Jurassic Park opening scene analysis.

The first shot in the film is of some exotic bushes. This tells the audience that it is set in an exotic place. This will appeal to people who want to escape from everyday life. In the beginning of the scene we can hear diegetic growling. This tells the audience that it involves some sort of wild beast, one that is probably dangerous. This creates tension as the audience wants to know what is going to happen. The undergrowth is shown to be moving apart like something is moving through it. This works with the growling sound to make the audience think that something is coming towards the people. This feeling is intensified by the fact that the people are standing still and staring anxiously. They are also armed with high voltage tasers, shotguns and assault rifles. This tension is broken when a cage is shown moving out of the bush. This breaks the tension as it make the audience feel that the people are safe. The audience begin to feel tense again when the creature rushes forward and bashes the cage making it move back. The music changes to a fast paced, intense track. This riles up the audience into the action. From this scene we learn that the film is about dinosaurs that are alive with humans. We do not learn anything about the characters in the film., But we do see one of the main characters for the first time.

Mulan opening scene analysis

The first shot in the scene is if the great wall of china. This is shown in a panning long shot that moves its way along the wall, showing the audience that this is a large, imposing structure. The great wall of China is a major and famous landmark and so the audience can immediately tell that the film is set in China. From the opening scene we can learn that the film is about the huns invading China. The scene starts with deep and apprehensive music. This creates a feeling of suspense in the audience as they get the feeling that something bad is about to happen. The music changes to a high pitched note when the bird knocks the soldier's helmet off of his head. This change increases the suspense. The the music changes again when the grappling hooks are thrown on to the wall. It changes to a panicked tone as the soldier shouts "we are under attack". The music changes again when the Main antagonist reveals himself for the first time. A low angle shot is used to show that he is a powerful man.

Divergent opening scene analysis

The first shot used in the scene is is an extreme long shot of the large fence that surrounds the city. The colours in the shot are mostly brown, which connotes a dystopian setting. The shot shows the fence in front of the city, suggests that the city is imprisoned behind the fence. From the scene we learn that the film is about a teenaged girl that doesn't know where she fits in society. This is told to us through the non diegetic sound of the main character's monologue over the top of the scene. As the camera zooms into the city we can see that there is damage to many of the buildings. This strengthens the notion that this is a dystopian film. It also make the audience curious about what caused the damage to the buildings. the music is quiet and peaceful. This suggests that the society that they live in is peaceful and that they don't involve themselves with the outside world. The editing used in the opening scene s quite slow. This works with the music  to create the feeling
that they are a peaceful people.

Gladiator opening scene analysis

Close up of main character

From the opening scene we learn that the film is set in the ancient world. We can tell this because they are roman legionnaires fighting old Germanic tribes men. In the scene we learn that the main character is a general in the roman army. We can tell this because he is the only one dressed in furs. Furs are normally a sign of power or authority. He is also not standing in the ranks of the infantry and is standing  and moving at his own will, not something that is done by ordinary soldiers in a disciplined army like the Romans. We can tell that he is the main character because he is the first person that we see in the film. A close up is used for this so we can see his face and the fact that he is played by Russell Crowe, a popular actor. The scene opens with a sad but calm piece of music. This suggests that there is about to be a battle, like the calm before the storm. This is reinforced by the fact that the main character that is shown on screen at the time is a soldier in Armour, which is only worn when thy are expecting to fight. the editing of the scene is slow. This adds to notion that this is the calm before the storm as the slow editing is calm and does not induce excitement in to the audience. the music changes when the Germanic tribes men arrive for battle. The start of the war chants is used as a trigger for this change in the music to a deeper, more tense tone. this is to signify that the battle is about to begin and that many people are likely to die.

