The opening scene follows a tattooed man living in a trailer at a fairground. As he exits his trailer and walks through the fairground, the camera stays focused on him from a medium shot. His Metallica shirt and job at the motorbike stunt show help provide clues to his character. When he enters the stunt tent and sits on his motorbike, the audience sees his face for the first time. The single shot and focus on this character effectively introduces the setting and builds intrigue around this central figure.

1. Filmopening analysis
The Place beyond the Pines
The scene starts with a close up of the torso of a man, who is flicking
a knife around in his hand. The sound of the knife is very loud over
the top, this is to emphasise the knife and how it is a sharp weapon
so this makes the audience feel like this person could be dangerous.
The man is slightly passing back and forth in what you can make out
to be that this first scene is set in a trailer, due certain objects in the
room. Text then appears of who stars in this filmand we can see that
the man is tattooed all over his body and has a pack of cigarettes
tucked in to the top of his trousers. This may give the audience more
of an in site into this character. There is the sound of banging on the
trailer door and someone calling for the man who is inside the
trailer. He then stabs the knife into the cupboard and the camera
follows him to grabbing his shirt and exiting his trailer. As soon as this man opens the door
the sounds from outside are now louder and we start to see his surroundings. We now know
that he is at a fair ground due to his surroundings and sounds we hear. The camera stays in
a medium shot this whole time and follows behind this character. The audience also get an
idea that the man we are following here possibly works here as he is actually living on the
area. While the man is walking he then puts his shirt on to which we see is a Metallica top,
bearing in mind we still haven’t seen this man’s face, this gives us an idea that the character
likes this music and makes the audience now assume things about him. But he then covers
his top with a plain red jacket. While walking through the fairground we hear peoples
screams of amusement and being scared, this could give an imprecation to the filmthat it
contains these aspects. It also makes the scene be exciting due to all the sounds and sights
going on e.g. bright, flashing lights. The man whom we are still following lights one of his
cigarettes and makes his way down the games stall section. Our attention is still mainly on
this man and questioning who he is, what he’s doing and where he’s going. He then turns
the corner to where it is darkened and the sound of motorbikes revving is very distinct
sound now over the top of the screams. As he heads towards the tent people are taking
photos of him, this tells us that he must be known by the public and is possibly famous due
to the fair ground. The sounds of the motor bikes also gives us an idea that this is his job. As
he walks through the tent the crowd start cheering at him and a man introduces him
through a microphone as he walks in. As he confidently walks round to his motorbike, when
he sits on it this is the first time we see his face. So we now have an idea what he looks like
and who he is. As him and two others make their way into a metal cage (known as ‘the cage
of death’) this gives the audience an idea what they are going to be doing, knowing that this
is a typically fairground show/attraction to watch. When someone shuts this cage door and
their revving their motorbike engines, this then makes the audience excited and to hear the
cheers of the crowds there too emphasises this. To then have a close up shot up against the
cage watching the motorcyclists inside makes it thrilling for the audience. This whole

2. opening scene was taken in one shot, with the camera just following this one character and
it gives us an idea about this person.
I like the technique of having one shot and following a character and think it may be helpful
for when I create my own opening scene.