The opening of The Conjuring uses black and white photographic images that change every 5 seconds to introduce characters and settings. There is no dialogue or narration to provide context. Visual cues like the historical period costuming and haunted locations shown imply the film will be a thriller or horror genre. Mise-en-scene features medium shots from a straight-on eye level angle with some tilting and movement between images but no pans or tracks. Non-diegetic ominous sounds set a foreboding tone but provide no information about the plot or protagonists.

1. The conjuring

2. Cinematography
The conjuring opening uses black and
white photographic film. The use of
black and white colour may be a symbol
to subject a link to the certain
characters in the photographs. The use
of tinting can connote the film’s genre
and create enigma codes of what may
happen next.
There is no use of pro-filmic event as we
do not yet know who the protagonist
character is through the photographs
seen. The images on the screen last for
about 5 seconds each . A use of
normal/wide lens and sharp focus.
Special effects such as tinted shades of
black and white used.

3. mise en scene
The camera angles are straight on angle with an eye level shot. The distance is an
medium shot. There is movement of tilting up and down and forwards and
backwards but no use of tracking and panning. The camera follows the action as
there is not much action just a still image and in some cases movement. It continually
offers new perspectives on the characters and objects as there is always a change of
image. We can identify the time period of it being historical because of the images
used and everything in the shot.

4. Editing
There is a use of transition
techniques such as gradual
changes like dissolving from
one image to another. The
images also use the editing skill
of fade out and fade in which is
where the lightening is
darkened then lightened. The
editing comments on the
relationship of the characters in
the image and the movie as it
sets an enigma code for the
audience and questioning of
the images used. This can also
connote on what genre it is
because of the pace of the
editing whether it’s slow or fast.
sound
The sound used is non diagetic as it is no
visible on the screen. There is use of
terrifying sound which indicates the time
period because of the images as well.
We know this because this type of sound
is cliché in a lot of horror/thrill films. The
sound also shows foreshadowing to the
film which was probably put there on
purpose to capture the audiences
attention. The sound is artificial with no
dialogue, voice overs and narration.

5. Exposition of character
The characters shown in the opening of the conjuring do not show who the
protagonist is or who will actually be in the movie. We know this as there is a lot
of different characters positioned, some in new paper articles and some
positioned normally. This can give questions to audience as who is the main
character? Why are there characters positioned in news papers? These all add
up to giving a clue of what type of genre it is as well. The characters that are
shown are presented as they are from a historical period.

6. Setting - where - what time period –is the exposition of
place/time important in this film opening
The settings that are seen are shown to be set in a historical place which has
been stylized due to the colours. Scenes like a dark haunted house is shown and
grave yards which may indicate that the film is either a thriller or horror due to
the type of settings shown. The settings are also symbolic to what the film will
consist of. Is also expresses a terrifying atmosphere that also shows the type of
genre it is. We don’t really know the timing of the opening seeing as the
characters are introduced little by little.

7. Narrative
We do not identify the narrative of the film as it doesn’t show a sequence or trailer of
what will happen in the movie. Though we may sense foreshadowing of what may
happen due to the settings such as the grave yard might include that there is death in
the film. There is no dialogue to identify the narrative neither any narration. The
characters may show what the narrative may be through their costumes and the time
period it was set in. The characters are portrayed as the normal nuclear family with the
mother father and children. The title sequence resolves a bit of the narrative through
the setting it is set in and the sans font giving an enigma code for the narrative.