Black Swan opening titles textual analysis
The Black swan opens with soft and gentle non-diegetic classical piano music that builds intensity through the course of the intro. The music matches the picture on screen; the music starts slow and soft, however has a dramatic build. The picture of the pencil drawing starts slow and controlled, and then starts to slowly become more and more aggressive until the pencil starts to break. This could me metaphorical to the characters emotional journey throughout the film, and how she changes. Towards the end of the clip, there is the sound of breaking glass. This to the audience creates a sense of satisfaction that the intense aggressiveness of the pencil and the music is finally over.
Also the music feels quite spontaneous, which creates the feeling that this drawing is quite personal and could mean something to someone. This again shows hints that the story is based around personal issues to do with the lead character. The music is a solo balletic piano piece, which again suggests that the film is centred on one character, also tying in with the ballet aspect of the film. A fade from black at the start of the clip focuses the audience’s attention as it points their eye line to the centre of the screen. The first thing we see is the actresses name, which connects with the audience and keeps them enticed, as it gives them that sense of familiarity.
The fade effect works in terms of relating to the general feel of the intro, as it is very soft and very fluid, which is how each cut is slowly faded out, rather that having a sharp cut that would completely have juxtaposed the balletic essence of the clip.
In addition tot his cross dissolves are used, over the clips, which creates a sense of mystery for the audience, as they want to know what is being hidden. In contrast to this the speed of the dissolves speed up, which creates tension as the audience are waiting for the final picture to be revealed.
The mise en scene is quite simplistic; all the audience can see is the paper, the pastel, and the hand. The extreme close up forces the audience to focus on the one thing that they can see, which is the image that is being created on the paper.
The lighting in the clip is also very dim, with lots of shadows again focussing the audience’s eyes to the centre of the screen. The effect also creates a spotlight, which again relates to themes of performance and solo ballet pieces, again linking back to the film. The only colours used in the clip are black and cream, so very simplistic, however black and white/cream are binary opposites, so this could give the audience a hint about the film. Also black can represent something foreboding sometimes, and white is clarity, again giving the audience hints about the story. The characters hand movements start off quite slow and graceful, and then they start to build in intensity, reflecting possibly the building of pressure. The aggressiveness is shown through the breaking of the pencil, which could also reflect that the character changes personality after the pressure has got too much, and has an aggressive streak. Panning is the only camera movement. The lack of camera movements keeps the audience focussed on that one point. The camera movements are fluid and graceful, again reflecting on the ballet influences within the film.
Silence of the Lambs textual analysis
At the beginning of the extract in the opening scene, the very first shots an establishing shot of some woods in winter. The lighting is natural, however the shot looks misty and gloomy, suggesting possibly something dark is about to happen. The camera then pans down to a high angle shot of Jodie Foster doing exercise. This shows the audience that she is weak in the shot. There is also a close-up on her face while she is running; this shows the audience that she is on a mission through her facial expressions. It also gives us inkling into her personality, and we know that after this shot that she is a charter who is not going to give up easily.
There is a two shot of Jodie and a man in an FBI cap, this shows that she works in the FBI, however she is portrayed as a weak woman next to this man, through he high angle shot. However to the audience they know she isn’t through her determination, shown in the running shots. There is also a low angle shot of Jodie on the cargo net which shows again that she is determined, however still weak and she is struggling, so each shot juxtaposes its self with her action’s and her face. After this shot there is a close up on the FBI man the audience are made to wonder what he is thinking due to the close-up on his facial expressions. The music throughout the sequence is synchronous as it is building tension as the track progresses.
The first piece of music that you hear is non-diegetic music, that is orchestral, in a minor key, so it gives a very eerie atmosphere to it. This builds up the tension for the audience that something bad is going to happen, but it doesn’t so there is an anti climax. While Jodie is running he music increases in speed.
The editing is this sequence is quite simplistic its not fast paced, which is surprising as the music is quite fast paced and it increases gradually in speed. The mise en scene is also quite simplistic. The key aspect of mise on scene is the mysterious eerie location.
The sequence overall is quite simplistic, however the music especially is what keeps the audience enticed and wanting to watch to find out what happens.
Shutter Island Textual analysis
In the opening sequence the shots are narrow, dark and damp, for example the hallway with the concrete roof, this could possibly remind some people of prisons or institutions. There is also a 360 shots of some winding stairs, which can make some people feel out of control, could possibly be a reference to the film content. Meaning the film could be a psychological thriller. There is also an establishing shot of a dark room with handcuffs on the wall, suggesting possibly a prison or torture room. The last shot is a panning shot of the island that looks very isolate and desolate, showing that there is no way of escape. There is also a handheld shot at the very beginning of a car driving through what looms like gates. There are also guards again showing signs of a prison.