Pirate of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl

From the opening scene we learn that the film is about pirates but other than that we learn nothing about the plot of the film.We learn that the film is about pirates because they are constantly mentioned throughout the scene as well as a long shot of a pirate ship sailing away and a close up shot of the the pirate flag. We are introduced to tow of the main characters in the film, but nothing other than their names ( Elizabeth Swan and Will Turner and gender is told to us in the scene. The scene is set on a ship in the middle of the ocean heavy fog all around them. This makes it more mysterious when a burning ship wreck slowly come out of the fog as the sail past it. It also makes it more believable that they did not see it or Will Turner in the water until they were close. Most of the sound in the scene is diegetic such as the sound of the ship creaking. One diegetic sound that stands out is the sound of Elizabeth singing a pirate song. This stands out because she is a child and so the song sounds creepy and mysterious. Non diegetic sound plays a small part in this scene because they want the audience to focus on the diegetic sound. The editing of the film is slow because it is not an action scene and they want the audience to focus in on specific details and conversation.

Star Wars: A new hope opening scene analysis

From the opening scene we learn that the film is about the evil galactic empire trying to find the stolen plans for their super weapon. We also are introduced to several of the main characters in this scene. One of these characters is C3PO, a droid. We learn that he is often unoptimistic about the situation he is in. For example when they turn off the ships main reactor, he says " we'll be destroyed for sure". Also in this opening scene we meet the main antagonist, Darth Vader. Darth Vader is depicted in the same way many antagonists are, an evil man that will do any thing to get what he wants. This is shown through what he wears and the things he does. He is completely covered in black leather and Armour with a full face helmet. The colour black is associated with death, suggesting that he is a dangerous person to be around. The music that plays when Vader is first shown on screen conforms to the idea that he is evil as it is very imperialistic in nature. Imperialism is generally considered to be oppressive.

Shrek Opening scene analysis

The majority of the opening scene is the title sequence. This is to tell the audience who voices the characters the the film. The first shot in the film is of a book, which Shrek starts to narrate, in the style of older Disney princess films. But when he reaches the end he rips the last page out and says "like that's ever going to happen". After this a toilet flush sound is heart, insinuating that he used the book as toilet paper. This diegetic sound of the toilet flushing would appeal that the younger audience of the film, who appreciate toilet humor more. This tells us that Shrek is a less caring character than most of the heroes in children's films. This also sets the film to be more targeted at the male demographic. The music that plays over the title sequence of the film (All Star) reinforces the fact that Shrek is a tough, uncaring character as it is a loud and obnoxious song. From the opening scene we learn nothing about the plot of the film. This is because this scene is the opening title sequence and is introducing Shrek's character. The scene is set in a swamp. This is because is is were you would expect an ogre to live.

Dog soldiers Opening scene analysis

The scene contains two people, a couple that are camping in the Scottish highlands. These people are not important to the plot as we are told nothing about them or their backstory. their only role is to tell the audience that this is a werewolf film by getting killed within the first three minuets of the film by a large and powerful snarling creature. From the opening we learn that this is a werewolf film set in the Scottish highlands. Only diegetic sound can be heard until the woman pulls out a special gift for the man. The music that follows is soft an calm with a happy tone. This is to make the audience feel happy for this couple. Later in the scene, when they are in the tent the zip on the tent is heard slowly up, while we are showed the terrified expression on the faces of the two people. This long slow zip sound creates tension as the audience doesn't know what is going to happen next. The zip sound suddenly stops quickly after a loud growl is herd, telling the audience that the werewolf is outside and that the coupe are about to snuff it. The fact that it is set in the highlands of Scotland makes the scene more scary because we know that there is know one around to save them or even know any thing has happened.

Dante's Peak opening scene analysis

The opening scene tells us that this is a disaster film. We can tell this as they are running away from a volcanic eruption. The opening scene does not tell the main plot of the film, this is because it is a flashback of the main character. This tells the audience how he lost his wife. This scene tells the audience that the main character is a geologist, that was monitoring this volcano before it erupted. This tells the audience that this is going to be about a volcano erupting. They used a close up shot to show Marianne's head covered in blood after the rock killed her. This is effective as it shows the audience that she is dead, causing feelings of pity in the audience for the main character who just lost his wife. Both diegectic and non-diegetic is used to make the scene come across as chaotic. It does this a the music is loud and aggressive while the people are shouting at each other over other very loud diegetic sound like rain and falling rocks. This creates confusion as no one knows what is going on. The music also tells the audience that the are in danger. This is because is is loud and aggressive. the editing is a constantly changing pace. This is to add to the confusion of the scene as it is changing between fast pace, which connotes action and slow pace which is used in less action orientated scenes.

