FILM OPENINGS ‘Lighting, Mise en Scene, Editing, Shot

types/distances, Establishment of narrative, special effects’

By: Jade Greenheld

The Hunger Games – Shot types/distances

The hunger games use a range of shots through the film opening. A Long Shot is the most common shot used throughout the opening. They use long shots to introduce the beginning of every scene. It sets the scene and the audience's perception of time, place and logical action of the scene that is about to transpire. For example, the first shot of the sequence it set in the woods in District 12. The story revolves around this setting apart when they are in the Capitol ‘Panem’, they are dressed more sophisticatedly unlike In the district is very poor so they wear rags.

The Host - Lighting

The lighting in Post-Apocalyptic films the lighting is usually dark. Dark lighting usually creates mystery and suspense. In the film opening sequence the lighting is very dark. The lighting sets the mood, The scene is set in a huge building at night, the woman uses a torch to get around.

28 days later – Special effects

The shots are in chronological order. They draw the ‘1’ on the this opening scene in red font and drips down so it look like blood. These number are continuous, they are shown own each different shot. Also, Special effects in this opening film they use different coloured flashing light ‘blue’ and ‘red’ which connotes the police. This opening scene uses animation shots throughout the opening sequence, with different shots on scenery and action.

Establishment of narrative-28 weeks later

Post-apocalyptic stories often take place in a non-technological future world, or a world where only scattered elements of technology remain.In this opening scene, these shot establish narrative. The different shots set the scene and the clips of the monkeys give the audience an insight of what the movie will be about.

Mise En Scene- The matrix

The Matrix is a film that uses the five elements of mise-en-scene in order to deliver meaning to the audience and is constantly being seen. The elements of Mise-en-scene are setting, costume and makeup, character and actor, lighting and colour, and composition. For example, whenever a person enters the matrix, there is always a tinted shade of green. When characters are viewed outside of the matrix and are viewed in the real world, dark colours such as grey or black, costumes, and low lighting are prevalent.For setting, the scene takes place in a completely white room which is known as ‘the construct’, where depth perception is not relevant, it simply never ends.

Editing- The terminatorCamera Movement: Pan shot used to follow girls movement on swing showing innocence of youth.

Framing shot: Long shot used to to show busy motorway, lots of people.

Camera angles: Camera angles are used high and low angles. High angle used on the first appearance of the terminator showing it to have the upper hand in the battle.

Titles: Titles done over post/pre apocalyptic background to give a sense of the future. Some credits are done over the playground and the city. The font is given a cold, machine like look.