Filming the Thriller opening for our Preliminary Task
On the day of filming, we decided the location to which we wanted to film our thriller opening, and all the equipment required. However, half way through filming, the camera battery died, and so we only had half the footage. We also had a limited time frame to film on that day, and so we thought it would be logical to film the next day. However, the next day we all had different outfits, and so we had to completely re film due the footage not looking consistent. This worked in our favour, as we realised the footage would look more professional with studio lighting with a black curtain behind the actors, to really emphasise the thriller genre.
The location, with the lighting and camera in position.
Due to having to re-film, we had to be even more efficient with our extremely limited time frame, as we were already eating into our editing time. So, we allocated different roles to the members in the group. I was one of the actresses in the film, along with Amy, whilst Harriet and Chloe filmed. We all had a go at filming eventually, and learnt how to use the studio lighting. We worked well as a group, deciding which camera angles would be the most appropriate as well as using the equipment responsibly.
Here I am focusing the camera.
As we had thoroughly planned what we wanted to film, this made the process sleek and enjoyable, as we had a strong direction of exactly what we wanted the film to look like which avoided and conflict within the group. Naturally, there were aspects of filming which we could only sort on the day, such as choosing how much lighting we wanted, the appropriate back drop and setting up the 'interview table'. In the long run, this saved us time as we were very well organised and flexible if something didn't quite look right or work. Another thing to note is as we were filming, we changed the dialogue slightly and some of the camera angles we had written down on the story board were adapted, as when filming we thought of camera angles which would be more appropriate for the storyline.
To conclude, after the first day of filming, the second day went well, and we were able to film multiple parts of one scene, to enable us to choose the best footage when editing that had the best lighting, or wasn't out of focus, making the editing task much easier. The only problem we faced was sometimes the camera wouldn't focus, but this was easily resolved when we got used to filming and refocusing on objects.
As a group, we decided that the best way to start thinking about what to include in the thriller opening for our preliminary task, would be to mind map our ideas. By doing this, we were able to establish a brief story line, whilst also considering which techniques and appropriate conventions of a thriller would be best to include in our short narrative, for example the type of sound, editing, camera angles and elements of mise en scene which would be included in our footage.
Here is our mind map of ideas.
Originally, my group wanted to create a complex storyline, with a beginning, middle and end. However, we soon realised that this wouldn't be appropriate for the task in hand, as the while point was to create an opening which would portray the genre of a thriller, whilst including a narrative enigma, so that if this were to be an actual film, the audience would want to carry on watching to find out more.
After deciding that we couldn't add anymore to the
mind map, we decided we were confident with our idea and the storyline we
wanted to portray. So, we went ahead and produced a detailed storyboard of the
camera angles and which characters would appear in each frame, enabling us to
visualise what the final footage should look like and to make sure we all
agreed and had the same vision with what was to be included.
These first 3 shots, quickly sketched onto a mind map allow the audience to realise who the narrative will resolve around.
The next frames sketched on the mind map show the close up shots, presenting the audience with the character opening the door.
Here the characters will meet and sit opposite each other, separated by a table.
This part of the mind map is when Character 1 will meet Character 2, they then exchange 4 lines of dialogue.
The exchanging of dialogue is continued whilst incorporating extreme close up shots and close up shots.
The whole point of this task was to put into
practice the skills which will be required to go into planning the actual task
of creating a opening sequence to a thriller.
Se7en is a 1995 American psychological thriller directed by David Fincher
The titles read: Brad Pitt, Morgan Freeman, Gwyneth Paltrow, Richard Roundtree, R. Lee Ermey, John C. McGinley, Julie Araskog, Mark Boone Junior, John Cassini, Reginald E. Cathey, Peter Crombie, Hawthorne Jones, Michael Moussee, Leland Orser, Richard Partnow, Richard Schiff, Pamala Tyson
Co-producers- Stephen Brown, Nana Greenwald, Sanford Panitch
Co-executive producers-Lynn Harris, Richard Saperstein
Executive producers-Gianni Nunnari, Dan Kolsurd, Anne Kapelsun
Written by-Andrew Kevin Walker
Producers- Arnold Kopelson, Phyllis Carlyle
Director- DavidFincher
My Video analysis link:
From filming this clip, I have learnt to never film footage on my camera. The sound and lighting quality isn't brilliant. Next time I film myself doing an analysis, I will use a cannon.
