Mad Max: Fury Road - Opening scene (analysis)

The scene begins with a black screen along with the non-diegetic voice in the background of who we can assume is Max. He says "My world is fire and blood" which gives us the assumption that the film is possibly action and/or thriller. Following on from this we here the non-diegetic sounds of gun shots and people shouting, this could possibly suggest a war setting. Soon after an establishing(long) shot is used showing the setting and who is most likely the main character, Max. The setting is isolated and silent, also it is a large landscape denoting that all of the action is going to be taking place here as it looks as if there is no alternative. As the camera pans downwards, we can here a quite, non-diegetic voice of what sounds like a young girl saying "where are you". This gives us the idea that this could be his daughter who has maybe died or alternatively it could suggest that he is away on some kind of mission and the young girl is unaware of this. Following on there are whispers of different voices saying that Max 'promised to help them'. This gives us the sense of escapism and how Max left them to save himself  or possibly denoting how they got caught up in his mistakes. The camera pans inwards using an over the shoulder shot whilst Max slowly turns his head facing the camera forming a close up shot of him eating the lizard. Along with this we are able to here the sickening, diegetic sound of him chewing on it.

Immediately, the sound builds up as he gets into his car and drives away, this makes the audience fear of what is going to happen next. We are able to here the diegetic sound of the car engine making it seem more realistic and thrilling for the audience. For a short time, a low angle shot is used, just below the rocks, showing the car as it is gradually driving off. This shot could be used to possibly denote that someone is there looking up on him, waiting to make a move. Yet again this makes it more gripping for the audience as they would want to watch on and find out what happens next. For a second it goes silent and we are just able to see the setting through the long shot, until we re-establish the diegetic sound of the engine as a car overrides the camera at a fast pace along with other cars and motorbikes. This is a clear convention of an action film as we are able to assume that this is a car chase which is a typical thing for an action film to involve. We are partially able to see that the men in the cars are holding some sort of weapons which denotes how a fight could be about to occur. The weapons they are holding are props which are significant as they are part of mis-en-scene. Mis-en-scene involves, props, setting, clothing and sound. All in which give a clear image of the characters representation in the film as they all seem quite violent.

Continuing, the car chase is shown in the distance through a long shot and we are partially able to hear the diegetic sound of the engines and shouting. The sound gradually gets louder making the audience fear that something big is going to happen.Which we immediately find out, when the villains throw some sort of weapon at the car causing it to explode. Yet again, this is another clear convention of an action film as you would typically expect to see some sort of explosion. Once this explosion happened, as the audience, we wouldn't expect Max to be seen again however the camera pans inwards to underneath the car where we can see Max's hands and we are partially able to here the diegetic sound of him deeply breathing. Reoccurring, the non-diegetic voice of who we assume is Max continues whilst he makes his way out from under the car. From hearing this non-diegetic voice of Max, we could possibly assume that he is having a flashback of all that has happened as he is moderately guiding us through these major experiences.

Throughout him trying to escape, he has flashbacks of people dying or being hurt. This could denote how these are relatives who he 'couldn't protect', as he said. By seeing this, as the audience, we feel sympathetic towards him as he is being hurt whilst reliving the past and seeing what he couldn't do to help. One of the men step on Max's back as he tries to get away and we are able to here the trigger of the gun making us fear that he is going to be shot. Immediately after a long shot is used, yet again showing the setting as the cars drive away into the distance. The screen goes black and we are shown a new setting. We are shown a close up of hair being cut of, who yet again we can easily assume that it is Max. We can hear the synchronous sound of the scissors cutting the hair along with the shaking of the chains which are tying Max down. A low angle shot is used showing the positioning of Max as he is facing the ground, being held up by chains. We can see that he is in pain and we can see the blood around his face, this yet again makes the audience fear as well as fearing sympathetic towards him. A high angle shot is then used showing Max having a tattoo forced on him along with the diegetic sound of the machine being used to do it.

