There is a zoom into the mist, which creates turmoil and confusion, and then this fades into the cauldron, which is bubbling. This connotes the idea of creating life from water, which would be supernatural. The cameraman keeps using zooms and jump shots to create confusion and this is put together by the editor to create a short montage of the sculpture which is brought to life by the witches.
The lighting of the opening scene is quite poor, which may connote mystery and evil, as the audience can’t see in as much detail; it has the same effect as mist.
Throughout the introduction of the movie there are little jump cuts to shots of the four elements, wind, fire, water, and earth. These dissolve in and out of the shots of the play. This is a montage, and the hidden meaning behind the montage is power, as it suggests that the witches possess powers consisting of the four elements. This extraordinary amount of power can be linked with the theme of evil.
Whilst the introduction is taking place, there are quiet non-diegetic sounds, which are expressed more whilst there are diegetic sounds of the witches’ dialog, although this quiet, as soon the witches say “Macbeth” it goes extremely loud. The non-diegetic music consists of mainly string instrument, which are used to create atmosphere.
The “Macbeth – on the estate” film is seen more of an action movie than the Orson welles’ version which is seen as a horror. It starts with a blank screen, and eerie non-diegetic sounds, for example wind and crow screeches. The crow screech symbolises death, and therefore links with the theme of evil. This also builds up curiosity to what is going to happen in the film.
After this the blank screen fades into a baron derelict wasteland which is shrouded my mist. In the background there are dilapidated buildings, this mise-en-scene suggests mystery and lifelessness. The eerie non-diegetic sounds continue throughout the first scene until a narrator appears, the narrator is wearing dark clothes, and the dark clothes can represent death. After he has spoken a few words, the cameraman zooms into the narrator, this zoom may be to indicate that what the narrator is saying could be important to the storyline of the film.
Next, after the narrator has left the screen, there is a montage. This montage consists of: A shot of smashed glass/glassless windows (which pans then is shown 5 more times at different angles), derelict flats with smashed windows a rat. The smashed glass suggests evil. The lonely damaged flats connote evil and lifelessness. The rat symbolises evil as it is seen as a carrier of disease. The derelict flats are filmed from a low angle which makes them seem bigger, and increases the effect of the theme of evil compared to different shot types.
Then there is a battle scene, there are a lot of pauses in the shots here as it is the first time you see the characters of the film. As they are attacking, you can see there is a television, which is showing lottery numbers, this is associated with the theme of fate and destiny.
Later on when Macbeth and Banquo follow the witches to their domain, it is suggested that it is the witches’ domain because of the mise-en-scene. The mise-en-scene in this scene is the mirrors and candles. The mirrors relate to the theme of reality and illusion, and make the witches seem more supernatural. The candles also make the witches seem more supernatural. This also can be a montage, as the editor puts short clips of this mise-en scene into the scene, to relate to the theme of the supernatural.
In conclusion the main ways in which the productions of “Macbeth” convey the themes of the play and portray the witches are through devices like: Montages, camera angles, lighting, the mise-en-scene and sound.
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