Analysis of film opening. (PROM NIGHT)

Pre-released and recorded audio is used in the beginning of this sequence and the titles used are simple, showing simply the production company and names of actors/producers included. Dark lighting is used and the main filming is shown from both within the house, and just outside of the house and the main character revealed she does not want to go to try-outs due to 'everything that has happened' which leaves the audience questioning what has happened, or is going to happen. A variety of angles are shown as she goes through doors and the music becomes mysterious, slow and eerie. Side, and direct front angles are used so that the audience questions where, or whether or not someone may be lurking behind her which is conveyed through the lighting and sound also. The main character (Donna) calls for her dad or anyone else whom may be within the house but no one answers, until a panning shot establishes that her dad is in fact hidden behind the sofa, dead. Music becomes more intense and angles quickly change when Donna moves up the stairs and into other rooms, the music suddenly becomes more abrupt as she trips over a baseball bat which is used to make audiences jump or become frightened. Donna groans at her brother for leaving it out for her to trip on, oblivious to what is actually going on. As she moves to her brothers room to tell him about what just happened, she see's him lying still and assumes he is asleep until again the music intensifies and she rolls him over to find that he is actually dead. The use of music and dark lighting may be used to have adrenaline flowing through the audiences bodies so that they become more filled with fear and suspense as to the situation they are about to witness. Donna overhears a man demanding for her mother to tell her where she is, but her mother insists that she is out. Donna proceeds to hide under the bed and the camera stays fixed on her face to show her emotion, further into this scene her mother is thrown onto the floor by the bed and an unknown character is on top of her, threatening to kill her unless he was made aware of Donnas location. Using close up shots of both Donna and her mothers face is successfully showing the deep emotion and fear they are both experiencing so that this can be reflected on the audience. As her mother is killed by the unknown antagonist, donnas emotions are shown close up as she watched her mothers murder, this adds both fear and empathy to the audiences emotions however they are still wondering who this killer is. Once he is shown, he appears very stereotypical of a murderer, he appears untidy, dirty and almost as if he has been hidden away from reality for some time. Audio is used in continuous and slow paced form during this scene so that the attention is on the picture rather than the sound but there is an unconscious noise still building upon tension. Donna runs out to the front door to shout for police and the music builds again, until the camera pans to behind her, and we see the murderer.

In my production i should consider highly the music that i use and ensure it is always in time with the picture as well as being relevant. Also, panning and a variety of camera angles should be considered as it is effective in terms of building suspense and misleading audiences.