Prisoners is an American film produced by Alcon Entertainment in 2013 and directed by Denis Villeneuve
Opening Credits
The titles of the film are presented in the centre of a black background in a white serif font to create a reverse block effect to make the title of the film stand out. The font is large and emboldened to attract the audience's attention and make them wonder what will appear after the opening titles. The title of the film 'Prisoners' hints towards the narrative of the film, suggesting that the girls the detective mentions are maybe being kept as prisoners creating a sense of drama and tension for the audience. The titles read: Directed by Dennis Villeneuve Hugh Jackson Produced by Alcon Entertainment Music by Johann Johannsson Inception
Sound
The main character, Detective Loki, has little dialogue in the introduction to the narrative. A low pitched voice is presented by this character, which creates an manly, sincere tone to this character right from the beginning. Non-diegetic low pitched music is also used throughout the opening scene once Detective Loki leaves the restaurant which creates effects of tension and suspense. The heavy rainfall throughout this scene is also effective because it adds to the tension due to the constant sound effects reflecting the mood of the narrative, implying that the narrative will revolve around negativity and possibly sadness as these are common connotations of rain.
The sound of rain is enhanced to add a sense of sadness.
Mise en Scene
The clip wipes to a black screen after the police officers take the suspicious person to their car and the detective heads off into the woodland. The police indicate a sense of drama and an obvious crime has occurred, which is a typical convention of a thriller. This adds to the verisimilitude of the narrative as well as adding suspense and drama for the audience to endure.
Detective heading off into the woodland.
The low key lighting used throughout the narrative, especially in the woodland when all the detectives are congregated together, the darkness makes it difficult to identify each face, creating an anonymous air as each character doesn't really appear to have an identity. This adds to the narrative enigma and building tension in the extract.
Low key lighting is used frequently in the narrative.
Camera
A close up of Detective Loki is used as the suspect is being dragged off towards the police cars for questioning, which again creates tension for the audience. The close up on the character's face conveys his angry and concerned facial expressions, which causes the audience to empathise and mirror his emotions as they relate to the main character. This shot also helps to focus all the audience's attention on his face and concentrate on his dialogue, which shows he is one of the most important characters to the narrative and has a high status. An over-the-shoulder shot from Loki's perspective is also used when the suspect is facing towards the forest, and turns back to stare at the police officers. This shot creates a fearful effect as the audience feel as if they're in the situation too. The suspect's facial expressions are also unnerving as his expression is completely neutral and blank, so it suggests that he feels no emotions towards the situation at hand and could also hint that he's unpredictable, or a similar event has occurred before.
An over the shoulder shot is used.
Editing
When the detective arrives at the location of the campervan, the pace of the editing begins to increase creating a sense of pace and quick decision making. The editing starts to cut between different camera shots much quicker than before, which foreshadows that some kind of action scene is about to commence.
The editing increases in pace, keeping the audience engaged.
As well as this Detective Loki receives the most screen-time throughout the sequence which suggests that he is the most important to the narrative. This implies that he is the main focus of the narrative and plays a key part to the film. This is stereotypical of thrillers, as the protagonist is usually male, brave and strong which is how his character is perceived from the beginning of the film.
Goldeneye is a 1995 English thriller directed by Martin Campbell.
Opening Credits
The opening titles portray a mysterious theme to the narrative. God sans-serif font is used in a bold within the opening on a dark black background, a technique of reverse block, with occasional fire explosions for added effect, whilst also linking back to the title of the narrative 'Golden eye' which makes the title sequence link back to the name of the film. The explosions indicate a sense of drama and tension in the film, and that the narrative will be fast paced with an interesting and engaging storyline. The darker fiery colours represent danger. As well as this, the girls positioned in the opening credits suggest that women, and maybe sexual tension could foreshadow events to come, meaning that the narrative heavily involves the role of woman being presented as strong and sexualised which is also supported by the fact that a woman is singing in the opening credits. Combined with the images, the non diegetic sound, is fast a fast paced tempo but foregrounded are brass instruments and string instruments with explosions, again creating the effect of tension and suspense in the narrative.
