In class we were required to assess other groups film openings and we were assigned to look at different parts such as camera work, mise-en-scene, sound and editing.
This is their group blog:
https://skylinemovies.wordpress.com/
and this is the link to the rough cut of their film opening:
Camera Work
Good:
- The extreme long shot of New York- helps the audience to establish the location of the scene as well as emphasising the text shown right at the very beginning stating how a boy has been kidnapped in New York. The effective use of the extreme long shot shows how big the city is and how it is virtually impossible to find the missing boy.
- Close up from a low angle portraying the girl walking in the train station. It portrays the reflection of the girl through the mirror. This can add a sense of mystery and foreshadow what may happen later on in the film.
- Panning camera movement from a high angle taken by standing on the escalators going down. I thought this was a very clever idea of a camera shot/movement and helps the audience to acknowledge that the location is in an airport and that the girl has to travel all the way to New York to find her brother.
Improvements
- Maybe more footage could be shown of the kidnapped boy so that the audience does not lose interest in the plot of of the film.
Mise-en-scene
Good:
- The idea of incorporating the image of the city of New York, with the help of the camera work to portray it from an extreme long shot. As stated before, it helps create a sense of mystery and shows the audience how big the city is hence showing it will be a mission to find the kidnapped boy.
- The shot of the airport. This sets the motive/plot of the story hinting that the women is going to find the missing boy in New York.
- The idea of using strangers in the film wearing ordinary clothes passing by helps to create a normal every day atmosphere despite the gloomy music contradicting this.
Sound
Good:
- I liked the idea of using the creepy/slow music throughout the entire film opening as it creates a gloomy atmosphere and instantly enables the audience to establish the genre of the film following along the lines of a physcological thriller.
- The sound of announcements being made as the girl is walking down the train station. This also helps add to the gloomy atmosphere as it has been incorporated on top of the eery music thus making it sound more like muffled voices.
- The lack of diegetic sound from the girl also helps to create a gloomy atmosphere. For example, she only says ‘I’m here’ and these words show how she is determined to find the boy.
Editing
Good:
- At 0:30, a time lapse has been edited of the preview of the city of New York. This could emphasise how time is running out in order to find the boy.
- At 0:35, muffled sounds of the announcements being made at the train station helps to create a gloomy atmosphere.
- At 0:39 there is a preview of Heathrow Airport edited in a black and white perspective which can probably foreshadow a negative ending to the film.
- The titles used at the beginning of the film opening to help set the mood of the film.
- The titles used to illustrate the locations of the different scenes-also helps the audience to be able to track the missing boy’s family’s movements as the girl sets out to find him.
Sophie Cramer
yardproductions 