The lighting inside the prison is dark which connotes and shows signs of danger. There are shots of the outside world, which are bright, and light, juxtaposing the prison, the lights represent freedom and the darkness represents being trapped. This is typical for a thriller as darkness creates fear in people’s minds.
The colours are mostly black and white. Which is stereotypical for a thriller film. There is also a yellow/green tint to the sequence in some shots; theses colours are quite sickly so this could suggest possibly an asylum or somewhere sick.
Blue tints are also added, showing the sea around the island, but also ads a depressing desolated feel to it.
In the shots there are hardly any people, again showing the idea of isolation. Oin the shots where there are people, the people are from the service, which suggests that the place needs to be guarded, as it could be dangerous.
There aren’t many props at all in the sequence, but one was a gun that is being covered by a foot, this was shows in a close-up so it drawn your eyes to it. The gun is slowly hidden away creating suspense for the audience watching. There is also a shot of a match, which is shot in darkness with just a single bit of light, which is temporary. Suggesting that their could possibly be some hope of escaping.
There is a range of different shots in the sequence for example. Long establishing shots of the location so we know where we are. We never get shots of the main characters but we get extreme close-up of certain parts of them. This keeps the audience wondering who the main characters are and what they are doing. Ten shots get faster and building up with the music, creating a sense of panic and anxiety. Most shots are short which creates tension because audience didn’t have much time to take stuff in and analyse each shot.
The shots either fade to black or dissolve into each other. Fading to black gives an eerie effect of losing light and hope and going into darkness. Dissolving into each shot creates a smoky atmosphere and a mysterious one. The font is bold and in capital letters as if its screaming t you, also the font is red which can connote danger.
The main type of sound is non-diegetic used in the sequence. The orchestral score captures the attention of the audience by the slow and low-pitched tone. The temp slowly increases and sets the mood and atmosphere for what you are about to see. It’s the building of suspense towards a climax. As the match is struck the music is sharp and quick.
The sequence is a common representation of a thriller sequence. Due to the atmospheric lighting, and the intense music.
In the opening title sequence, there is one main shot that is used throughout the sequence and that is a cctv sot, i feel like this was used to make what was happening on screen look much more realsirtic, as the effcet make sthe footage look like offcial captured footage.
There are also long shots so you as te audinec can see in full detail what is happenning, and how intense the fighting truly is. There are also a few medium shots, so you can see a little closer, but the director and DOP didnt want to reveal to much about the characters face , especially as they are wearing masks.
The editing
The Girl with the dragon tattoo
Within the sequence most of the camera angles are short and syncopated, the camera angles are very closeup on the object. However some angles are quite long and focused on certain object, to give that object a matter of importance. For example there is a shot of a keyboard, and the camera zooms into a closeup ont he letters, which reveals a question to the audience. This would make the audience member decide if they wanted to watch the movie or not. There are lots of violent shots pf people being tied up in chaines, these violent shots represnt that the film is thriller.
The song makes the audience feel enticed intot he sequence, especially due to the fact that the soundtrack is the first thing to start before anything appears, so it gives the atmosphere of what is about to happen. As soon as the titles appear, the msuic becomes quite beautiful and calming, which juxtaposes all the conventions of it being a thriller. The soundtrack is very mysterious and urges the audience to keep on watching. The soundtrack is quite mysterious and eerie which makes the audience want to keep watching the film further and also the soundtrack intensifies the sequence making it very fast pace and exhilarating suggesting that it is a non-digenetic sound track as the camera angles are quite slow. However sometimes when the soundtrack is playing the objects in the background move according to the pace of the song it is only sometimes it is juxtaposed, this makes the audience wonder what will happen next in the film, Because the audience are glued to the screen and their mind automatically wonders.
The colour is black which suggests evil. It also shows that the film has a dark side as black is a dark colour. The lighting used is yellowy gold which could be used to show light and there could possibly be some light and happy parts to the film. However the contrast between light and the dark colours is very interesting keeps the audience interested as it could mean something in the film like there's going to be a contrast between evil and good. Also in beginning there is a skeleton which betrays death which could be a part of the film which makes the audience enticed as this could be a huge role in the film.
And beginning of the opening sequence there are lots of different colours to different images constantly which could be suggesting the film is quick and showing unusual disturbing things. All of the cuts are quite fast and the audience only get a glimpse of each Image for about 1 to 2 seconds this is enticing for the audience as they want to find out more.
Skyfall textual analysis
The first shot is on the Stabat she shot of the protagonist it is also shot from a low angle which could show that he is weak he is also sinking into the sea which could also progressively show him getting weaker. I tracking shot is used and then it goes into medium shot which allows us to see more of the character for example their expression.
