The opening scene of The Ring is set in a girl's bedroom at night. Two teenage girls are sitting alone dressed in their school uniforms, talking. A close-up shot is used to show the girls' emotions as one tells a scary story. Dark, dim lighting and the isolated rural setting establish an ominous tone. Quick cuts and a conversation filmed with reverse shots build tension. The summary establishes key details about characters, setting, techniques like lighting and editing used to set the mood, while leaving key plot points undisclosed.

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 and this lasts for 21 seconds.
Credits may not be used because the story line might be
more important and director wanted to grab viewers’
attention immediately.
Camera Movement
(panning, tracking, crane
shot and crabbing etc)
Framing of Shot A 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.
A 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 A high angle is used to show that the character is less
low angles etc significant, and that the other person is looking down on
the other character. A low angle shows that the character
is looking up towards the other character and makes the
social group fearful.
Selection of mise-en- The lighting in the bedroom is dark and dull. and only the
scène including colour, lampshade is on, which may show danger is approaching
figure, pops, lighting, soon.
objects, location and It is located in the girl’s house, which is in the middle of
setting; nowhere.
There are two teenage girls sitting alone in the bedroom,
dressed in school uniform, which shows their innocence.
Editing directions A quick cutting rhythm is used to create tension in the
(Match cuts, jump cut, scene, and may lead to danger that is approaching the
reverse shots etc) girls. A reverse shot is used when the girls are having a
conversation with each other, and it may be used to show
if the characters are comfortable in each others presence,
which may tell the audience whether they have a good ot
bad relationship with each other.
Sound techniques Digetic sound is used as the girls are talking and they
(diegetic, non diegetic, become scared. The dialogue may give an insight into the

2. silence, dialogue character’s attitude towards life.
Whilst the girls are talking the noise of rain can still be
heard from outside, this may interrupt the action.
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 Claude Levi-Strauss. This is because the story is presented in a
apply to these openings? simple way, you can tell who the hero is based on the characters
How can they be applied? movements and facial expressions.