The silence of the lambs
Openings usually include:
Main actors introduced in title
Director
Film name last and biggest Name of studio Name of Production Company Producer Director Starring Featuring Casting/ Casting byMusic.
There is a close up shot of her face when she is running, this shows the audience that she is very determined by her facial expression, this also tells us more about her personality and we know after this shot that she isn’t someone who is willing to give up easily. The opening takes place in a foggy woodland trail in which the main character (Clarice) is doing a training course as it is obvious she is training for something. However the backdrop seems very different to the nature of why she is in the woods as it is abandoned and dark even though it seems to be day time. This effectively sets the scene for the movie as it has a dark and disturbing theme and the audience is aware of this from the beginning.
Brief dialogue is shown in the sequence and this effectively introduces the protagonist so the audience is immediately aware she is an important character and can see her hard working personality that will help her to solve the mystery later on throughout the film.
The title of the film is shown in an average bold font which does not seem specific to the film but it stands out against the background and again foreshadows the darkness of the silence of the lambs and shock value it possesses like the contrast of the black and white title.
At the beginning of the opening scene there is a high angle of clarice doing some exercises, this shows the audience that she looks weak in this shot and that she is small in stature, so right from the beginning of the opening scene she is made to look small and weak like she is through the rest of the clip. Again the strength of character Clarice has is shown as she seems to be training in a male dominated field and the actors picked to play the trainee's are much taller than Clarice and so she shown as in-superior because they look down on her. In thrillers the protagonist is usually shown as an outcast or misunderstood so this is conforming to the normal stereotypes of thriller films as not only does she look the outcast she also looks like the weakest from the group and the most venerable to the threat they then experience later on in the silence of the lambs.
Main actors introduced in title
Director
Film name last and biggest Name of studio Name of Production Company Producer Director Starring Featuring Casting/ Casting byMusic.
There is a close up shot of her face when she is running, this shows the audience that she is very determined by her facial expression, this also tells us more about her personality and we know after this shot that she isn’t someone who is willing to give up easily. The opening takes place in a foggy woodland trail in which the main character (Clarice) is doing a training course as it is obvious she is training for something. However the backdrop seems very different to the nature of why she is in the woods as it is abandoned and dark even though it seems to be day time. This effectively sets the scene for the movie as it has a dark and disturbing theme and the audience is aware of this from the beginning.
Brief dialogue is shown in the sequence and this effectively introduces the protagonist so the audience is immediately aware she is an important character and can see her hard working personality that will help her to solve the mystery later on throughout the film.
The title of the film is shown in an average bold font which does not seem specific to the film but it stands out against the background and again foreshadows the darkness of the silence of the lambs and shock value it possesses like the contrast of the black and white title.
At the beginning of the opening scene there is a high angle of clarice doing some exercises, this shows the audience that she looks weak in this shot and that she is small in stature, so right from the beginning of the opening scene she is made to look small and weak like she is through the rest of the clip. Again the strength of character Clarice has is shown as she seems to be training in a male dominated field and the actors picked to play the trainee's are much taller than Clarice and so she shown as in-superior because they look down on her. In thrillers the protagonist is usually shown as an outcast or misunderstood so this is conforming to the normal stereotypes of thriller films as not only does she look the outcast she also looks like the weakest from the group and the most venerable to the threat they then experience later on in the silence of the lambs.
The sixth sense
Mise-en-scene is a French term that means “to put into scene”. Every element of mise-en-scene has an important role within a film and serves extensive meanings. It is not only a visual representation of what to observe during a scene but it also creates clues to emotionally engage the audience. There are five key aspects of mise-en-scene: location, where the scene is taking place usually in the opening sequence the location introduces where the film will take place,costume this is used to show class, era or to help emphasis the location, lighting which helps show the mood of the scene or to help covey a characters emotions a well, props which are used to develop and evolve the narrative and finally there is colour this is a distinctive colour o filter used which can be used to signify a meaning or help to portray a character emotions.
Each of these mise-en-scene components are introduced into Shyamalan’s The Sixth Sense with its opening sequence and prepares the audience for the remainder of the film. The lighting has a significant role for evolving the plot and builds up anticipation. For example, within the first few seconds a naked light bulb gradually heats up within a dark setting through a close-up shot. This prop, sparking to life, gives out a hint giving the idea of the presence of ghosts and conveys the extraordinary attributes of Cole Sear to see them. The light within the opening credits maintains an eerie atmosphere which builds up the suspense and anticipation. The first staged scene takes place where Anna Crowe, a young woman in an expensive looking dress, enters a cellar to get a bottle of wine. The harsh lighting as well as Anna’s bodily expressions when she turns round and shivers indicate the mysterious atmosphere in the cellar and viewers grasp that chilling effect. This pattern of harsh lighting and cold temperature continues throughout the remaining scenes of the sixth sense.
Another important element of mise-en-scene in The Sixth Sense is the use of the colour red. Red is a strong colour that can be associated with positive and negative emotions. In the majority of the opening scenes, the colour red is represented as a symbol: the filament of the light bulb just before it entirely lights up, the red wine and Anna’s lipstick. Director Shyamalan’s intention of frequently using this colour within the opening sequence is to highlight specific important props to provide information and to warn the audience of the upcoming events in the sixth sense
Furthermore, other specific red props significantly prepare viewers for what is coming. First, the candles and some of the cards are represented in two different ways, which illustrate the nature of red. Like the light bulb, the small balls of fire within the candles hint out a presence of ghosts; whereas the hand-made cards and their decorations suggest the innocence of young children. These props signify Cole Sear’s character as someone with the extraordinary ability to see the dead.