We dancer shot of a woman's hand pulling the protagonists down into the water this could show that the protagonist is dragged down by a lot of people in the film the film. A high angle is used as the character planets into the floor this again shows his memorability and suggest that he is possibly come to the end of the journey.
There is no medium shot of the capital with blood pouring out of him is also suggests the character I could be in danger
There is also an extreme close-up on the protagonists eyes this is used to show detailed facial expression in the eyes
The shot of falling into gravestone significant in the film for example the main character is killed in a graveyard using using a knife. Character is shown wearing a formal seat throughout this signifies business and power and let you know he has an important job.
The opening sequence is incredibly fast pace editing to keep the audience engaged and interested in the very beginning of the film. There is a lot of CGI with common within the sequence but this is common for bond films. Lighting that is used dimmer and low-key which creates a sort of atmosphere of uncomfort however some areas of high key lighting also included.
Firstly we had a classic Skyfall James Bond tune it start gradually builds up and builds up tensio.
The soundtrack is non-digenetic of the cactus cannot hear it and is background noise and it is a soundtrack it is also synchronous as one build the actions on the scene get more intense. Is also quite a lot of selective Sanford sample the gunshots the director and editor of specifically heighten the sound to the audience can hear these and know that it is of action thriller.
I can I'll Griffey is the news where appropriate for example guns knives gravestones schools and blood do you are used to highlight the themes of conflict danger mystery and death.
There is also a few narrative there is a sequence for example Levi Strauss his theory a binary opposites for example good versus evil and hero versus villain. Also Wladimir props theory has been used for example you have the stock characters the hero the damsel in distress and the villain
spectre textual analysis
The sequence begins with orchestral non diegetic music which already starts to set the atmosphere to the movie. The camera focuses on a gold ring with an octopus engraved on it. This was possibly put at the beginning of the sequence, so the audience would remeber it. This symbol is used throughout the sequence. As the camera zooms into a closup on fire, which could possibly suggest danger. and dancing girls appear surrounding James, Fire symbolises danger and the girls dancing seductively suggest they are trying to seduce him. The lighting is very dark and creates a lot of harsh shadows creating a mysterious atmosphere therefore creating t5ension and suspense for the audience, dramatic music is also a key convention of thriller sequences.
The next shot is a close up of a woman’s hand caressing him and their existense turning to fire, reinforcing his dangerous image, or that she has a bad influence on him. The camera then tracks and focuses on the octopus in the background. As the music builds up we see James and a woman falling as they try and grab for each other, this potentially foreshadows events later in the film. During this shot the camera pans and cuts to POV shots to show how desperate they are to hold onto each other. This suddenly cuts to extreme silhouettes of James and his intermit parent who remains in the dark creating suspense as to who it is. This cuts to shattered glass presenting Bond’s previous relationships and villains. This implies that his past is catching up with him and he might be faced with some familiar faces. This footage is all in black and white conveying a sad, and dark atmosphere but also separates the past from the present, that could be a hint tot he audinec about how the events are carried out in the film.
This fades into the octopus turning into a man with a skull face. As the eyes open it bursts into flames similar to the ring before creating links to characters and themes and what the film is about. This transitions from a burning photograph into James firing a gun with the octopus wrapped round it and pulling the trigger. This suggests that ‘spectre’ has control over Bond and hints at the plot. More women are introduced highlighting the themes in his life. Again the lighting is very dark and harsh creating an eerie atmosphere for the audience.
The next shot is James in a boardroom with eyes staring at him, implying people are watching him and he could be a target. Whilst the close up of an eye blinks quite suddenly, as if he just woke up from something, we are brought back to one of the original shots of James surrounded by girls in flames however this time they are disappearing and the camera is tracking backwards. Similarly the sequence finishes on another previous shot of him and his lover who gives him the ring with the octopus symbol on it. The editing is this sequence is quqite slow and controled with a few jolts, it almost resembles a dream sequence.
Gone girl textual analysis
When the title sequence first begins there is a use of non-digenetic tenants/airy/disturbing music playing over the titles is already set the atmosphere of how the titles and possibly the film is going to be out the title sequence do use of the non-digenetic sound captivates the movies tense atmosphere this causes the audience to go into state of the suspense I want to watch the movie even more.
