The opening scene of the film establishes mystery and suspense. It introduces the main female ballerina character as vulnerable and innocent through her white costume and being alone in dark surroundings. The main male ballerina is introduced as evil and controlling through his black costume and pushing the female character. The plot is slightly set up by showing the characters in costumes for a ballet production of Swan Lake, with the girl in a swan tutu and the guy in a raven outfit.

1. AS Media Studies: Foundation Portfolio
Code and
Conventions
Findings Textual Evidence
Creation of
enigma.
Enigma is created through the dark
setting and mysterious music.
Also we do not know who the man in
the opening is and we begin to feel
scared for the girl in the opening.
There is mysterious, parallel,
diegetic music playing
There is low key lighting used to
add suspense.
Introduction to
characters
The characters introduced are the
main female ballerina who goes on to
lose her mind throughout the film and
the main male ballerina who plays the
evil raven. We see the girl as
vulnerable and innocent. We see the
man as evil and controlling.
We can view the girl as
vulnerable as she is on her own
in dark surroundings, she is
also wearing white connoting
purity and vulnerability.
We view the guy as evil and
controlling as he is pushing the
girl around and he is wearing
black connoting evil.
Setting up Plot
The plot is only slightly introduced in
this opening.
From the opening we find out that a
ballet production of Swan Lake
The girl is wearing a swan tutu
and the guy is wearing a raven
outfit.
Pace and rhythm
Editing/mise en
scene/camera
shots
Mood and tone
(non diegetic
music)

2. AS Media Studies: Foundation Portfolio