film opening research for my AS media project

1. The scene starts with non-diegetic music and
non-vocal speech (subtitles.) this creates an
eerie feel and makes the audience think of
what’s going to come next. Thus connotes the
genre of thriller.
The music then stops and we see two men
talking to each other. The clothing and
background makes the audience believe that
the film is set in the future as you would not
see this sort of clothing in the modern day.
There is a lot of match on action shots which
creates continuity within the scene. During the
question time, the character on the left asks
the other a personal question to which he
doesn’t answer.
He doesn’t answer as the scene is cut to the
next shot where the sound of someone
screaming can be heard. This effect makes the
audience question why it was that the film was
made this way, so we wouldn’t hear the
characters answer. This connotes the genre of
thriller and suspense.
In the next shot, we get a sense of
juxtaposition. Previously we saw the two men
in bright colours with a cheerful mood;
however in this shot dark, dull colours are used
to create a tone of fear and frightfulness. This
is what you would expect from a typical thriller
movie. There are no other sounds or noises
apart from the girl and her sister talking. This

2. creates an ambience that the place is very run
down and creates a sense of poverty.
The final shot ends with the girl putting her
sister to bed and getting ready to leave the
house. The silence in the background connotes
a gloomy feeling and makes the audience
wander why she is leaving.

3. At the beginning of the clip, there is non-diegetic
background music with creates an ambiance of
suspense and tension, which makes the audience
what it is that the character is about to do. We are
introduced to the first character on a dark, night
which connotes that he is an illusionist and doesn’t
what people to see how he has done his trick. This
scene uses shot/reverse shots and close ups. This
makes the audience feel involved in the film and
can’t wait to see what will happen.
In the next scene we see that the character has
correctlypredictedthe cardthat the girl had chosen,
but not only that; has managed to get it up on a
building. The background music then changes to
more of a dramaticsound,which connotes a feeling
of the audience of shock and confusion and relates
to the genre of thriller. An establishing shot is used
to show the settingof the illusionbutalso showsthe
time of day; evening. This connotes the thriller
genre as most films of this genre are set later on in
the day.
The next scene starts with another main character
off screen saying ‘Look into my eyes.’ From this we
get the impression that this too may be another
main character in the film, and that he is a
hypnotist.Thisscene usesalotof extreme close ups
and shot/reverse shots, to show the emotion and
feelingonthe victims face, when being asked quick
rapid questions. We can see that the victim’s facial
expressions and see that he starts to sweat and
looms uncomfortable, which suggests that the
character is interrogating him and relates to the
genre of thriller. This is also show by the proximity
by the two characters. The main character is getting
closer to the victim as if he is trying to get into his

4. face and show him who is of higher authority.
We are then introduced to another main character;
a magician. An establishing shot is used to convey
the setting of this next scene. Dramatic music is
playedinthe backgroundwhich connotes the genre
of thriller.
In thisshotwe see the character performinga magic
trick in front of the public. The use of a close up to
show the trick is effective as it makes the audience
feel asif theyare there watchingthe trick with their
owneyes.The character andobjectare inthe centre
of the screen, which makes the audience focus on
that part. Before we are shown how he does the
trick, the genre of thriller is shown with the non-
diegeticbackgroundnoiseandthe feelingof how he
has done this magic trick.
The next shot is set inside in a dark room, with
flashing lights. This is where we are introduced to
the final main character. The dark gloomy lights
makes the audience feel suspense and tension;
linking to the genre of thriller. A close up shot is
used to show the cufflinks on the girl. Most of the
audience would expect her to break herself out of
these.
However, we then see that she can’t undo them.
Rapid,close upshots and fast-paced music are used
to create a sense of fearfulness for the girl and
suspense. We hear her screaming; however it is
muffled increasing the intensity of a thriller film.

5. The opening credits begin with a close up of a
book being turned slowly by a mysterious man
in the background. The dark lighting shows that
the character in the back is going through the
book; this signifies that the character is looking
for something specific and can be classed as
having some kind of passion about a certain
thing or someone. There is no doubt left to the
viewer that this films genre includes suspense,
and makes the audience want to learn who this
character is and why they are going through a
book in the dark. A non-diegetic sound is then
amplified which creates a further sense of
suspense and mystery.
The title credits are then shown in a way that
looks like it has been handwritten. The sharp
edges to the letters, and the 'sketchy' font,
shows that the film could be of a thriller genre,
and thisrelatestowhatwe have already seen at
the beginning of the credits. The text then
jumps around repeatedly in the same spot that
couldmake someone feel uneasy and paranoid.
The genre of horror/thrillerisconnoted through
the mise-en-scene in the next shot where it is
followed by quick close up of various sharp
metal objects which implies that they could be
used for experimentation. The way that he
handles the tools are of a psychotic behaviour
therefore confirmstothe audience thatthe film
is of a thriller genre

6. The nextshotis anotherclose up,butthis time
of a teabagbeingdippedintoacup of water.
Thisconnotesrelaxationandleisurelyactivities;
it alsosignifiesthatthe characteris comfortable,
as theirmovementsare calmandslow. This
createsjuxtapositioncomparedto the previous
shots,thisisveryrelaxedwhere asbefore,and
we saw swiftmovementsof sharp,mischievous
metal objects.
In the nextshot,we getan insightof whatthe
character does inhisown time.Shotsare shown
of the character writingdown,inwhatseemsto
be a diaryor book.The book isremovedfroman
oldbox,indicatingthatthisissomethingthat
the character storesaway,as it may be a prized
possession,forwhichhe doesn’twantanyone
else tofind. The shothas beeneditedsothatit
isrepeatedoveritself,givingthe ideathatthis
character may be insane asit disorientatesthe
audience.
The shot alsoshowsthe character cuttingout
picturesandwords,againrelatingtothe idea
that he may be obsessedwithsomeone,or
something.We see thatthe handsare
repeatedlyshownwithbandagesall overthem.
Theylookroughand dry, whichsuggeststhathe
doesn’ttake care of hishealthiness. The ideaof
a psychopathistherefore strengthened,asit
showshe has concentratedsomuchon his
passionforbrutal torturing,he hasn’thad time
to lookafterhimself

7. At the start of the opening
credits, rock music is played
which connotes the genre of
thriller. This is also shown
through the dark gloomy
colours. We see fast extreme
close up of miscellaneous objects
and creates a mysterious feel
towards the audience.
The mysterious feel is shown in
the next when we see a girl
covered in oil, and makes us
wander why she is covered in
this. The rock music in the back
ground begins to speed up and
gets the audience’s heart racing.
The fast paced music and dark
colours all connote the genre of
thriller and mystery.
In the next shot, we see a man
being set on fire which creates a
feel of violence and thriller. The
music gets louder and faster,
with addition to quick extreme
close ups on the person. This
connotes the genre of thriller
and makes the audience ‘sit on
the edge’.

8. We then see the previous man
drowning in water, with no
attempt to save himself. Again,
the colours are cold, dark and
gloomy which are the
stereotypical conventions of a
thriller film
The scene ends with a lot of
violence and fast paced music.
This is what you would expect
from a film of the thriller genre.
Close ups are used to create an
impact on the audience.