Saw Opening

In most of the openings to Saw, a light appears like the 3 images shown to the side. This is done to make the audience feel quite tense about what room it is and why it is so dark etc. We will use this technique to establish the feel of our movie as the atmosphere is quite dark, dull and frightening etc. The titles we will be using will be in white writing and a dark background, almost like the idea of the light at the beginning of the movie. It will fade in and out of black to keep the tension going for the audience.

First shot

The scenes after the light bulb are usually extreme close ups and normal close ups of the actors face, nothing is revealed about them or what’s happening in the scene apart from their facial expressions. This again leaves the audience wondering why they are so afraid and why they are hurt etc. so they want to find out more. We will use this technique in our movie as we want to build up tension and curiosity through the opening. For sound we will be using heavy breathing from the actors and non-diegetic tense music to conform to the effect.

After the close up shots we have mid shots or long shots showing the room the actors are in. They are usually dull, dark, dirty, old etc. and the actors are tied up. This image is quite frightening as they are in danger and the audience feels confused and afraid for them. In our movie to have the same effect, we will be using an old dirty basement and the actor will be tied up in a chair to show he is trapped and helpless. The point of view shot we may use (like the bottom image) is so the audience feels like they are in the actors shoes and can feel what they are feeling, it makes it more realistic therefore making the audience feel more sympathy towards the actor making them feel more afraid.

The first shot is a close up of theactor looking down at the TV, hisfacial expressions show that he isscared and confused. We will usethis shot in our film for the sameeffect, to show our actors facialexpressions and make us feel sorryfor him. Also this shot will be usedbefore anything is revealed, makingthe audience feel tense and wantingto know why the actor is scaredwhich builds up tension.The second shot is an over theshoulder shot looking at the TV ofthe jigsaw saw puppet. Even thoughthe shot is a high angle shot, it feelslike the puppet is more powerfuland more scary than the actor asthe facial expressions of the actorconforms to this idea.