The sound gets more intense and builds up as the camera pans inwards showing the fearsom look on Max's face. As the non-diegetic sound builds up, Max escapes through hitting the other men and breaking the chain. The sound is fast paced making the audience feel tense and scared of what is going to happen. This also keeps the audience on the edge of their seats as well as engaging them. The non-diegetic sound continues along with the shouting of the men chasing after him. The setting of this action is unknown however we could possibly assume that it is underground through all the maze-like alleys and the rocks. The dark lighting also makes it more thrilling for the audience as we are mainly able to hear what's happening without visually seeing it. Soon after Max climes up a chain to look up and see a young girl. A point of view shot is used showing both the young girl and Max's view, also we could see this as a close up of Max's face showing the fear and emotion as if he has seen a ghost. He then falls into the water, as we can hear the diegetic sound of the water splashing followed by the low angle, under water, shot of Max trying to stay alive. Yet again he sees the girl, saying 'where were you' repetitively. Through the close up we are able to again see the fear in Max's facial expression As he is running, he is having continuous flashbacks of people that, we could assume, he has lost. He then reaches a door which he opens to find out he is on the edge of  a cliff. The daylight is significant as most of the scene was set in darkness making it more thrilling for the audience. However the lighting allows us to clearly see the characters as well as the setting alone.

Shot types

 An establishing shot is a shot which establishes a scenes setting and/or characters. They are typically used at the start of a film or scene. An establishing shot can either be in the distance or alternatively close up (showing a character). They are significant as they allow us to see the area of action and/or the characters who are going to be key throughout.


A close up shot is a close up of a person or object which show detail and emotion. It is rare that it happens with an object as they are usually of characters faces as they tightly frame the person allowing us to see there facial expression. These shots are significant as they give us a clear image of the character as well as showing the emotion throughout.

A medium(mid) shot is a camera shot from a medium distance. Medium shots are often very poor at showing a characters facial expression however the main focus is to establish the body language. These shots are significant as they allow the audience to establish the positioning of the character and how they feel in a current situation from the way they could be standing.



A long shot is a shot showing a character in the distance and/or its surroundings. We would often see this used throughout a scene showing the setting alone or the character in the distance. These shots are significant as they allow the audience to establish the setting/location as well as the positioning of a character and its surroundings.



A two shot is a shot that tightly frames a view of two characters, The shot is used  to show emotional reactions between the two people. It is often used during a conversation. This shot is significant as it allow us to view both characters at once as well as there expressions and reactions towards one another.




An aerial shot is a view of a large landscape. These kind of shots can often be used to establish a setting or a location of a character from a higher angle. They would usually be filmed in a helicopter. They are significant as they allow us to see the view from a high angle which establishes the whole setting rather than just parts of it.This is otherwise know as a birds eye view.


A point of view (POV) shot is a shot used to show what a character is looking at. By using this shot we are able to see the character or alternatively the setting from their perspective. This is commonly used during a conversation. These kind of shots are significant as they make it seem more realistic for the audience and partially make the audience feel more engaged, as if it is actually their point of view.


An over the shoulder shot is a shot which is obviously looking at something over the characters shoulder. It is partially the same as a POV shot however just from over the shoulder. Yet again it is commonly used when two people are talking. It is significant again because it allows the audience to see the view from the characters perspective.

Dear John - Opening scene (analysis)

Dear John is a romance film along with other parts of war and action. The opening begins showing Channing Tatum, who plays John, in war after he had been shot. We are able to partially here the diegetic sound of gun shots and non long after the non-diegetic voice of John himself which then allows us to understand that he must be having a flashback of when this event happened. The diegetic sound of guns shots are significant as they make it seem more realistic and make the audience get a real feel of what it would be like to be there. The clothing of them shows there status and how they are fighting in there uniform, which is covered in dirt and camouflaged. The dull colours and lighting show how there is no happiness in the war and there is no light or brightness throughout. The dark lighting connotes pain and despair which is symbolic as we are able to see the pain on Johns face through the over the shoulder shot of the man helping him. The setting is also important as it follows the story of him in the war, showing muddy ground, no shelters and no help.

The non-diegetic voice of John continues as he carries on talking about his experience, soon after with reference to him as a young boy. He was stating how he remembered a trip that he went on to find out about coins. A close up is used showing the coins drop along with the diegetic sound of the tingling noise as they fell. He continued describing how coins were made and what happens to them. He soon after said 'I am a coin in the United-States army', which makes us feel sympathetic as he feels as if he is worth nothing and was made and broken. We are then shown back to the war scene and a close up of the man helping John was used showing his fear and panic as he was speaking to keep him awake. They then used a close up of John showing the struggle of staying up. Soon after they pan inwards first using a medium shot showing his body language and position then following was a close up showing the emotion and also how he was physically unable to move or do anything to help himself.

