Starting Research and Analysis

In today's lesson, we had to watch the openings of four different films and analyse them within the following areas:

• Mise-en-scene
• Camera shots
• Editing
• Sound (diegetic and non-diegetic)

We had to focus on how the film highlights the genre, hint at the narrative and how it conforms to or challenges the conventions of the genre.

I felt that genres of the films were:

• The Matrix: Science fiction action
• Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone: Fantasy
• Se7en: Action thriller
• The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo: Mystery thriller

I feel like my notes regarding the films shows support towards the above points and that the narrative is slightly hinted at within the openings.

Film	Mise-en-scene	Editing	Camera shots	Sound Diegetic and non-diegetic	What is revealed in the opening two minutes?
The Matrix	- Numbers on the computer -Mainly green and black colouring -Nobody on screen for at least a minute -Police officers on raid – dark and dreary	-Making similar shapes (in this case a circle) change from one thing to another (transition)	-OTSS -Medium close up -Close up -Extreme close up -Panning shot	Diegetic: -Numbers switching -Typing -Dialogue Non-diegetic: -Phone call -Intense music -Introductory background music	A crime is going to be commited, someone is called the ‘one’ Police raid a woman’s house Related?
Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone	-Very dark (night time) -Drive sign with owl on top (spooky) -Houses -Clothing is different to average wear (signalling they’re from a different place) - Motorbike -Cat	-Showing light being taken away -Light turning into motorbike -Showing cat turn into human through shadow -Making scar shine	-Low angle shot -OTSS -Two shot close up -Long shot -Close up -Tracking shot -Shot/reverse shot -Establishing shot -Medium close up	Diegetic: -When device opens -Dialogue -Motorbike -Thunder Non-diegetic: -Cats meow -Classical music -Mysterious background music	Characters names A boy being brought to a doorstep and left with a letter Boy’s name is Harry Potter Characters say ‘our world’, suggesting they live in a different world to humans
Se7en	-A book -Hands drawn on pages -All dark -Only shows hands moving things	-Non continuous between shots showing a jump cut	-Repetition	Non-diegetic: -Tech music -Music gets faster to signal more intensity	Someone is putting a book together - mysterious
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo	-Black water -Fire -Wires moving to form human body -Always linking back to body in water -Two people emerge from gloop -Wings turn into fire -Black and orange theme of colour	-Changing scene with beat of music -Not continuous transitions	-Close up -Two shot	Non-diegetic: -Music with lyrics	Scary Someone trying to break free? Being beaten?