Analysing a film openings; black swan and the sixth sense using 'CEMS'

BLACK SWAN.

SOUND: The theme tune is an extract from the ballet swan lake and is instantly recognisable. This music however creates an eerie atmosphere as the music is quite slow and dramatic

The title of the film is shown, with some non-diagetic sounds, which are over the top of the theme tune.The scene changes to an underground train station in which the diagetic sound of the train moving is very harsh and scary and makes the audience jump. the non diagetic sounds become more fast paced and created drama and suspense. 

EDITING: the credits of the film are superimposed onto the screen and give vital information about actors and directors etc.

They have used a linked cut to show a new location but with the same characters. There is  change of time and it is ambiguous to whether it is a dream or reality. This makes the audience question whether or not she is dreaming. making the audience ask questions is a vital convention that many thrillers use.

The cutting rate is fast creating drama and keeps the audience interested. Also by having a fast cutting rate it makes the audience concentrate more so that they don't miss any vital information.

MISE-EN-SCENE: The lighting begins low key and dark but with a single spotlight. The spot light makes the audience focus on one single action and may draw their attention away from something happening in the darker lighting. the darker lighting also creates a sense of the unknown which is a key convention of thrillers.

A change of scene, changes the lighting to a more natural setting. This creates contrast with the previous location and would create a less eerie atmosphere and a more ordinary situation.

Scratches can be seen on the young girls back. It makes the audience question how and why they got there. Also the young girl is portrayed as quite delicate and fragile the scratches are harsh and mean. This creates contrast and makes the audience question the girls personality, her situation and her intentions.

The lighting is very low, creating a mysterious atmosphere which is quite eerie. It also creates shadows and silhouettes contributing to the convention of voyeurism, making the audience thinking that they are being watched.

The costumes relate to the theme of the theme and are stereotypical of what the audience would see as ''ballerina'' making it easy to recognise and relate to.

CAMERA: The camera is following the main character again giving the feel that she is being watched or someone is following her. This unnerves the audience and could make them uncomfortable; a common convention of thrillers. An extremely close camera shot is also used,making the audience feel like the follower is getting closer to her which again is unnerving to the audience.

An extreme shot is sued when the character cracks her toes. Feet and also hands are parts of the body that the audience find uncomfortable to watch so by closing up on this makes the audience uncomfortable and the fact that she is cracking them could scare the audience slightly.

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THE SIXTH SENSE.


CAMERA: A point of view shot is used whilst looking through a wine rack at the women making it seem like some one is hiding and watching her, a feature of voyeurism. It also makes the audience question why someone is watching her and why he is hiding.
she is tracked when she moves down, making it feel as if the audience are mirroring her.
A two shot introduces the audience to the characters, a key feature to an opening of any film.


EDITING: the credits are superimposed over the footage.
matched cuts are used to create and maintain continuity and match characters to locations.

SOUND: non diagetic sound is played whilst the credits are rolling. this music is eerie and creates a mysterious and unnerving atmosphere.
The use of ambient sound, which is coming from the radio and the sound of doors, makes the scene seem more realistic creating a more ordinary situation. also ambient sound can be used to build tension as the audience are waiting for something to happen.
Whilst the character is down in the basement she rustling coming from somewhere hinting that something inst right. The use of both a low long shot and the diagetic sound creates a tense atmosphere.

MISE-EN-SCENE:the lighting in the basement is dark and low key creating sense that something may be hiding or a sense of the unknown.
The props which are down in the basement are all dusty. This could indicate that they are old and have been there a long time maki9ng the audience question why they have been left their and why they have been left there for so long.