The reason behind all of this is unknown and as the audience we are unsure of who he is talking to because at the end he says that the last thing that came into his mind was 'you'. This clearly means that he is talking to someone and from not knowing, it makes the audience want to watch on and find out who the person is. The age rating for this is 12A and would mainly appeal to the female audience as it is a romance and is focusing on some kind of love story.

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone - Opening scene (analysis)

We know this is a fictional film with action. The film begins showing a street sight at night with the non diegetic sound in the background of some sort of haunting tune. From this we could believe that the film could possibly be a horror. We are then shown the first character who is Professor Dumbledore. He is shown through a low angle shot which could possibly show someone looking up to him denoting how he is powerful. He then walks on and pulls out this prop which has some kind of power as he begins to take all the lighting out of the street. Props are a part of mis-en-scene which is significant throughout a film as it often symbolises the characters authority. A fictional film is something that isn't true but is made for us to believe it. We know from the start that it is a fiction as Dumbledore pulls out some sort of handset which has the power to remove all the bulbs from the street lights. We know this isn't really possible which gives it the fictional image. The non-diegetic sound continues in the background showing how it is quite suspicious and seems as if something big may happen.

We then here the diegetic sound of the cat meowing. The fact that something is looking up to him yet again shows his power and authority. When he says 'I should of known you would've been her Professor Mcgonagall', we  immediately believe that something unusual is going to happen as he knows who the cat is. The non-diegetic sound gradually builds up as we are shown the cat in the shadow as it grows in size and eventually becomes human. This yet again denotes the fictional theme as this isn't a typical thing you would see in real life. The two shot of them both speaking is significant as it shows their look as well as the setting behind them. The setting and the characters don't really link as they are two professors in an ordinary street. By knowing this it makes it a bit more suspicious as there must be a reason for them being there. We soon find out that there is a 'boy' involved and that someone else is bringing him.

They then use an over the shoulder shot which is showing there point of view of what is approaching, at a low angle. There is a bright light in the sky getting closer which, yet again, is unusual because when it gets closer we are able to see that it is a motor bike which was able to fly. This also shows how the character seem to have some kind of magical power. Hagrid arrives with a baby, which we eventually find out they are leaving him on someone's door step. As they place him down, they use a panning movement which is zooming in to there face and eventually we get a close up of a scar on there forehead. This is significant as it makes the audience think of what has happened to him and why they are abandoning him. Professor Dumbledore then says 'Good luck Harry Potter' as the camera pans in towards the scar showing its significance and possible denoting the meaning behind it. When he says 'Harry Potter', we begin to understand what's going on as he is the main character. The scar on his head then glows and the title appears. The non-diegetic sound is continuous in the background making it seem more suspicious and thrilling. After the title drops, we are shown Harry Potter through a close up of him sleeping but as a young boy. From this we could assume that all along it was just a flashback of everything he had been through or alternatively just the fast build up of how he grew as a character.

First attempt of filming "What are you doing here?"

This was our first attempt of filming using a tripod. We went to different areas around the school, and by using different shots and angles, we filmed a few 5-10 second clips of us saying "what are you doing here", which was the subject we had been set. We edited and put together the short clips using the Adobe Premiere Elements software which allowed us to add animations and different sound effects.
Throughout the shot clip, we tried to use different shots such as a low angle shot panning upwards and also a medium shot and tracking the movement. Lastly, we tried to do something different by filming in a mirror so that we are not getting the direct view of the person however we are seeing there reflection which also showed facial expressions.

Titanic - Opening scene (analysis)

Write from the start of these opening two minutes we can see that the film is going to be sad because of the non-diegetic music in the background which is of a women humming. The sound is quite calm and peaceful. Also the long/establishing shot shows a large ship which also shows how something big is happening as, what looks like, thousands of people are waving it of. This could suggest the idea of separation which yet again denotes the idea of emotion and sadness. The sepia affect is quite significant as it shows that it is possibly quite old and how colour wasn't even potential to use during the time this was set. We know it was filmed in 1997, which yet again is evident through the camera quality and the colour them which obviously denotes how it was filmed in the past.