In terms of camera angles and specific actions within shots there is not a lot in the title sequence personally for me that made it even more tense because it's so slow moving so you don't wanna take your eyes off in case you missed something crucial, however the action within the shots that they are using in the title sequence is incredibly disturbing as it is a close-up on a man stroking/petting a woman's head. This already create a very uncomfortable atmosphere for the audience watching as they know what themes are going to be involved. The non-digenetic husky the serious voice is being played over the action also adds a sense of comfort as it is a male voice sound like an old man you can also tell from the tone of his voice that he is a little bit creepy and he makes the audience feel uncomfortabl, which is a key aspect within a thriller film. The voice starts off about talking how they were husband and wife said makes the audience feel like it is a loving and stable relationship but as the scene and the title sequence goes on you understand that he is possibly more psychopathic and it could be a psychological thriller and possibly end up harming her due to the title gone girl. When the husband says "cracking us go and spilling her blinds on the floor" this conforms to the stereotypical psychological thriller. suddenly doing the shop the white turns round abruptly which makes the audience jumped so controlled and smooth and having something Jolteon makes you want to prepare attention, she turns around as if to say who was stroking my head but we already know that it's the husband.
The editing the title sequence of gone fat girl is excellent that includes many fade fade to use simplify what is to come in the film the The constant disappearing and fading away foreshadows what could possibly happen in them but the wife disappearing the doctor suggest that when she disappears my one is anything that there is an emptiness due to the black background.
The lighting is also very atmospheric it starts off quite natural and quite bright but as the sequence progresses in the small faves come into it gets more foggy and more faded out again foreshadowing what could be happening in the film and giving the audience some aspect of narrative towards the end when the lighting is completely dark after it's completely fadeout as if there is no hope.
Vertigo opening title sequence
The sequence begins with non-digenetic synchronous sound it is synchronous because the action thing there is a point where an object has formed from an I swirls around and intense building music sounds like it swirling and curving round, crescendos and then decrescendos falls and then drops it's all quite area mysterious. The music is a compliment from strings so it has quite an orchestral sound to it. Towards the end of the clip the music certified is out of this world goes back into the eye and the last few notes are very staccato repeated notes which is a good transition music into the film.
Best cinematography as such is quite simplistic different shots however there are zooming shots from longshots to close up all your close ups eyes at the very beginning of the sequence pans across a woman's face it then goes from black-and-white into a red eye.
Editing in the sequence is gross and no jump cut fast pace it's quite slow pace and controlled it's also quite hypnotising to swell spinning round and round it makes your eyes focus on one point makes you feel quite hypnotised captivated into what you're watching.
The colours representing the sequence there is one main colour that has represented and that colour is red. Fred can signify a lot of things however in thriller usually signifies danger especially in Hitchcock them as Hitchcock's films on Bing psychological thrillers
possibly one of the key things within the sequence of the either turns into a swirl it almost represents some kind of mental illness in the brain which could be Kate about that it's about something to do with the brain or some psychological problem
The lighting is very dark mysterious and doesn't reveal too much however there are some flashes of red which keeps the audience intrigued
this title sequence is very common of a Hitchcock film as it is possibly one of the main things that the film is about about yet it doesn't reveal too much at the same time he likes to play with the audiences mind.
Psycho textual analysis
The title sequence dramatically comes in with synchronous orchestral dramatic music music is again played by strings which is clearly a common theme that Hitchcock using his title sequences music incredibly dramatic and also relates as everybody knows the common psycho trail that is used in the infamous killing saying that it's always hinted with in the music it is not so clear but you can hear the short staccato trails that could be foreshadow for the infamous psycho scene.
There are no camera angles in the sequence it is all just coloured blocks and text but the blocks are thin rectangle is the overlap each other and they are always two contrasting colours or two different colours everybody knows that psycho is about schizophrenia so could possibly be foreshadowing that the two different personalities represented by the two different colours overlapping each other as if it's personalities colliding in the protagonists brain. Black-and-white of the two colours that are mostly contrasted and these are two very different colours white cannot present innocent so I could possibly represent the mother has died and the black possibly represent norm Bates and how messed up and physics he is hence the name the title.
The editing is very fast pace and very jollity which again is a common crate of a Hitchcock title sequence music and the editing work very well together because of the music builds the editing builds on the blocks cross over each other even more quickly, I think the fast pace of the tin works as it builds the suspense and the tension for the audience as me and then as the music decreases in intensity the editing slows down little bit so they work well and balance each other out.
Mise en scène of the clip is like I said the colours and have a contrast the white and the black also the font is very bold and in your face and it's white also the black-and-white colours shows the film Era it's in as it was in the black-and-white period
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The camera angles are very minimal, hoever effective as its not to complexed its just simlistic, which I think works well in juxtaposition to the fast jumpy editing and intense music, the camera movemnts most commonly used are the pan and tracking shots, to maybe resemble time passing by, and another victim stays in bates motel.