Media studies

Pixx Productions
Simran Hussain

Analyse Opening sequence 1

The Woman in Black
The aim of this opening sequence is attract the right target audience and to intrigue
the audience for the rest of the film from the very start. To do this, the opening
sequence entails some conventions necessary in horror films, for example: the
opening sequence is a past event that would help develop the storyline further,
common within horror films, another convention may be that within the first 90
seconds of that of the film, a death occurs, in this case three deaths occur at the
same time.

The scene opens with close ups of three girls playing with china teacup sets and old
porcelain dolls inferring to the audience that the film was set in the past. Through
further use of close ups and two shots, the idea that the three young girls are happy
in a normal situation is portrayed, this would be the equilibrium of the scene. The
non-diegetic sound, at first is very slow and low. Violins are used to play this soft
track, however soon after, the audience is made aware of the danger and this is
when the piano begins to play creating a child-like tone in the atmosphere. This
creates a sinister meaning in the overall sequence. The mise-en-scene of this scene
is carefully thought of to show the audience the setting and time it was set in. the
lighting is low and the costume and props used are of dull colours, again indicating a
past event.
The scene then switches to a long
shot showing the three girls draw their
attention past the camera but in the
direction of the camera. This technique
indicates that there is an additional
uncanny presence in the room
amongst them, but the buildup of
tension directs the audience to believe
something is not right, keeping them at
the edge of their seats. This type of
shot could also be used as an establishing shot for the scene. Slow motion editing it
present throughout the whole scene. At this point, the tone of the sound changes and
gradually builds up, indications something is wrong the mise-en-scene remains
constant, with the long shot (shown above) we are given an idea of the central theme
of the room.

Media studies
Pixx Productions
Simran Hussain
A dolly shot is used to show that the
girls turn to look at the window, as their
minds are possessed. This type of
dolly shot is also used at the end in
order to show the woman in black
standing. It allows the audience to
determine the final outcome in the
scene, leaving the audience with
shivers running through their spines.
The score music in the background
proceeds to be a gradual buildup of a child-like song and continues as the camera
moves towards the window.
A variety of shots are used, long shots,
extreme close ups on objects and
close ups to indicate the movement of
the characters towards the windows.
Although editing the scene to have
slow motion present throughout it, the
slow motion feature is heightened in
this part making it more obvious, in
order to build anxiety and tension
amongst the audience, before the girls jumped out of the window. The sound is very
effective at this point as; once the girls have jumped a diegetic shriek of horror
coming from the window indicates the death was mysterious. The score music then
suddenly cuts off as the camera moves away from the windows and remains at a low
pitch until the screen fades out to white.