Following on from this is, as shot is used showing the sea and the waves which show calmness and peace. We are able to here non diegetic sound of the humming continue whilst also hearing the diegetic sound of the wave which are important as it gives the audience a real feel of the setting and makes it feel more realistic. As well as this being realistic, there is an introduced, diegetic sound of the engine of the ship under water or alternatively movement under the sea. This sound gradually builds up until the point where the bright lights appear which is an aerial shot of the ship lights. This continues with a panning movement downwards until the point where they reach the sea top and the sound gradually gets louder as they then rotate to being under water, using a reverse aerial shot.

Although its not shown in these opening two minutes, we know that there are two well known actors in the film named Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet who are star-crossed lovers. These two characters are the romance in the film. Star-crossed lovers are those who are together yet are destined to fail at the relationship further down the line. This is significant as it is a typical convention of a romance film, both being the well known actors and the failing relationship. None of the characters are really shown in the opening two minutes which is partially good as it allows the audience to focus on the setting of the film. By showing only the setting, it makes the audience more intrigued as they would want to find out more and actually be introduced to the characters as well as making sense of the film as a whole.

The Notebook - Opening scene (analysis)

The opening two minutes to this film immediately conform the conventions of romantic films with the non-diegetic sound of a slow song. This flaunts the genre as it is calm and peaceful. We are thrown into the opening scene with a bright red sky with the sun arising across a large lake along a dark countryside. At this point a long/establishing shot is used to firstly set the scene and establish where the action will be taking place. The setting is established for long period of time to allow us to tranquil setting along with the synchronous sound of music which denotes the idea of peace and romance. Although the opening scene is very vague we are able to identify the setting and perhaps the main character, yet we are unsure of this meaning the audience could be intrigued to find out what is going to happen next. We are shown a boat sailing across the lake which creates romance as it is yet again calm and peaceful and it partially gives the imagery of beauty and happiness which could relate to the plot of the film. We know that Ryan Gosling is in the film who is a well known male actor and is seen to be quite attractive to the female audience. This is a convention of romance films as you would typically expect a famous, well known male or female character.

Once the scene had been said, we see some birds flying in a crowd towards some large white mansion, the camera follows them by using a tracking movement as they approach the house. They then use an over the shoulder shot of a women looking out her window into the distance as if shes in a world of her own. At this point we are unsure of who this women is and whether or not she is the main character, we are yet to find out. In reverse, we are then shown her from the other side of the window looking out. The birds continue to fly past her, possibly symbolizing freedom which could be something she doesn't have or alternatively it could denote her hopes for the future or even memories of what she has lost. As the audience are unable to identify or see the character rowing in the lake, there is a sense of mystery as we are clearly unsure if he is a main character and are intrigued to find out when he is revealed. The fact that the old woman was looking out across the lake suggests that the two characters could be linked or we could later on find out that they have had something in the past.

The target audience for this film would possibly be for women aged 16 to 20-30 for the reason that they would be more likely to relate to the situation. There is also a well known, attractive actor which would engage the audience even more.

Conventions of romance films

The typical conventions of a romantic film are things like happy endings, love/hate relationships, boy meets girl, sexual scenes, emotional scenes, etc. The setting of romantic films would usually be in a big city or well know romantic place such as New York. They are usually set here as it just makes it seem realistic as a place like New York has got everything a typical romance fanatic would want. Alternatively, it could be set in the countryside or an isolated area in a house. This is a possibility as it seems to be more romantic when they are alone with no one around. Yet again, mis-en-scene is very important within a film as it gives us a clear understanding of the character as well as fitting the genre of the film. For example in a romantic film you would see natural lighting coming in from the outside and soft sound and romantic music. The sound being diegetic or non-diegetic would always be soft and calm as we do not usually expect anything major to happen. However often there could be one of those love/hate relationships which involve arguing therefore could possibly require some more dramatic sound although this is very unlikely.

The rating for these kind of films vary quite alot as they are often just those inevitable 'happily ever after' films which would be acceptable for the younger audience however it could reach the stage where there are explicit sexual scenes and swearing which would obviously be available to adults. The gender for this would be females as they are more likely to be interested in the romantic stories and the 'happily ever after' scene. You typically wouldn't expect males to be interested in this kind of thing.