Windtalkers opening scene analysis

In the opening scene we do not find out the main plot of the film, but we do find out the setting. The film is set in pacific campaign during WW2. The opening scene is similar to Passchendaele (the film i analysed previously) as it is a fight scene where the entire squad of soldiers is killed. We learn that the main character in the film is Joe Enders. We learn this because he is the first person that we see in the film using a close up. The opening scene is set up to be a slaughter from the beginning. This is because the first shot is of a stream with a butterfly hovering over it, this then flies away as blood begins to flow through the stream. After this a dead American soldier drifts in to the shot. This connotes that the American are all going to die. No non-diegectic sound plays for the first minuet and a half. this is so we can clearly hear the diegectic sound such as as the gun shots and explosions. This is to tell the audience along with the uniforms that the characters are wearing that this is a WW2 film. The music starts to play when they start their final stand behind some logs. This music is fast paced so is created feelings of excitement in the audience, drawing them in and making them want to find out what happens next. Near the end of the scene ( at 3:17) the music comes to a climax as the second to last person gets shot and dies. The most of sound except from the speech is made quiet as this man is dieing, this is so we can clearly here him say "damn you Joe Enders". This is because Joe had refused to let them retreat. This makes the audience think that this could have been avoided if he had just let them retreat. The editing in the scene is mostly fast paced. This is because is is a fight scene, so they want to fake the audience feel like there is a lot of action. They do go i to slow-motion briefly when ever one of the American soldiers die. This is to make their deaths have a larger impact on the audience.

Passchendaele opening scene analysis

Not very much is revealed about the characters in the opening scene. This is because all of them but the sergeant are killed the this opening scene. Not much is revealed about the sergeant ether, apart from that he is a Canadian soldier and the fact that he just wants to make sure that his men survive. An example of this is when he tries to surrender himself and the one surviving private to save the wounded soldiers. 

From the opening we do not find out much about the plot of the film other than it is set in world war one, during the battle of Passchendaele. However from that fact that the the opening is mostly focusing on the sergeant (using close ups and camera tracking) we can guess that the film is based on his story. The title is placed at the beginning of the scene, just before it fades to a close up shot of the sergeant's face. This could connote that it is a film about this particular character in the Battle of Passchendaele. Sound is used for effect in the opening scene. At first there is only diegetic sound of distant gun and artillery fire. This continues through the whole scene. As the is no non-diegetic sound masking the diegetic sound it can be clearly heard. This tells the audience that they are in a battle. The music doesn't start playing until the sergeant says "let's go", signaling to the other squad members to start attacking. The music is quite fast paced, causing feelings of excitement and tension in the audience. The music changes when one of the squad members is dead, one is bleeding out and all hope of any of them getting out of this alive is fading. This is when the music changes to a slow and sad tone, making the audience feel sad at this. The pace of the editing changes during the scene. It starts off slow when the sergeant is making a plan of attack. this it to show that this part of the scene is calm. This changes when they start the attack, as the pace becomes quick. This is to cause a feeling of thrill in the audience as the action happens. The editing becomes slow again when the sad music starts to play. This is because it would have the opposite affect if it stayed fast. The scene takes place in a bombed out town, there is rubble all around ans there is impact hole on the walls where bullets have embedded into them. This is all to tell the audience that this is taking place during the thick of battle. It also tells the audience that this battle has been going on for some time.

Brainstorm

This is the original brainstorm for our film. We originally thought about making it a horror film, but decided that we would prefer to make an action film instead.

Die Hard with a vengeance opening analysis

In the opening scene they use many different long shots to set the scene. These are called establishing shots. These shots are effective as they immediately tells the audience that the film is set in New York. This is because it shows many iconic buildings in New York. A casual song is playing in the background as slowly edited shots of normal people, doing there daily commute to work are shown on screen. This sets the opening scene as a plain one that is just there to show where the film is set. This ends suddenly in an explosion. Any sense of normality is immediately dispersed. The explosion is used as a trigger for the music to stop playing. This leaves just the diegetic sound that would follow a terrorist attack e.g. emergency sirens. The opening scene does not reveal anything about the characters or story, these are revealed and built up during the next scene in the police station. One reason for this is that it is the third installment in the series, so the main protagonist, John McClain is already known about. The audience will also know that the plot will likely be about him having to single-handedly stop a well organised plot to obtain a large amount of money by ether theft or hostage taking. The title is put over the top of the background image as it is showing the establishing shots. This tells the audience that it is 'Die Hard set in New York'.