The titles read: 'Albert R Broccoli presents Pierce Brosnan as Ian Flemming's James Bond 007 in Golden Eye'.
A screenshot of part of the opening credits.
Sound
As soon as the film begins, non diegetic, deep, sinister and fast past music with added stings and bells is present throughout the introduction with a building crescendo to add tension and suspense to the narrative, before the main character appears in the frame. This non diegetic music is used right up until the character, to which point the audience do not know why he is on top of a cliff, jumps off the cliff. The crescendo allows the tension to be built up, which adds to the narrative enigma as the audience have no idea why he has dived off. This foreshadows an event or focal point in the narrative which could be about to occur.
Here we see the main character diving off the cliff with a lack of sound.
The lack of dialogue from the main character in his introduction to the film also builds up the tension and mystery surrounding the narrative as it's unclear what his role in the film is and how he has arrived at the location at the start of the film. Bond's lack of dialogue creates an anonymous feel, adding to the narrative enigma as the audience still have many un-answered questions. However, this could portray the concentration as he is attempting to solve a mission, to which the audience still don't know what, but the lack of dialogue also adds to the tension and suspense in the thriller.
Concentration from the character results in lack of dialogue creating suspense.
Sound effects are used such as the chain clinking when James Bond is falling from the cliff. This is effective because the location is silent, which emphasises the ambient sound of the wind and the chain which creates suspense, as the audience become unsure as to whether the chain will prevent him from falling further whilst the wind emphasises the speed to which he is falling. The landscape is tranquil, but then the diegetic sound of the plane creates a sense of chaos and drama in the narrative, creating suspense as to what will happen next and if the plane will crash into the terrain or not, especially when an extreme close up is used to identify that the controls are not working.
The audience believe the plane could crash due to the diegetic sounds of the plane.
Mise en Scene
Low key lighting is used during the beginning of the extract when the character is shown in the frame looking down over the mountains, which helps to create a tense and scary effect as the character and landscape is more difficult to distinguish in the limited lighting which is a typical convention for a thriller. The shadows on set are much more prominent and the scene appears to be dark with a cold effect, which mirrors the narrative as it could take a tense and sinister turn.
The low key lighting signifies a tense and sinister atmosphere.
The set for the beginning of narrative is a mountainous environment. Due to the openness and rural feel of the area, the narrative automatically presents the audience with a more dangerous, bleak and tense environment, as the environment shown to the audience already has perceptions of danger, making the narrative appear more tense as the events to come are likely to be sinister and action packed, as well as the characters being exposed to the elements.
Screenshot of the setting; a mountainous terrain.
Camera
Long shots are used to help the audience recognise and establish the setting to which this narrative is set. This is used repeatedly throughout the opening 2 minutes, which helps the audience to understand the sheer distance James Bond has to fly in the plane. This is especially effective when James dives off the cliff, as a long shot portrays the drop which increases the audiences adrenaline and anxiety levels, especially increasing the tension as to what mission James Bond is on and allows the audience to familiarise ourselves with the location.
A long shot to show the sheer drop.
A point of view shot is used within this extract so that the audience can see what James Bond is about to do, and the view he has when he is about to jump off the cliff. The action on the screen therefore happens through the eyes of the character. This is effective because it makes us feel as though we, as the audience, are seeing the situation unfold and keeps the audience engaged and adds to the sense of drama and tension in the narrative.
A point of view shot is used.
Editing
Throughout the extract straight cut shots are used in order to set a fast pace to the narrative and create tension and suspense. Each shot is quickly switched to the next at various points in the extract meaning that the audience can't always make out exactly whats happening, therefore engaging the audience as they won't want to miss anything. Straight cut shots are a widely used convention of thrillers as its a good creator of tension and suspense.