The Dark Knight Rises - Opening scene (analysis)

The scene begins with them driving though a field towards a plane. The main focus is of the three men in the back seat. The dark colours connote darkness and evil as well as it being quite threatening. To the audience they look like some kind of hostages however this is undermined as later on in the scene we find out that one of the men has a bit more power than that and may arise to be one of the villains in the film. The fact that they are in a confined space suggests being trapped and held together with no choice. Although being trapped doesn't seem like they area threat, we could be surprised by future events. Also at this point the diegetic sound of the car engine and noise of the ground on the car builds up and gets louder whilst building up tension and suspense for the audience.

The scene them moves on with a long shot of a plane flying through mountains, with the diegetic sound of the planes engine as well as  the non-diegetic tune of music in the background. The diegetic sound is very loud as it is the only noise being made in the isolated setting. The non-diegetic tune in the background is fast pace and gradually builds up tension and keeps the audience engaged throughout.When they are on the plane, they use a close up shot when Bane is being uncovered. At this point we are seeing the character for the first time which is intense as we are unsure of what to expect. We can easily assume that the character is Bane because of his deep, mysterious voice and how he is speaking with confidence despite the fact that the CIA are in possession of a gun.When he is uncovered, he is shown wearing a mask, this is partially typical for a character to have in an action/thriller. They are hiding there identity, however in this film it seems to be different as he says "no one cared who I was til I put on the mask". This shows how he could possibly of been someone completely different before without any recognition however now with the mask on he is more powerful. They have then used an aerial/long shot of the other plane above, firstly at a high angle showing how it is above the other and possibly denoting how it now has dominance over the other plane. At this point we are unsure of what the plane is or why its there. However in the plane, Bane says how he's had this planned all along then says to crash this plain with no survivors. This is where the action begins.

The non diegetic sound beating in the background makes it feel intense and give the audience a feel of fear and suspense. Following on the diegetic sound of gun shots are dramatic and put the audience on the edge of there seats. The fighting begins when the windows are smashed, with some of the characters looking unsure of what to do. The fighting and gun shots are slightly typical of an action film as they build up tension as well as properly engaging the audience. The plane with all the action is now attached to the one above and no one can take control. The plane above now has power and dominance over the other forcing it to crash. When the others break inside the crashing plane the non-diegetic sound continuously gets louder and speeds up building up tension up until the point where the plane drops and Bane and one of the other characters are left hanging on. At this point they used a high angle to show the two characters remaining and also to show the plain dropping and breaking a part. The diegetic sound of the character screaming is intense and when this all happens, it makes the audience want to watch on as it has been made very eventful and dramatic and they have kind of left it as a cliff hanger whilst the plane carries on as if nothing has happened.

Mission Impossible 2 - Opening scene (analysis)

The first shot which is used is a fast paced establishing shot showing the setting of a large empty land full of high rocky land and cliffs. This signifies the idea of danger and isolation. The fast paced camera movement continues when they pan inwards to Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise), who is the main character, climbing up the rocks. As the audience,when we see this we feel as if he in danger and the mission that is commencing is rather impossible. We are able to see how this denotation links in with the title of the film and how it is significant as this point of the scene foresees future events. The beginning sound is non-diegetic and gradually speeds up building up tension. It is a quite sound for the reason that we are able to here how quite the setting is, additionally, it could be so that we are able to here the deep breathing of Tom Cruise as he is climbing the rocks. They then use a medium shot showing him barricading his knees/legs into the rocks and leaning back with no hands holding on. This shot was used to show body language as well as showing the confidence that he has whilst on this mission. Quietly in the distance, we can here the diegetic sound of a hawk. This could possibly suggest how he is in danger or alternatively, how  he is so heigh up that they are in his surrounding. As well as this the non-diegetic sound of the fast beat continues yet again building up tension for the audience and keeping us intrigued.