Expendables 2 opening scene analysis

The opening scene does not reveal very much about the characters, other than they are all well trained, expert fighters. This is because it is a sequel, so the creators are expecting the audience to have watched the first one. Any large character traits will have already been given in the first film. The opening scene reveals very little about the plot as is starts with an action scene of the expendables rescuing a hostage. We are thrown straight into this without any context. Music plays a minor part of the sound used. Diegetic sound such as the engines of the vehicles or gunfire is much louder and can completely drown out the background music. This is because the sounds of guns and loud vehicle engines are attractive to the male demographic, the main audience for the film. Close ups of the main characters are used in the beginning of the scene. This is to show the audience that their favorite characters from the first film are in this film. Many of the actors such as Sylvester Stallone are known to be mostly in action films, so the audience immediately knows that this is a very masculine and violent action film. Most of the editing it fast paced. this is because they director of the film wanted it it to exciting and pumped full of adrenaline. It is set in a town in the middle east, controlled by a terrorist/extremist group. This is conforming to the convention that the antagonist is always foreign. They are all dressed in black body Armour and clothing, that is normally associated with special forces soldiers. This is to show that they are elite.

Target audience of action films

The action genre of film is aimed at a young male audience. This is because they are the demographic that is most attracted to violence. The male side likes violence as it lets them express their masculinity. They especially like violence when they are young as it all looks cool to them.
The age range of the genre is from 12-40. Most after they reach 40 are less interested in gunfights and car chases. This is generally preferred by a young to middle age audience.
Most people watch action films to escape from the dullness of normal life. They use these films to get a bit of excitement into their life.

Conventions of action Films

Analysis Guidance

Analyse opening two minutes by considering some of the following areas of focus: What do we find out about the characters? What do we find out about the story?  How are titles used?  How is music used to create mood? What camera shots or uses of camera stand out for you and why? Is the editing fast paced or slow paced and why? What can be said about location, props and costumes?  Make sure you use some key media terminology and show your enthusiasm for a range of genres in  your writing.

Halloween opening analysis

Music is used to great effect in the opening scene. An example of this is when mike is looking at his sisters window and the lights goes out. This is used as a trigger for a eerie high pitched non-diegetic note to start playing. This is then built up by a creepy song. This is effective as it puts the audience on edge as they know that something bad is about to happen.
The entire opening scene, except for the very end is shot using a POV shot. It is the POV of Mike Myers, a child in the opening scene that is the psychotic murderer in the film. This use of the POV is effective as the audience cannot see who they are following until the end when a medium shot is used to show that mike is a child. His face is expressionless and his eyes are staring forward. This make the audience think that he might have been possessed by an evil spirit. They might think this because young children are not normally thought of as violent characters, so this comes as a shock when it is revealed. Mike is wearing a clown costume and mask. This is to make him seem less innocent and more sinister. This is
because many people have a phobia of clowns.
As mike is climbing the stairs to go and stab his sister, the clock chimes in the background producing a diegetic sound. This is a countdown till death, signaling that his sister's time is up.

Continuity in film

Continuity in filming is very important because it allows us to immerse ourselves in the film. If the continuity of the film is broken it can completely destroy  the immersion of the film, and it makes the audience confused about what is going on in the film. There are several rules and shot types that must be followed as if they are not then it can break the continuity of the film. Examples include the 180° rule, the rule of thirds, shot reverse shot and eye line matching.

180° Rule

The 180° rule in film making says that the camera  cannot move past the 180° line. If this rule is broken the audience will be confused as it looks like the character is talking to them self. This is the most important rule as if it is broken it can instantly ruin a film.