As well as this, visual effects are used. An example of this is during the end of the opening sequence, and explosion occurs as James Bond is flying over the mountainous terrain. This adds to the narrative enigma as the audience are clueless as to what caused the explosion or why it happened, adding to the suspense, tension and drama, making the audience sit on the end of their seats wondering who did it, and so they will be alert for the remainder of the film for any clues as to why it happened.
Black Swan is a 2010 American psychological thriller directed by Darren Aronofsky .
Opening Credits
Dark sinister credits are used during the opening. White, bold text is used on a dark background, allowing attention to be drawn to the writing by making it stand out, but is ironic as it is the 'Black Swan' so the audience would expect the title to be black text on a white background. The darkness is typical of opening for a thriller, and helps to draw conclusions that this is going to be a sinister, creepy and mysterious narrative. The titles read: Fox searchlight pictures presents In association with Cross Creek Pictures A protozoa and phoenix pictures production BLACK SWAN.
A screenshot of part of the opening credits.
Sound
The non-diegetic music is used during the beginning of this clip, when the main character is dancing. The music is high pitched with multiple stings, which isn't typical for a thriller and makes the audience wonder why the non-diegetic music isn't sinister. However, soon after, a man enters, but the music continues. Composed over the top is a deep eerie rumble which all of a sudden changes the feel of the narrative to tense, making the audience feel the suspense and adds to the narrative enigma, as it is assumed that the main ballet dancer is the protagonist, but the audience are left to wonder who the man is, and due to the change in genre of music when he is introduced, we assume him to be the antagonist which would be typical for a male antagonist in a thriller with a female protagonist.
Sinister sound is used to match the sinister costume.
Another point to note is that after the dance scene, the audience find out that this was a dream. This is shown through the main characters dialogue 'I had a dream I was the white swan last night'. However, the audience are unable to see who she is talking to. They are made to wonder if anyone is present in the room that we don't know about due to the close up camera angle of her face, or specific long shots which only show one part of the room, or made to wonder if she is being watched or possessed. All these questions add to the narrative enigma and build tension and anxiety for the audience.
Main character's dialogue is important in the extract for clues.
Mise en Scene
At the very beginning of the narrative low key lighting is used, to portray the ballet dancer (the main character). She is depicted in a dark room, but the audience don't know why she is there dancing or where in particular this scene is set. This adds to the eeriness and darkness which is a typical convention of a thriller, as the characters are less easy to identify due to the darkness, due to the limited lighting. The shadows create a spooky atmosphere keeping the audience engaged foreshadowing the dark events to come, while the bright spotlight on the dancer at the beginning suggests that she is the focal point of the narrative and is the one to carefully watch.
Low key lighting is used, but the dancer is spotlighted.
Furthermore, regarding the costume, the ballet dancer is wearing white. This is at the beginning of the clip where she is dancing. White, has connotations of innocence and peace, strongly suggesting to the audience that she is the protagonist and isn't presented as evil at the beginning of the narrative. On the other hand, the man who appears slightly later in the dance is presented wearing in a typical antagonist costume which is black, whilst his face is strongly drawn and contoured, to which the dark shadows enhance making him appear sinister and evil in appearance. The way that he moves is also very violent and dominant of the female character which matches his costume. This suggests that the narrative will take a sinister turn.
Camera
A close up shot is used of the ballerinas feet when she is dancing, at the beginning of the narrative. This shows the quick movement of her feet, which could foreshadow that the events in the narrative will happen quickly, and that the storyline will be fast paced. The fact that the camera is completely focused on this character suggests to the audience that she is going to be the focal point, and that the narrative will revolve around her life as a ballet dancer. Due to the fact that the audience are having to watch her movement very carefully during this point of the thriller, suggests that we must watch her every move during the whole narrative. This is effective because the increased speed of her movement keeps the audience engaged, whilst adding to the narrative enigma as we wonder what her role in the narrative will be and what the significance of her dancing is.
