How camera shots are used in opening sequences to

create meaning.

By Charlie Corcoran

Saw II (2005) Opening scene

Mise en scene

The actor in this shot is screaming and is in some sortof pain . In this scene the character seems to be wearing some sort of trap and is holding a knife of some sort. The lighting in this is very dark with just one very bright light which does not seem to be do much, leaving the room very dark. All of theses things tell us what type in genre we are expecting the film to be this film is going to be a horror. The background is very discreet and we do not know where about it I leaving us in the dark have hat mysterious effect.

Extreme close up

This is a close up on the characters eye to show the intricate activity with his hands and his eye. This shot also shows the most detail of the person. This is the first close up of the character and the fact he has a knife so close to his eye is suggesting the character is in danger and vulnerable.

Medium shot

The director has used this medium shot in this scene to show us a bit of the back ground and what the character is wearing. The Back ground behind him is dark and cloudy these all follow the generic conventions of a horror film. The character is wearing some sort of trap and hint to us what sort of film it is going to be. In the shot we are able to see the emotions on his face which are in this case him looking confused about what is going on making us feel just as confused he is.

Track

The whole point of this technique to make us realise how the characteris feeling. By doing this it make us think that the character is loosing realisation and is pancaking, loosing all sense of humanity. This gives the us the audience a confused feeling to what is going on.

Close up

This close up is used to distinguish the maincharacter . The close up is used to show the emotion on the face in this scene the close up shows that the character is struggling in some sort of way or is in pain. The emotion on his face sets the tone for the rest of the film.

Tilt

In this shot the camera is tilted above the character tocreate a psychological impression of inferiority or weakness. This shot also creates a more dramatic feel to the film.

Zoom

The Zoom effect has been used in this shot to emphasis the expressions on his face. The camera zooms on his face as here receives some sort of news and it give the audience a closer look at the change of expression on his face. In the shot the character seems like he's about to cry and has a look of desperation on him.

Pace

The pace of this Opening sequence is very important. The scene start of with everything being slowAnd then it speeds up as the personbegging to panic and find out about what type of situation he is in moreThe camera flickers between objects rapidly at the peak of his heart rate before heDies. This has the effect on the audience that causes them to feel that they are in The shoes of the character. The speed that the scene goes represents the speed that his heart rate is going.

Performance

In the opening the actorIs performing well because he is acting in a way that he would if he was actually in that situation. This is good because it leads to the effects for the audience to believe this is actually happening.

Digetic Sound

Diegetic sound is sound that the characters can hear as well as the audience, and usually implies a reaction from the character. In this opening Scene there is not much diegetic sound because it is not needed. The sound that he reacts to is when the T.V when it fizzes he turns around to look at it. The doll begins to talk, the doll talks in a very dark and dull voice at a very slow pace indicating he is going to be the villain in the movie because that is what we assoociate with Villians.

Non diegetic

In the opening scene thereis a lot of noise which the actor does not react to. This sound has been used to build up the atmosphere and the type of music signifies danger. It is also can be used to relate the feelings of the character. One part of the Non diegetic sound is a high pitched noise which creates a discomfort for the viewer. The music and sounds we here increase as the characters movement and indicates his heart rate beating faster. In the background after the coundown begins we hear a constant ticking sound which indicates that time is running out for him an we know it.