How camera shots are used in opening sequences to create meaning- The conjuring

Rosie Ram

Extreme close – Close up shots are used to draw the view closer and involve them in what is happening. The extreme close up on the characters face empathises great depth of the characters emotions and face

expressions of fear and terror, from her face we can see that she is frightened of something that is in front of her. They are mainly used to observe reactions and emotions such as fear or tension, which has been done in this shot.

This camera angel highlights the whole scene and emotions as it zooms into her face, and blurs out the background around as it insignificant. She is also in a vulnerable position. We can also see that she is one of the main characters in the film. This is a very effective shot as it enables the audience to feel the victims fear . It has also been used to show the horrifying nature of the antagonist, which makes the audience feel afraid.

Close up- This characters face expressions shows deep emotion of fear and terror as the character has just seen something dramatic or out of the ordinary. She looks deep in thought and is concerned about what she has just experienced. This sets the tone of the film as we know to expect something paranormal. The close up shows a very little background, to keep the concentration on the face of the character and the mise en scene e.g. The music box as the rest of the background has been blurred. This is effective as we can see the character’s entire face. It also magnifies the importance of the face and the music box. Close up shots are commonly used in horrors as they make the audience feel closer to the character and enhance the important parts of the movie. During this scene the close up shot was used to get in the characters mind set as she experiences something paranormal.

Medium shot- This shot was used in the movie in a dialogue shot. In this medium shot we can see the costumes the characters are wearing. We can clearly see the face expressions of the characters they express terror and worry as they are concerned about what they are hearing. From this shot we can also see that something strange and paranormal is going on due to the mise en scene used in the shot e.g. they have a tape recorder on the edge of the table. In the shot the background is barely shown as the audience are more focused on what the characters are saying and discussing. This shot is effective as it is used to give an effect of slight tension.

Extreme wide/Long shot- Establishing shots are often used in horror opening sequences. This shot establishes the location of where the film is set. Instantly by looking at this shot we can indentify that the genre of this film is a horror due to the generic conventions, such as the abandoned house, isolated woods and the dull, foggy, gloomy and misty atmosphere portrayed .

We can also see it is haunted at there is a rope hanging from a tree suggesting someone got hung there which suggests to the audience that a lot of deaths will occur in the film. This shot is very effective as it enables the audience to see the whole of the location. It has also been used to represent to enhance the isolated/abandoned setting, and shows a cut from civilisation which immediately creates suspense.

Long shot- This long shot specifically empathises the emotion on the characters face. He is confused as you can see from his face that he is fearing something we can also see he is looking far in distance this implies he is in deep thought and his face expressions support that. It also allows us to see the location of the scene as well as the characters.

Also in the background we can see a ghostly figure of a rotting women we can see from her clothing she is from an older time era. She is also in in front of the house in the background where we saw the rope hung in the previous picture this reveals that she was the lady that go hung there.

This also represents the genre of the film which is a horror as we can see death in the scene. This is a good shot because it is clear of what is happening all around and enables the audience to indentify the setting and the action around.

High angle shot- This high angle shot, portrays that the character is inferior to the person looking down upon them. It is used in this scene to illustrates the young girl being in a vulnerable position as the person looking down on her is more powerful and has the most control. It also creates an effect as the audience is looking down upon the girl. In the scene the angle is used to suggest to the audience that the girl is powerless. The shot is also very effective as it creates an effect as the setting is swallowing the character up as the character is shown in a vulnerable situation.

Track

We see a track shot, when the camera follows the victim when she is walking into the attic, the tracking shot makes it seem like something is with her when she is walking, she is also blind folded as she is playing a game with her daughters ‘hide and clap’ which makes her vulnerable. The tracking shot is slow paced, which creates tension and suspense as we don’t know what to expect, we can also feel/see the presence catching up with her. The shot is used in the scene as it gives an impression that the victim is getting followed/stalked by the antagonist. It also creates a building of suspense as the camera moves as it is unexpected of what will be shown.

Pan

A pan shot is used when we see the camera move left to right from the mans face to the woman’s, this show us that there is a link between the two as they both have shocked and scared faces, this is because the two have just seen the paranormal figure, which no one else can see. The shot is very effective as it creates an impression of tension in the scene as the camera gradually moves from one character another which builds up tension.