An extreme close up shot is used to portray the ballet dancer's back to display an odd looking scratch. This extreme close up shot is very effective because it shows the details of the scratch, but the audience are made to wonder how this got there and who did it. The audience are made to question as to whether it relates to the man she was dancing with in the 'dream'. This adds to the tension in the narrative, and also keeps the audience engaged as they are made to wonder if they missed something prior to this shot being shown, which adds to the thrill of watching this particular narrative, and also suggests that she is the protagonist due to being hurt.
An extreme close up shot of the dancers back.
Editing
Shot reverse shot is used when the ballet dancer and who we assume to be her Mum are exchanging dialogue in their house in the morning, after she has had the twisted dream. This is effective editing because it builds tension as it isn't known how close their relationship is and their relationship with each other other before this scene. The fact that her mum also helps to dress her, adds to the narrative enigma as we do not know why she is being patronising, so this adds to the tense environment we already establish from their relationship.
Shot reverse shot is used to indicate a conversation.
Straight cut shots are also used to create the tension between the scene. Straight cuts are used when the ballet dancer is on the train, and she spots another girl. This shot combined with eerie, typical thriller developed music, develops a lack of understanding as to who the other girl is, and where they are both going, and what their relationship is. This makes the audience confused, adding to the narrative enigma of the narrative.
Inception is an American film directed by Christopher Nolan, produced by Syncopy Inc, Legendary Pictures and Warner Brothers.
Opening Credits
The opening credits of the sequence are presented as having dark overall feel. The graphology includes a lighter, bold text on a dark background, to allow attention to be drawn to the writing by making it stand out. This automatically creates the effect and connotations that the film is going to involves a dark and mysterious storyline. The titles read: Written and directed by Christopher Nolan Leonardo Dicaprio Ellen Page Editor Lee Smith Production director Guy Hendrix Dyas Joseph Gordon Levitt Music by Hans Zimmer Dileep Rao Ken Wantenbe Tom Hardy Inception
Part of the opening titles.
Sound
At the start of the extract, typical sound for a thriller is used, which is deep, short bursts of string music. This automatically presents the audience with the fact that something bad is about to occur. This sound is used up until the waves are presented in the frame. The wave sounds are very violent, almost as if in a storm, which could reflect that the main character who we next see washed up on the shore, has been through violence or perhaps fallen from a boat during a storm. We don't know that for a fact, so this adds to the narrative enigma. After this point, the non diegetic music begins again, which is low and eerie, with a building tempo, which occurs throughout the narrative. This creates the effect of excitement for the audience as well as a building tempo which could convey what is going to happen in the narrative, a build up to an event.
The dialogue is unclear when the children are presented in the frame playing on the beach. This could portray the sounds heard from the character who has been washed up on the shore. The sounds of the children playing are eerie, with a sinister laugh and cry combined with the eerie string music. The images are distorted, and the sound of them playing is almost muffed, so this suggests to the audience that this is a hallucination and that the character is possibly dreaming about the past. This makes the audience question as to what this character is doing washed up on the beach, and how these children are relevant to the narrative.
The sound of children playing is effective because it is eerie.
Another point to note is the lack of dialogue from the main character, especially at the beginning. This creates a sense of mystery surrounding this particular character and also builds the tension, as although he appears to be the protagonist, it is unclear what his actual role in the narrative is. The lack of answers also continues to make the audience intrigued about the narrative. However, when the other characters begin to talk, they talk about dream states, which also relates back to the mysterious children on the beach. This could portray
that the narrative is going to revolve around dreams and the past conveying a sense of mystery.
Lack of dialogue from the character at this point adds to the narrative enigma
Mise en Scene
Low key lighting is used after 1.11 of the extract, when, what appears to be a villain base is shown. This room involves traditional Japanese inspired décor. The low key lighting helps to create an eerie, mysterious atmosphere to which builds tension and makes the audience question as to why they are depicted in this unusual setting, but also makes it more difficult to identify each individual character in the narrative, adding to the narrative enigma of what each characters role entitles.
Low key lighting.