Soon after, close ups have been used showing the positioning of both his feet and hands. The first one was a close up of his hand as he slowly placed it on the rock, this was used to show struggle as well as determination as he is carrying on despite it being difficult. Following on from this was a high angle/ariel shot, possibly showing how high up he is or alternatively showing how he is superior and now has power over everyone else. After this they used another high angle shot but this time it was showing him about to jump from one part of the rock to another. They filmed this part of the scene in slow motion to show the danger and also builds up tension and makes the audience thinks about if he will make  it or not. When he lands the slow motion stops and he slips of the rock, this yet again builds up tension as he ends up hanging with one arm. At this point the non-diegetic sound got louder and was a fast beat. He was holding on with both hands, but then let go and was hanging on again. He done this so that he could turn around and the large landscape behind him. This could of been seen as the start of his mission as they have used a close up showing the emotion on his face as well as the relief that he still alive. The music becomes more fast paced and he begins to start climbing again with more confidence.

They then use a partial Ariel shot showing the top of all of the rocks and in the distance we can see the main character, Tom Cruise, reaching the top. This could denote that his mission has now begun as he has reached the top. The non-diegetic sound continues but now sounds more positive.They then used a medium shots showing Cruise standing there with his hands on his hip with a look of happiness. The medium shot has been used for effect and to establish the body language of the character. A high angle, long shot was used after this showing him looking over, across the empty landscape. This could have been used clearly to show the setting as well as the main character or alternatively that he is now superior and has dominance over everyone else.

Following on from before, the diegetic sound of a helicopter was heard and was then shown using a low angle shot of him looking up on it. The man in the helicopter was in possession of a gun and was looking down on Tom Cruise, this could suggest how he is in danger. The man was wearing a suit which shows formality and because the film is an action it could signify that he is possibly a spy. This two points that I have just stated are the mis-en-scene, this is the costume, props and sound in the film. Mis-en-scene is very important as it signifies the kind of people the characters are and what things they are involved in. The man in the helicopter then points to Cruise as the diegetic sound of the helicopter gets louder. They then point he gun towards him and shoot out a bullet like  package. When the helicopter flies away into the distance, the audience would feel confused and clueless as to what just happened as it first looked like they were against him however we now know they are on his side. Tom Cruise then walks over and takes out a pair of ordinary looking sunglasses. Once he puts them on we notice they are more than that as they use a point of view shot of him looking out through them. The dialogue on the screen shows us that Cruise is an agent which then changes the whole perspective of the storyline. The fact that he is an agent conforms  the conventions and the sort of things we expect of a action film. The idea of an agent suggests secrecy and undercover work or missions. They are then asking for his confirmation of doing a mission which we now though begins now. They used a medium shot showing body language which was panning left and right showing the view from different angles as well as establishing the setting behind him. The scene ends with him throwing his missionary glasses into the distance whilst they seem to explode and the non-diegetic sound continues being loud and fast paced.

Conventions of action films

An action film essentially consists of a long mission, either being dangerous or considerably impossible. The idea of action films are to build up tension up until the point of action. The setting is typically in a city, this is so that we are able to get a better feel of the action genre. Things such as car chases and robberies tend to be more successfully done in cities rather than derelict land. However any setting that keeps the audience engaged and are able to build up tension are successful, for example climbing up mountains (Mission Impossible 2). This kind of mission keeps the audience intrigued and make them want to carry one watching. The age certificate for action films would normally be 12 or 15 depending on how explicit the action in the specific film is.

The kind of shots that would be used tend to be fast paced which immediately keeps the audience on the edge of there seats and more engaged throughout. Establishing shots would typically be used to establish the setting/landscape where the action will be taking place. As well as this close up shots would be used quite a lot to show the emotion and expression on the characters face. Tracking shots are also used a lot as they follow the action (typical in a car chase) which yet again  keeps the audience more engaged.

Drag me too hell (2009) - Opening scene (analysis)

We know that this is a horror film as it contains many of the horror conventions. Firstly the non-diegetic sound in the background makes the audience feel as if something bad is going to happen. It is quite high pitched and has a long note making it seem more dramatic and eventful.

At the start of the scene they used a establishing (long) shot to typically show the setting of the scene. The effect of using an establishing shot is that it locates where the action or future events are going to be taking place. Establishing shots can also been seen as long shots or extreme long shots and can often institute the main characters of the film.