Dr. Malcolm Crowe’s professional reputation and his romantic evening with Anna becomes threatened shortly afterwards when a young man breaks into his house. This individual is soon revealed to be Vincent Grey – one of Malcolm’s former patients. Our first impressions of Vincent, who is only wearing underpants and his defensive, scared movement, indicate that he is mentally unstable. His deeply emotional state makes the audience feel sorry for him for a moment. however, he has anger and violent issues which quickly become clear. For example, he yells at Malcolm, he bangs on the bathroom door and shoots Malcolm as well as himself without hesitation. Vincent is simply trapped between a deranged psycho with a vengeance and a psychologically unstable person desperate for help.
Each of these mise-en-scene components are introduced into Shyamalan’s The Sixth Sense with its opening sequence and prepares the audience for the remainder of the film. The lighting has a significant role for evolving the plot and builds up anticipation. For example, within the first few seconds a naked light bulb gradually heats up within a dark setting through a close-up shot. This prop, sparking to life, gives out a hint giving the idea of the presence of ghosts and conveys the extraordinary attributes of Cole Sear to see them. The light within the opening credits maintains an eerie atmosphere which builds up the suspense and anticipation. The first staged scene takes place where Anna Crowe, a young woman in an expensive looking dress, enters a cellar to get a bottle of wine. The harsh lighting as well as Anna’s bodily expressions when she turns round and shivers indicate the mysterious atmosphere in the cellar and viewers grasp that chilling effect. This pattern of harsh lighting and cold temperature continues throughout the remaining scenes of the sixth sense.
Another important element of mise-en-scene in The Sixth Sense is the use of the colour red. Red is a strong colour that can be associated with positive and negative emotions. In the majority of the opening scenes, the colour red is represented as a symbol: the filament of the light bulb just before it entirely lights up, the red wine and Anna’s lipstick. Director Shyamalan’s intention of frequently using this colour within the opening sequence is to highlight specific important props to provide information and to warn the audience of the upcoming events in the sixth sense
Furthermore, other specific red props significantly prepare viewers for what is coming. First, the candles and some of the cards are represented in two different ways, which illustrate the nature of red. Like the light bulb, the small balls of fire within the candles hint out a presence of ghosts; whereas the hand-made cards and their decorations suggest the innocence of young children. These props signify Cole Sear’s character as someone with the extraordinary ability to see the dead.
Dr. Malcolm Crowe’s professional reputation and his romantic evening with Anna becomes threatened shortly afterwards when a young man breaks into his house. This individual is soon revealed to be Vincent Grey – one of Malcolm’s former patients. Our first impressions of Vincent, who is only wearing underpants and his defensive, scared movement, indicate that he is mentally unstable. His deeply emotional state makes the audience feel sorry for him for a moment. however, he has anger and violent issues which quickly become clear. For example, he yells at Malcolm, he bangs on the bathroom door and shoots Malcolm as well as himself without hesitation. Vincent is simply trapped between a deranged psycho with a vengeance and a psychologically unstable person desperate for help.
Shutter island
Shutter Island is a thriller directed by Martin Scorsese. It was released in 2010, however the film is set in 1954. It stars Leonardo DiCaprio as the main protagonist who plays Edward "Teddy" Daniels, a US Marshal travelling to a remote island to Ashecliffe Hospital for the criminally insane, investigating the disappearance of a criminally insane patient.
Before the film actually starts, slow, non-diegetic music immediately sets the atmosphere for the film and clearly shows that it is a thriller. The sound echoes and plays throughout the opening sequence which makes the audience feel disoriented as it isn't a pleasant sound. This could reflect Teddy (the main character)'s inner problems going on inside his head which is explained and portrayed throughout the film and is a central motif in the film.
The film starts off with a sailing ship emerging from a large cloud of fog which makes it seem mysterious. Everything seems quite unclear and mysterious which causes the audience to become confused as to what is going on. The ship, as it's emerging, seems quite daunting especially since there seems to be no one else around and the fog hides everything in the background behind the ship. This use of the fog is very effective as it creates a cold and creepy atmosphere which links to where the ship is travelling as criminally insane hospitals are usually associated with having this kind of atmosphere surrounding them as well as this it sets the theme for the rest of the film. So the fog, as well as the non-diegetic sound effects and large, daunting ship, are all effective ways of setting the atmosphere for the film and are also the usual conventions of thrillers and also clearly indicate that this is a thriller.
Before the film actually starts, slow, non-diegetic music immediately sets the atmosphere for the film and clearly shows that it is a thriller. The sound echoes and plays throughout the opening sequence which makes the audience feel disoriented as it isn't a pleasant sound. This could reflect Teddy (the main character)'s inner problems going on inside his head which is explained and portrayed throughout the film and is a central motif in the film.
The film starts off with a sailing ship emerging from a large cloud of fog which makes it seem mysterious. Everything seems quite unclear and mysterious which causes the audience to become confused as to what is going on. The ship, as it's emerging, seems quite daunting especially since there seems to be no one else around and the fog hides everything in the background behind the ship. This use of the fog is very effective as it creates a cold and creepy atmosphere which links to where the ship is travelling as criminally insane hospitals are usually associated with having this kind of atmosphere surrounding them as well as this it sets the theme for the rest of the film. So the fog, as well as the non-diegetic sound effects and large, daunting ship, are all effective ways of setting the atmosphere for the film and are also the usual conventions of thrillers and also clearly indicate that this is a thriller.