Rule of Thirds

The rule of thirds in film making means that the character that is in shot should be in the 1st or 3rd third of the shot.  

Shot Reverse Shot

Shot reverse shot is a filming technique where the camera alternates between one character and another. This is usually used during conversations in a film.

Eye Line Match

Eye line match in an editing technique used in film making. It is where the camera will cut to a shot of what the character is looking at or interacting with. 

Scream opening scene analysis

The first shot used in the film scream is close up of a ringing phone. This suggests that the phone is a pivotal part of the scene. This is proved to be correct as it is the way that the murderer communicates to Casey Becker, the only character that is on screen during the opening scene. The use of a phone to communicate to Casey makes the whole scene more scary as we don't know were the murderer is. This helps to create tension especially when the hidden murderer said 'so i know who i am looking at' in response to Casey asking why he wants to know her name. This tension is strengthened later in the scene when the boor bell rings just after Casey hangs up the phone. This creates a sense of dread that can be seen in Casey's face as this confirms that the murderer is at her house.
The setting is a large house in a conventional rural setting. This is because it eliminates any sense disbelief in the neighbors hearing anything as there are no neighbors. This adds to the tension as both the audience and Casey on screen know that there is no help and any help that is called for won't arrive in time. The murderer knows this as he tells Casey that the police won't arrive in time to save her.
The film uses music triggered by certain points on screen or certain points in the dialog to great effect in creating suspense or tension. An example of this is when the murderer said her name even though she never told him it. Loud and frantic music suddenly plays as she rushes down the corridor to lock the front door. This is non-diegetic sound, which is sound that is sound whose source is no on screen or implied to bee in the story frame. Such sound is added to add atmosphere to a scene.

The audience of Horror

People that usually watch horror films are teenagers or young adults (between 14-26). This is because they are still learning about themselves and are wanting experiencing different emotions. They also watch horror films to escape from normal life as young people are normally in school or higher education so the need something to do that is more thrilling than studying. People of this age group also want to distance themselves from younger people and watch films that are more 'mature'. This is because they want to get used to the idea that they are growing up into adults with more responsibility. Young people also enjoy watching films with more violence or unnatural visuals as the older audience don't like them so this is a way for distancing themselves from their parents and more effectively identify with their own age group.

Within this age group, the people that normally watch horror films are male. This is because the male audience, especially the young ones love to watch violence. Violence often is in horror films, most notably in zombie horror. This liking of violence is due to male hormones that make males more aggressive. Horror films also contain a lot of blood and gore. The young male audience often like this because stereotypically girls do not. This lets them distance themselves from their female counterparts.

Mission impossible 2-Opening scene analysis

The first shot in the opening of  mission impossible 2 is a long shot. This is used to set the scene- an arid wilderness with nothing or no one around. This adds to the suspension when tom cruse is hanging off the edge as we know that there is no one around to help him. The establishing shot also shows us the great height that he is at. This again show us the danger that he is in.

Half way through the scene, when he is hanging off the cliff, a long shot is used at a high angle. This is used to emphasize the long drop to the ravine floor. It also shows that he is alone in this desolate place. This once again emphasizes that there is nobody to help him, creating suspense as he is hanging by his arms over a fatal drop.

Tom cruse is wearing an old dirty vest, climbing shoes and dirty trousers. This tells us that he has been in the wilderness for a long time as he has not been able to change or clean his clothes. The fact that he is wearing climbing shoes and strong trousers suggests that he is an experienced rock climber as he has the right clothing for the job. He also has a small pouch containing chalk. The chalk is used by rock climbers for extra grip, this also tells us that he has experience at rock climbing as no good rock climber would climb with out chalk.

On top of the world

A medium shot is used when he is at the top of the cliff looking down in to the ravine below. This is used to show his happy expression on his face after his accomplishment. The medium shot also shows the top half of his body. This shows the audience that he is exhausted after the long climb.
After this, a long shot is used to show him looking down into the ravine. He is standing with his hands on his waist looking powerful. This pose along with the long drop that he just climbed in the background, makes the audience feel that he is superior to most people. It also makes the emotions of him feeling on top of the world literal.

Conventions of horror films