Tilt

In this scene, we see a tilt after the girl is dragged. The tilt reveals the pictures falling off the walls down the stairs, the tilt is also used to cut back to the other characters and show their expressions. The tilt is used to show that something is watching over the family. It is also used to show imbalance and instability. It is very effective as in the scene it makes the audience feel like something strange is going to occur, as in the scene the girl is shown sleeping in her bed then dramatically the she gets dragged of the bed, which then cuts off to show the pictures of the family fall down and break.

Zoom

In this scene we can see the camera zooming into the victims arm. The camera turns to the left and zooms into the victims arm which is severely bruised, and scratched. The camera then quickly turns onto the victims face, which creates a jumpy scene as she wakes up and gets dragged. This is typical in horrors as at the start everything seems to be normal until dramatically the horror begins as the conventions start to be shown. The background around is dull and gloomy, she is also in a vulnerable state as she is unaware of what is happening as she is sleeping in her bed. The shot is very effective as it creates as it has a dramatic effect and a element of suspense and fear amongst the audience as you don't know what you are going to see next. As in this scene the camera is used to zoom into something you wouldn't have noticed before like the unexpected bruises on the ladies arms.

Cut

This cuts from a long shot, as we see the location around and the characters to a medium shot showing the woman's face expressions, she is shocked, and scared as she has just seen a paranormal figure behind her husband, this also allows us to see the figure. This is effective as it enables guides us into what is happening, and provides us with more detail, as we can see the characters emotions more closely.

PaceThe pace starts of slow, whilst the family gathers around in the living room as they know

that something suspicious is happening, the pace then dramatically speeds up as something enters the house, and drags the one of the girls around the house by her hair, as the pace changes we experience a lot of emotions which creates a build up of tensions and suspense dramatically, as the pace changes drastically which is typical in horrors to create jumpy unexpected scenes.

PerformanceFrom the performance of the characters, we see that they are a vulnerable family, as they

have small children. They are unaware of what could happen as they are excited to move into the house by this we can see that they are the victims in the movie, and that they will be suffers in the movie.

We are also introduced to couple at the start who work together as paranormal experts, from this instance we know that the movie will include paranormal things. The couple do not reveal everything, and keep certain things between themselves this makes us wonder if they are sly. This also creates a mystery in the film. We also learn that the narrative will be focused around them.

Non diegeticIn the opening sequence non diegetic sound was used rarely. However it was used for when the

family first entered the house as it was used to show their vulnerability and innocence. It was also used to make the setting look more realistic and normal so that the narrative was not given straight at the start, this created a mystery. It is also typical in horrors for things to appear normal at the beginning but then dramatically change to create suspense, tension and fear.

DiegeticDiegetic sounds are added to create a dramatic tense scenes. At the start of the movie when the

family enters their new home the door creaks which signifies that something bad would happen. A clock ticking is also used to signify that a dramatic even is going to occur and that time is running out, as after this diegetic sound the girl gets dragged by a paranormal figure. These diegetic sounds are all conventional in horror movies as they create tension and suspense.

The screaming, throughout the movie there are screams and shrieks these are used when the family and experts see or feel the paranormal figures present with them. In the movie when they play the game “hide and clap” the girls clap, this diegetic sound creates fear as every time someone claps something paranormal appears on screen which turns the children's game into a feature foreshadowing paranormal is upcoming.

Mise en scene – costume, setting, props

The characters are dressed in costumes from an olden era which illustrates to us that the movie it set in an olden times. From the outfits we can also see they are teachers/lectures as they are dressed formally behind a board

A music box is used as a prop in the movie. It makes it look more realistic as toys from the olden era such as dolls and music boxes are seen to be ‘scary’, the music box also plays creepy music which adds dramatic and fearful scenes. It is also a generic convention in horrors that symbolise a “haunting” or one of the causes

This a long shot establishing the location, the location looks realistic as it is a common convention of an old looking haunted/abandoned house. It is also located in a deserted village with no one around, it is misty and foggy, the is almost no lighting as dark is associated with evil the atmosphere looks very dull and scary.

Conclusion

The analysing of the micro-elements, will help me when I make my own film opening as it gave me an insight on all the different angles used in movies, and how effective they are when creating different effects such as tension, suspense, mystery and fear. I also know how important mise en scene, performance and sound track is to create the atmosphere, and realistic effect you are aiming for. By analysing these micro-elements I know have a good insight on all the conventions in a horror movie and how they create meaning. This has also gave me idea’s to include in my horror movie and how to use them effectively.