The document analyzes how cinematography, editing, sound, and mise-en-scene establish the thriller genre in the opening sequence of The Shawshank Redemption. Specifically, it notes that the low-angle camerawork and dark lighting create tension and mystery. Non-diegetic music and sounds further develop an ominous atmosphere, while parallel editing reveals key information to the audience and connects different scenes.

1. The Shawshank Redemption
How the Camera, editing, sound and
mise-en-scene relates to the thriller and
how we know that the film is a thriller
from the opening sequence.

2. Camera
• The establishing, low angle shot, develops into a pan
shot, to create the notion that we are seeing someones
point of view, this ( coinciding with the darkness)
creates a notion that we are watching someone's point
of view, this immediacy Creates a tense atmosphere.
The following shot is of someone's silhouette, however,
due to the darkens, his facial features are not seen, this
also creates a notion of suspense as to the identity of
the suspect, and his surroundings creating a mysterious
atmosphere, thriller like atmosphere. Later, an extreme
close up is filmed of the gun, this is in order to highlight
its importance

3. Sound
• To open the scene, non diagetic uplifting, aged sounding music is played, this
immediately sets the era of the film. This is coincided with the amplified,
synchronous noise of frogs, this also possibly connotes the location of the film
being in a hot place and isolated. The noise is contrapuntal to the visual darkness
and mysterious figure in the scene. As a result, a more tense, ominous atmosphere
is produced when the music stops.
• A gun is revealed to the audience in the following shot, this is coincide with the
uplifting music stopping, and darker, mysterious tones are replaced.
• A sound bridge, is used in order to give a smoother transition between the two
scenes, whereby dialogue from the following scene is introduced to us before the
scene is shown, the sound makes a transition from asynchronous to synchronous.
• In the first few words of dialogue, murder is mentioned. this immediately indicates
what the film will be about. This is combined with the nondiagetc background
horror tones, this highlights the importance of what the protagonist is saying and
confirms a thriller genre. This also likes the two scenes together, displaying the
reasoning of the gun.
• Eventually, this non diagetic music in courtroom fades out, coinciding with a wide
shot of the audience, this silence highlights the fact that all eyes are on him,
highlighting the words that he is saying.

4. Editing
• Their is a lack of editing in the first scene, with a large inital
shot duration. This is in order to set the scene and establish
tension.
• A meathod of reverse eyeline match is used, where we see
what the characor is looking at first, then the outline of the
characotor himself. This creates an uneasy and
claustophobic establishing atmosphere.
• Paralel editing, a method of cross cutting between two
shots is used. This is in order to reveil information to the
audience. The audiences restricted narration in scene one,
developes into omniscient narration, in scene three when
we are shown the future of the the character.

5. Mise-en-scene
• The establising scene is set in darkeness, this
immediatly portrays a notion of uneasiness, and
builds suspense from the beginning. A parcel is
shown, and a black gun is revealed. This unfolding
of the parcel creates tension as to what will be
revealed, making the gun itself of higher
importance. This also confirms the thriller genre
of the film and its darkness in colour symbolises
death and horror. A bottle of vodka is also shown,
to indicate that the man is probably intoxicated
and therefore more unpredictable.