An additional feature is during the meeting when all the characters are congregated in one room. The old man appears to have the most authority within the group. The other men, all appear to be wearing suits and expensive accessories, appearing as stereotypical business men. This suggests to the audience that these men are in authoritative positions with major status, so the audience get a sense of hierarchy and expensive lifestyles, compared to the character shown at the beginning of the narrative but are also made to wonder who they work for and what career they are involved in. The character shown at the very beginning of the film is depicted wearing non business attire which strongly indicates that he doesn't usually belong there, but why is he in the meeting? This adds further to the narrative enigma.
Hierarchy shown through costume usage.
Camera
An extreme close up is used at the very beginning of the narrative to present the audience with the characters face when he is washed up onto the shore. This helps the audience to see the sheer confusion on the characters face as he lifts his head out of the water, but suggests that he has no idea why he is there or what he is doing, and presents no clues to the audience as they are left to wonder what happened to him. This adds to the tension and narrative enigma for the audience, causing them to be nervous for the character.
An over the shoulder shot is presented in the frame during the meeting in the room with the Japanese inspired décor. This shot shows one character at the head of the table, sat with his back to the camera. This draws the audiences full attention to the other character exchanging dialogue with the character at the head of the table, allowing the audience to see the emotions displayed on his face, creating a sense of anxiety and mystery due his fearful expression which causes the audience to feel the same way. As well as this, the shot means that the audience can't view the man at the head of the table, and what emotions he is presenting. The distance of the two characters also suggests that they do not have a strong relationship, presenting their relationship as very business like an professional.
Over the shoulder shot.
Editing
During the very beginning of the extract, ellipsis of time is used. This is when the character has been washed up on the shore and is lying there, attempting to work out how he has ended up there. An eyeline match is also combined with the ellipsis of time to allow the audience to see what the character is viewing as he slowly looks up after hearing the sound of children playing. The audience are therefore presented with a frame of two children playing on the beach, but the image of them is slightly ghostly and distorted combined with slow motion. This portrays that these children are either a dream, or a hallucination, or a memory and that this isn't actually occurring in real life, just in the characters head. This helps understand that the character is very confused due to whatever happened prior to him being washed up on the beach. Another point to note is that these children could possibly be his own, or him as a child playing with a sibling or friend. This again, adds to the narrative enigma, because he could have been brought back to this location for a particular reason, but the audience are clueless as to why he is there and the importance of the two children in the narrative. The audience are made to ask questions, such as will they appear again later? Are they haunting him? Is it a clue?
Hallucination of children and point of view shot.
Furthermore, an abrupt cut is used after the meeting, when the scene jumps to what appears to be a hotel room, in what the audience believe to be a post-apocalyptic time period. This cut between two different time periods is effective because it creates an effect of increasing tension and mystery, but the audience are unsure of the amount of time between each abrupt cut. This technique allows the audience to feel increased tension and anxiety as the pace of the narrative picks up, adding to the increasing mystery and confusion foreshadowing events to follow.
Lost Highway is a 1997 French-American psychological mystery thriller written and directed by David Lynch.
Opening Credits
The titles of the film are presented in a serif yellow font in the centre of a black background in to create a reverse block effect to make the title of the film stand out. A road is also used, which appears to be never ending, which mirrors and implies the meaning of the title lost, as the road leads to no where hinting at what the narrative is going to be about. The font is large and serif to attract the audience's attention and make them engage in the film right from the beginning.
The titles read:
Bill Pullman
Patricia Arquette Balthazar Getty Lost Highway Robert Blake Natasha Gregson Wagner Richard Pryor Lucy Butler, Michael Massee, Jack Nance Jack Kehler, Henry Rollins Giovanni Ribisi Scott Coffey with Gary Busey and Robert Loggia Casting by Johanna Ray, C.S.A and Elaine J. Huzzar Music Composed and Conducted by Angelo Badalamenti Editor - Mary Sweeney Production Designer/Costume Designer - Patricia Norris Director of Photography - Peter Deming Produced by Deepak Nayar, Tom Sternberg, Mary Sweeney Written by David Lynch and Barry Gifford Directed by David Lynch
Sound
In this opening extract, prolonged, deep non-diegetic sounds are used. This occurs when the character is moving within the house towards the door and window. This non-diegetic sound starts off fairly quiet, eventually developing into a crescendo, increasing the tension for the audience, whilst also suggesting that the character could feel confused and uneasy about the particular situation. This also suggests that the character in the frame at this particular moment is the protagonist.
