninswimsuitsandbikinisandmalesfully
dressesorin swimmingtrucks.There were suncanopieswhichsome characterslaidunderanddeck
chairsthat the one of the main character andothercharacters were sittingon.
4. Taken2 (2012)
Cinematography- Duringthisfilmthere isawide range of differentshotstoexplainthe storyline withas
much detail aspossible sothe audiencecanfeel apartof the chaos and to enjoythe adrenalinerush.
Close upsand mediumshouldershotswere usedtoshow the emotionsof the charactersface'swere
changingand to getan ideaof what washappeningevenif theycouldorcouldn’thearanything.For
example,whenthe daughterwasonthe phone lookingoutof the window.Also,there wasalong,wide
shotwhenshe came outof the buildingtoescape,whichshowsheragainstthe outsideworld,this
makesherlookextremelysmall andtoshow the audience the dangersof whatshe isdoing.Also,to
make the audience fearforher.There were overheadshotsinthisfilmaswell.
5. Editing- There wasa huge amountof editingusedforthe credits, the transitionfade inandfade outwas
usedwhichexpresssomethingbeingtakenquicklyof the subjectwhichbeginstoshow the audience
that somethingmayhappenveryquicklyandeasilyinthe film.Thiscouldindicate thatthe filmisgoing
to be fast moving.The creditswere laidonablack backgroundwhichconnatatescrime,mystery,
darknessandsomethingbeinglost.Thiscolourschemewasagreat wayto start the storyas it getsthe
audience thinking.
Sound- Duringthe openingscene,diegeticsounds wereused;suchasgun shotsandcars crashingwhich
instantlygetsthe audiencesattentionandthe adrenalinerushisinstant.Nondiegeticsoundswere used
of fastpacingmusic.Thiswas usedwhentwogunmenran pastin the backgroundbutthe director
chose to use musicwhichbuildstensionandsuspense.
Mise en scene - The locationwasa huge part of the filmbecause itshowsthe audiencethatthe
character istravelingandsearching,the use of the cityin the backgroundsuggeststhatwhere theyare
inthe villagestheyare notnoticedandunheardsoitshowsthat theyfeel hopelessinsome partsof the
film.Also,the charactersclothingforthe youngfemale suggeststhatshe'sstill verymuchachildand
she isveryinnocent.Thisisfocussedonwhenshe iswearingadenimjacketwithbrightpinkflowerson.
However,the villiansare alwaysdressedinblackordark clothingwhichsuggeststheyare are dangerto
herand theywill catchher whenshesnotreadybecause theyare not brightlydressedtheyare verydull
and couldblendintothe background.
