This is my similar product research, a film opening analysis of Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol

1. Joey Pinder HL
Film Opening – Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol
Mise-en-Scene:
The film’s opening scene is set in Budapest, and shows a chase sequence between what we
believe to be a secret agent and pursuers on the rooftops of a building. It then switches to a
prison in Moscow where we first meet the main character and the start of a prison breakout.
The chase sequence has many props that are essential to make the scene work. First, being the
guns that every character has, to create a more intense opening. Also, the sequence features
some ‘files’ that the supposed agent has which gives the audience an idea about why he is being
chased. Finally, the last two important props would be the gadget that allows the agent to have a
safe landing also help lead the audience to believe that he is an agent of some sorts, and the
phone which tells us that the female character is an ‘assassin’, therefore a bad character. Props in
the prison scene would include expected things such as prison beds and empty cells, and for the
shot of the guards, we can see hot drinks, alcohol, a pack of cards and computer screens.
However, the computer screens become very import as they link shot of the prison with the
character inside of the van who is attempting to help start the prison breakout with lots of
technology being used.
In terms of costumes used, the chase scene shows the agent and the pursuers to be wearing dark
clothing but also fairly smart, the assassin herself shows no emotion throughout the scene, even
when killing the agent. The. In comparison, the female character is shown to be wearing equally
smart clothing but, a lighter grey which could signify her to be a key character in the scene. The
prison shows guards in their uniform, and the prisoners to be wearing bland clothing, both of
which very dark again. And the character behind the computer appears to be wearing a delivery
van uniform which is likely a disguise, as all the computer gear seen wouldn’t usually be seen in a
van.
During the chase seen, all the characters have a serious facial expression however, once the agent
takes out all the pursers, you can see him smiling with a sense of relief and proudness. When he
then sees the assassin, he can be seen smiling at her but back to a serious face as he gets a
message. Finally prison scene shows both the guards and the prisoners to have boring
expressions on their faces and sat very slumped on chairs or laying down on the beds. In
comparison, the character behind the computer is shown to be concentrated as what he is doing,
we can only assume, is very important.
The lighting in the opening scene of the city is bright in comparison to the prison scene due to the
chase scene taken place outside in the day, whereas the prison sequence is at night and inside.
The colour remains bland in both sequences with more dark colours showing than light.

2. Joey Pinder HL
Cinematography:
The opening shot is an establishing shot of the city, Budapest. This gives the audience a clear idea
of the setting before anything happens. This then moves on to a mid-shot of the agent and shot
reverse shots between the agent and the pursuers during the gun fight, and as he falls from the
rooftop. From here, there is a medium close-up of the agent and this helps the audience fully
identify the character and his importance. The medium close-up moves into an over the shoulder
shot when he first sees the assassin then flicks to his phone when he receives a message to show
the audience where the sound has come from. Shot reverse shot is then used to show both the
characters’ expressions when the assassin shoots the agent. Then the camera moves from a shot
of the body over to the agent’s phone on the ground so that the audience now know that the
female’s a bad character and an assassin.
Similar to the opening scene, we again see an establishing shot of the prison in Moscow and
multiple shots inside of the prison which shows very little activity. Afterwards, it then returns to the
establishing shot of the prison but, the camera moves downwards at the delivery van. This
transitions through to a mid-shot of the character behind the computer and then an over the
shoulder shot. These shots give the audience and understanding of the surrounding area in the
van and the current atmosphere inside of the prison. Finally, we have another over the shoulder
shot to show the computer screen before moving on to the shot of the guards.
Sound:
To begin with, the music starts very tense when panning around the establishing shot of Budapest.
The music then gets louder as it zooms in on the agent, before the chase scene, then as he opens
the door onto the roof, the chase sequence music begins. As the agent lands on the floor the
music stops to a more quiet and softer piece before continuing with the dramatic music as
another pursuer arrives. Then, as soon as the agent shoots the last pursuer, the music stops with
just one instrument playing as he walks away. When the camera zooms in on the phone showing
the audience that the female is an assassin, the music builds tension to help signify the importance
of what is on the phone. The prison scenes don’t have any non-diegetic sounds, and very little
diegetic sounds. The only sounds that stand out is the sound of the rock hitting the wall and dogs
barking outside. I think that this gives the audience and understanding that nothing happens at
the prison and it has an overall boring atmosphere. However, this does also build slight tension
and focus the audience on what is happening within the shots.