Opening Sequence of a film

This could also connote that the character could be feeling anxious and on edge. To establish the location on the roof a long shot is used which can show everything around the main character, Ben looks really small compared to the location which makes him seem insignificant. The camera is static while Ben runs on the roof over to the wall; it shows him running, it seems to take forever which builds up tension as it feels like he isn’t getting closer to the wall.While this is happening, in the background there is non-digetic music which accumulates false crescendo as nothing happens. This goes into a sound bridge as it carries on over the next shots, this builds up tension and suspense. Then just as you think something exciting is going to happen the image cuts off into a different place and more false crescendo is used. I think this is very effective in this film as it makes watching this sequence very uneasy and it is a nail-biting experience for the audience.The costumes the characters are wearing are casual clothes; jeans and brown jackets. The female character isn’t wearing a lot of make-up or fashionable clothes and they have a map, and ancient looking glasses which help to identify the genre of the film, the audience can see by the mise-en-scene that the film is action adventure and that one of the themes in the film is treasure hunting.All three main characters are framed in medium close-up shots and a shot reverse shot sequence is used when filming the dialogue. This is effective because the audience feels like they are in the conversation as the shots are changing so quickly. The scene then cuts to a POV shot when Ben puts the spectacles on and looks at the map, this positions the audience in Bens shoes. The audience cannot see Ben’s facial expression which can allow the viewer to have their own opinion on the situation and allows them to create there own emotions as opposed to having to feel the same way the character does, this can create a sense of amazement for the viewer.There is another POV shot which is when Riley looks outside the window to find the enemies outside; this shows the audience the world from his point of view and makes Riley seem like a prisoner as he and the others are trapped inside. Then there is a sudden change of view which makes the audience seem like they are the enemy as they look on the other side of the window to see Riley. A low angle shot of Ian and Shaw in the clock tower looking down on Abigail and Riley show that they are superior and have more control over the situation as they are looking down on these two while they have no idea they are being watched. This creates uneasiness as you don’t know what to expect.Throughout this sequence there is cross-cutting between the parallel narratives; this occurs when Ben splits himself from Abigail and Riley. This creates a sense of realism as this is accurate as to what would happen if this was in everyday life and the audience is able to relate to the film. However this is juxtaposition as the situation is unrealistic yet the solution is.Incrementally the pace quickens and the shot duration shortens once Ben has seen two men following him, this is to show fast pace action is occurring while the chase commences. Cross cutting is used to show that Abigail and Riley are being chased this suggests simultaneity of action. Because the scene is moving so rapidly this adds more tension to this part of the sequence.When the location changes a mid-shot is used and because the characters are still running as the door opens enigmas are created for the audience as it makes them wonder where Abigail and Riley are going, this is restricted narrative as the audience knows as much as the characters as to where they are going. This is effective because a mysterious tone is formed for the viewer.Abigail jumps over the counter in the supermarket and there is a close up of her face as she turns to took at ‘baldy’, this shows her facial expression as she sees the gun this shows fear and danger as it is the first time in this sequence the audience sees the gun and a threatening atmosphere is generated as the audience knows something bad is about to happen.The next cut is a long shot of gravestones. The long shot establishes the setting which so happens to be a burial ground, this shows that danger is lurking around the corner, also the gravestones connote death. Suddenly a gun is produced which makes the situation seem pragmatic and shocks the audience as it seems like the situation cannot get much worse. The gun is iconography as it is usual in this genre of film; it is also a motif as it runs throughout the film which shows it is significant. Ben continues the pursuit onto the roof top which is shown also using a long shot, this establishes the location and the framing shows how high Ben is off the ground, he seems a lot smaller than his surroundings which shows he is venerable and the situation is out of his hands; he cannot control what happens from now on. This makes the audience feel tense. By Ben’s facial expressions, the audience can see there is no easy way out of this mess as he seems worried. There is a high angle tilt down of the fire escape which also shows how far off the ground he is, which re-enforces that he is in danger and we unable to predict the outcome of this situation which creates a lot of tension.Finally Ben gives in and throws the bag which holds the documents, this is a significant part of mise-en-scene, as this is the reason the whole chase scene just went on. This shows how something little had such a big part in the sequence and could have left Ben without a life. Overall we have found out that mise-en-scene helps us generate an idea that one of the themes in the film is treasure hunting, we can also use aspects of mise-en-scene to tell us that the genre is action. Cinematography tells us that through extreme close ups we can generate ideas of the narrative. Through long shots we are able to establish the location. And POV shots position us in the film which makes the audience feel a part of the action. To conclude micro features are an important part of film as they create meaning and effect.(1,377 words) As Film Studies Coursework