The opening scene of The Shining uses various film techniques to set an ominous tone. A high angle tracking shot follows a car driving alone on a deserted road surrounded by mountains and forests. Eerie music plays and gradually increases in volume, suggesting approaching danger in the isolated setting. These techniques leave the viewer wanting to know what will happen to the lone car and draw them into the mysterious narrative.

1. Analysis of Opening Film Techniques Employed – The Shining
Film Techniques Examples of typical film techniques used and why–
Illustrate your findings with references to actual
onscreen moments.
Titling – colour, font style, Colour of font is sky blue, which is a primary colour, this
over image or black, relates to harmony and is written in capital letters. For
timing, credits some people blue could be referred to sadness as it is
presentation etc related to rain or storms. It’s a remote location and we
see the green grass turn into snow. The eerie music
suggests that the opening is mysterious, it inspires a
feeling of fear; strange and frightening which also tells the
reader that it is a horror. The timing between each title is
a 5 second gap. 1.05 – A Stanley Kurbick Film, 1.10 –
Jack Nicholson, 1.16 – Shelly Duval, 1.21 – THE
SHINING, 1.26 – Featuring Danny Lloyd, 1.31 – Scatman
Crotchers, 1.36 – Barry Nelson, 1.41 – Philip Stone, 1.47
– Joe Turkel, 1.52 – Anne Jackson, 1.58 – Tony Burton.
Camera Movement There is a continuous tracking shot from a high angle
(panning, tracking, crane looking down on the car. Also the tracking shot is used so
shot and crabbing etc) that the viewers feel like they are part of the action, so
that they do not miss out on anything that happens and it
could be used to grab the viewers’ attention, if they want
to find out what will happen in the next scene. The
tracking shot is smooth and steady; it is not jumpy which
makes it easier for the audience to concentrate on the
object, scene and the setting.
Framing of Shot In the opening scene a long shot is used to show the
(CU, MLS, ELS etc) relation between the place and its surroundings. The
extreme long shot is used to establish where the following
scene is about to take place. I think a long shot and an
extreme long shot is used so that the audience can
become familiar with the settings, also they could be used
so that the audience can see a scene of an action that
would be taking place.
Camera Angles (high and High angles make the object seem smaller and less
low angles etc significant which would make it scarier. The angle focuses
less on the object and more on the setting because more
attention is given to the setting as there is more to see. In
this scene the object is the car. By using a high angle
camera shot, it shows that there could be something
weird about the car, as we have not been able to see who
is inside, we can only see the body of the car. The high
angle shot makes the object seem less powerful.
Selection of mise-en- In the opening scene the film is set in the mountains and
scène including colour, we can also see wide roads, which suggests this place is

2. figure, pops, lighting, lonely. Lonely tells the audience that this place is empty
objects, location and and unwanted; it is barely visited by anyone.
setting;
Editing directions A shortening cutting rhythm is used to so that cuts
(Match cuts, jump cut, between shots slow down to draw attention to the viewer
reverse shots etc) to each detail in the scene. This shot may be used in the
scene because the director wants the viewer to
concentrate on everything that is being filmed in the shot
as it may be important and relevant to the next part of the
scene.
Sound techniques The sound technique used is music. It’s eerie and starts
(diegetic, non diegetic, off slowly and gradually gets louder and louder. By getting
silence, dialogue louder it suggests that danger is approaching.
Actor’s positioning and
movement
Narrative Structure

3. Who is the hero and who You cannot tell who the hero or villa is because you are only
is the villan? shown the settings in the opening 2 minutes.
Where is the story set? The setting shows it’s a calm, deserted place with a lot of
What does this tell you greenery and it also shows that it is less crowded.
about the genre of the
film?
How many principle There are none because we are not shown any characters.
characters are there?
How is the story told?
Chronologically? Or does
it switch between present
and past? And what is the
effect?
What questions are you You want to know what will happen to the car because it is driving
left with? in a lonely place and is the only car on the road.
Which theories can you
apply to these openings?
How can they be applied?