As well as this, the lack of dialogue in this particular part of the extract, along with the eerie music, creates suspense and tension for the audience, as they wonder what is going to happen next, due to the lack of detail creating a narrative enigma. Low pitched dialogue is then used during 1.06 of the extract, but for a short space of time. This is when a creepy, deep, eerie voice speaks through the intercom. This adds to the mystery of the narrative, but the deep, threatening voice suggests something sinister, perhaps suggesting that this voice will be a character presented as an antagonist. This also adds to the verisimilitude of the extract as well as the ambient sounds of the police car, and the fear of the unknown keeps the audience engaged.
Eerie dialogue is heard from the intercom.
Mise en Scene
During the very beginning of the extract, what the audience assume to be the main character is introduced using low key lighting. This makes it difficult for the audience to view the characters face, but the audiences attention is solely on him, perhaps suggesting that he has a main role in the community, but likes to remain anonymous for security reasons. The darkness of this particular part of the extract could mirror the way in which this character is feeling; scared and wanting to solve a mystery, but perhaps with elements of vulnerability.
Low key lighting makes the character difficult to identify.
Furthermore, the character appears slightly dishevelled. He appears to have a middle class status. When he is sat down smoking his cigarette, his facial expressions and body language display signs of tiredness and stress, implying that this mystery could have been going on for some time. Towards the end of this extract, the lighting appears to be lighter. When the street is shown along with the house, nothing in particular seems to be going on. However, the lighter ambience suggests a more positive and enlightening feel to the narrative, almost as reassurance, but at the same time, the audience are made to wonder what is going to happen next. This adds to the narrative enigma, as the audience are still clueless to what is happening in the narrative due to the vague storyline so far.
Prop used; a cigarette.
Camera
When the character is introduced at the very start of the narrative, a close up shot is used. This displays the characters face to enable the audience to view the emotions of the character, for clues to what could be about to happen. The fact that the character is shown smoking a cigarette could convey that he is trying to relieve his stress about the situation. An extreme close up shot is used to show the character when the buzzer rings. The audience would expect him to jump, however he stays unnerved about the situation, but with a look of slight confusion. This could suggest that a similar situation has happened before. A close up shot presents the audience with the character pressing the intercom button, to allow the audience to hear the mysterious, eerie voice. Then, a mid shot shows the characters reaction, much to the audiences surprise, is calm and collected, again suggesting that this has happened before, or that this character is used to solving mysteries.
The character appears unnerved by the situation.
Then, a long shot accompanied by a point of view shot shows the sudden burst of action from the character, as he appears to be rushing around, eventually going to the balcony of the house. Diegetic sounds of police sirens are heard by the audience, and then the street is presented to us. Furthermore, this again suggests a mystery, keeping the audience engaged. The fact that the street appears to be very quiet, adds to the narrative enigma and eerie atmosphere, making the audience question why no one is around getting on with their day-to-day lives.
A point of view shot
Editing
An eye line match is used towards the middle of the extract. This displays the intercom/vent buzzing. This allows the audience to see what the character is looking at. As well as this the editing cuts to the character, and then to the vent repeatedly, adding to the suspense and mystery of the narrative, as to who may speak through the intercom, keeping the audience engaged and creating sense of fear for the audience due to the character's actions possibly due to fear of the unknown.
Another point to note is that a long take is then used to portray the sudden sense of the characters panic, when the character is moving around his house to get to the balcony. This builds tension, as the audience don't know where he is going to go, or what he is going to do, and therefore putting the audience on edge as they ponder to what the implications of his actions could be. As well as this, when the character is looking out the window, the camera shows his face through the use of a low shot. This could suggest he is being watched by someone else, but the audience don't yet know who, adding to the suspense and tension once more.
