The document analyzes the opening scene of a film through several shots. It summarizes the techniques used in each shot to build tension and a sense of danger and isolation for the audience. Shots include the main character running through foggy woods seen from a high angle, close ups of words nailed to trees saying "Hurt" and "Agony", and diegetic sounds of heavy breathing, leaves crunching and gunshots are heard but the source is unknown. Through techniques like low key lighting, tracking shots and unsettling non-diegetic music, each shot leaves the audience wondering what will happen and who may be following the character to increase tension and suspense.

1. The silence of the lambs
Minal Shah

2. This shot has
superimposition- there is
writing in this shot which
increases the amount of
information the viewer has.
It tells them that the setting
is in the woods. This gives
the audience a sense of
danger and isolation as the
woods are a generic
convention of thrillers. It
can foreshadow danger and
death.
In this shot you are able to hear the
birds cawing. This again emphasises
on the silence and isolation. Also, it
implies what time of the day it is.
The bare branches add to that isolated and cold feeling. Also, the fog suggests ambiguity as you cannot see
anything clearly and anything can come lurking out. This is another generic convention of thrillers.

3. The high angle in this
shot makes the character
feel inferior and
vulnerable at this point
in the opening scene.
Moreover, it also shows
how high up she has
climbed which adds to
the sense of danger as
she may get pushed by
someone.
The rope suggests that
people do come into these
woods as the ropes must
have been placed there by
someone. But, it could also
mean that she knows the
woods very well and she put
the ropes there herself to
climb up and escape from
someone.
There is use of diegetic sound as she is breathing
heavily which adds tension and panics the audience as
they are unaware of the reason why she is running.
Her clothing isn’t very feminine and she is shown to be sweating.
This shows that she isn’t a stereotypical heroine. She is almost
shown to be very masculine.

4. This wide shot shows how
deserted it is and shows
her going into the fog and
the audience not knowing
the outcomes of this. Also,
she is conveyed to be very
small compared to the
large setting which implies
her to be vulnerable and
trapped.
Tracking is used in this to
bring the audience on a
journey and get them
more involved. It suggests
that someone may be
following her and that’s
the reason she is running
which increases the
tension.
There is low key lighting in some parts of this shot which connotes
that there may be some hope of her escaping. However, there is a
chance of her being caught. This gets the audience to guess what is
going to happen and hope for the best.
There is use of diegetic sound when she is running and
steps on leaves. This emphasises on the silence which again
adds to the sense of isolations. This increases the tension
for the audience.

5. There are boards nailed
onto the tree with words
such as ‘Hurt’, ‘Agony’,
‘Pain’ and ‘Love-it’. This
increases the tension as
the audience don’t know
who has done this and
why these set of words
were chosen. This adds
to the sense of danger
and makes this situation
creepy.
It is revealed that she is
running an assault
course which again
goes against the
stereotypically
portrayed woman. She
is not very feminine.
Panning is used to show all the words which
increases tension as it shows that there are several
number of words.
There is use of non-diegetic music- the
background music is orchestral, in a minor key.
This is done to give a sense of worry and tension
in the shots. It foreshadows dangers.
Also, in
this shot
there is a
diegetic
sound of
gunshots.
However,
the
audience
is not
able to
see
where
they are
coming
from,
who is
shooting
them and
at who.
This
increases
the
tension.