Not long after they have used an extreme close up, which is tightly framing the characters face as well as showing emotion and the fearsome look in his eyes. At this point there was a non-diegetic sound of some sort of monsters or ghosts. This would be seen as effective as we  would typically think that the sound is non-diegetic however, we know that to him (the character on the right) it is a diegetic sound as he is able to here it although it is just in his mind that he is hearing it. Following on from before, a point of view shot was used and yet again the non-diegetic sound was continuing in the background. This shot is very significant, as we all know it is a point of view shot, however it is different as it genuinely is only his point of view. The point is, that only he can see it and if anyone else tried they wouldn't be able to as it is just going on in his mind. It all looks very realistic which is why we, as the audience, feel more engaged.

The next shot used is also quite significant as we are unsure of what is behind the camera. This could obviously be seen as a point of view shot yet we don't know whose point of view and this remains a mystery. Alternatively this could be a medium shot showing the young boys body language as well as his facial expression. This  shot has been used for effect and to make the audience think and be more engaged throughout. At this point the boy screams in shock of something he has seen.

They then use a low angle shot. This could possibly of been used to show someone looking up on him or the view from lower down. Alternatively it could be foreseeing upcoming events, which not long after, we are shown the young boy falling of the balcony on to the floor where the low angle shot was originally being taken.

Conventions of horror films

Horror films are typically designed to scare the audience as well as captivating and entertaining us. A few of the best places for a horror film would be abandoned houses, graveyards, woods, cabins, basements, etc. Camera shots are very expressive in horror films as they tightly frame characters emotion. Also, they use different sounds such as diegetic, which is things the characters can hear such as footsteps and trees rustling, and non-diegetic, which is things the characters cant here, such as a heartbeat. The target audience for horror films is often 15+, however most of the time they are 18. Reasons for this are sometimes because of swearing, sexual scenes, etc.

Scream (1996) - Opening scene (analysis)

IMDb Rating- 7.2 

We immediately find out that the film is a horror as there are few conventions such as loud dramatic sound and also the phone call when she is home alone. The non-diegetic sound is very dramatic and gradually builds up tension and gives the audience an impression that something bad is going to happen. The fact that the sound gets louder as it goes on, makes the audience feel agitated yet keeps them on the edge of their seats. When she picked up the phone the first time, she didn't seem to bothered like it was just a random call. However he repetitiveness of the call seems to make it more intense as she said "you've got the wrong number" the first time yet she is still receiving them. At this point, as the audience, we know it is a prank and it becomes more suspicious.

The first shot that has been used is a close up of the phone ringing, it is then slowly panned upwards showing Casey's (Drew Barrymore) face as she picks it up. Close ups tend to be used to tightly frame a character's face or in this case an object. Not long after this we find out that she is alone when they use a partial long shot of the house and all we are able to here is the diegetic sound of the trees rustling, followed by a panning movement of the camera downwards showing an empty swing which, strangely, is swinging and slowly creaking. These kind of establishments are good  to use in horror films as it makes it more intense and slightly exciting audience as we are yet to find out what is really there. The setting of the film is exposed to us when Casey is on the phone to this man and she threatens to call the police. The man says that 'they will never make it in time and that she is miles away from any other house'. This is significant, as the setting fits the typical idea of a location for a horror. The setting of  a scene is a key factor within the film as they partially define the genre as well as making it more thrilling for the audience.

During another one of the calls, Casey is seen to be quite flirtatious up until the point where he asks for her name. She questions why, and he says 'Because I want to know who I'm looking at'. Straight away they use a close to show the immediate change of her facial expression. At this point, it becomes more engaging for the audience as you automatically know to expect something. She then looks outside to see if anyone is there, at this stage they have used a point of view shot to put us in the position of her and make us feel more engaged. The darkness makes it more intense, as the audience, we would focus more as we know that something is going to appear and when it does it is more of a shock.

Another significant point of the scene is when she is on the phone talking about what she's doing and what her favourite film is. When she says that she likes the film 'Halloween' to the unknown voice she slowly pulls out a kitchen knife with a slight grin on her face. This could possibly suggest that there are going to be graphic future events.

Dredd presentation (shot analysis)

This is the our presentation, we analysed the different shot types used in the opening two minutes of the film Dredd. We chose to analyse this as we thought it showed alot of of fast-paced action, which immediately flaunts the genre of the film. It also used a range of different shot types to present different things and characters.

Women in Black - Opening scene (analysis)

Women in black is a very well known horror film which also involves the typical conventions of drama and thriller. The scene begins with a close up of tea cups and them pouring into it. A close up is normally used to show emotion of a characters face as well as tightly framing them. In this case, the close up is to show the actions being made. They have also used a low angle, medium shot, to show the three girls all together. The medium shot has been used to show how they are positioned as well as there body language.

Not long after a two shot was used showing two of the girls smiling and looking happy. This is significant as there emotions change immediately when they are shown at a high angle looking up, as if they had seen a ghost. They all stopped playing with the dolls at the same time which could possibly suggest that they are all in shock. This could be seen, by the audience, as if a new character is going to be introduced.They have then used a point of view shot, showing the girls looking up at the window. This kind of shot is interesting for the audience as it partially puts us in the position of them. 

The music in the background of this is quite creepy. It is a slow sound and seems to get more thrilling and gripping as it goes on. This gives the audience a feel of suspense and put them on the edge of their seats. The music starts to get louder which is quite emphasising and connotes danger and panic, aswell as suggesting that something dramatic is going to happen. The sound gradually builds up, until the end of the scene, when the girls jump out of the window and ends with a scream.

22 Jump Street - Opening scene (analysis)

The movie begins looking back on 21 Jump Street which is good as it allows the audience to remember previous events and the story line in order for this one to make more sense. After this, the name of the film, 22 Jump Street, comes up in red and blue with flashes in the background. The blue and red flashes in the background connote police sirens to the audience which follows the story line as they are undercover police in both this and the last movie. 

They started by using an establishing shot, this showed us the setting of the scene as well as the two main characters. During this shot, they used panning movement, this is when they move the camera from left to to right or the other way. Not long after, we see them in possession of guns which gives us a general idea of what genre the film is as these weapons are typical conventions of an action film. Alternatively, at this specific point in the film they begin to play music and start messing around with them and dancing. The audience could see this as immaturity, however this could be another convention to a genre such as comedy. This would be foreseen as a comedy as they are supposedly 'cops', as they would be called in America which is the setting of the film, however they are portraying themselves differently as they seem to be quite jokey about it. At the start of the film, the setting was shown at some kind of college/school lecture, however not long after we see that this was just being watched by the two characters. At this stage, a point of view shot was being used to allow the audience to see from their perspective.

The setting is very typical for an action film being in a big city. We were shown the setting at the start of the scene when they used the establishing (long) shot. An establishing shot tends to be at the start of a film and/or scene to either establish the setting and/or the main characters. The director has also used a long shot when the two main characters, Schmidt (Jonah Hill) and Jenko (Channing Tatum) are walking past the building next to the car. Long shots show the setting aswell as the action going on behind it. 

Skyfall - Opening scene (analysis)

Throughout the opening two minutes of the film, the director has shown a lot and has given us clear evidence that the film is an action. The typical conventions of action films are things like car chase's and missions,etc. which is evident in the opening two minutes to this film, Skyfall. The scene begins with a dim light, followed by James Bond appearing and walking down a narrow corridor. This was shown at a high angle which is straight away quite mysterious as it is in the dark and we can see he is in possession of a gun which engages the reader.

 They have used a variety of shots types and angles. The first shot they used was an establishing shot. This was to show the sort of area the scene was being shot in and also the main character, which as we all know, is James Bond. Establishing shots are significant as they typically set the setting and often establish the main character(s) as shown. They then used a close up of James Bond, this shot was used to show facial expressions and emotion and to tightly frame the main character.

He is shown wearing a suit and holding a gun which would more than likely fit the stereotypes of a secret agent. Also in the screenshot above he is looking quite suspicious which gives a feel of suspense and makes the audience more engaged as you would typically expect something big to happen which not long after is shown in the car chase. The fact that he is wearing a suit partially conforms the stereotypes of 'secret agents' as they tend to be dressed smart.

 The sound they have used during the car chase is very intense and puts the audience on the edge of there seat, as well as building up tension for the point of action. The setting/location isn't very distinctive for an action film, however this makes it more thrilling for the audience as it is something different. It is located in a busy town/city which is more extreme, especially during the car chase when they are speeding through tons of people with no intention of slowing down.They partially establish the setting at the start of the scene when James Bond comes out of the building as well as when they are in the car chase, they are driving down narrow streets packed full of people.