Analysis Of Misery
- 1. Analysis of Opening Film Techniques Employed - Misery Film Techniques Examples of typical film techniques used and why– Illustrate your findings with references to actual onscreen moments. Titling – colour, font style, The film starts with different companies. Metro Goldwyn over image or black, Major Trademark is an American media company, timing, credits involved in production and distribution of films and presentation etc television programs, this lasts for 6 seconds. Columbia Pictures is an American Film Production Film Company, owned by Sony Pictures Entertainment and lasts for 9 seconds. Castle Rock Entertainment is a film and television production company which was found in 1987 and lasts for 13 seconds. The order of the company’s shows which company is more important. The main colour for the text is red which shows danger. The credits that shown are “In Association with” at 0.39 seconds and lasts for 2 seconds, and “A Rob Reiner Film” at 0.43 seconds and lasts for 3 seconds. Not many credits are shown because they might not be important and setting the story is more important than the credits. Camera Movement (panning, tracking, crane shot and crabbing etc) Framing of Shot A close up is used for the audience to look at each detail (CU, MLS, ELS etc) closely. This close up is used to go into the mind of the character to see what he is thinking and may show a personality. POV shot – shows view from the subject’s perspective Camera Angles (high and A high camera angle shows that the character is less low angles etc significant and less powerful. Selection of mise-en- The character wears a red shirt. The colour red scène including colour, represents danger that may be approaching. figure, pops, lighting, The character is likeable because he is relaxed, he is not objects, location and worried about anything and when he finishes writing his setting; story he smokes a cigarette and drinks wine. The opening scene is set in the middle of nowhere, which shows that if the character were in danger then nobody would be able to help him, as it is a quite and lonely place. It is set in the middle of nowhere – shows that if he is in danger there is no one that would be able to help/save him. There is a snow blizzard, which also represents danger
- 2. because if the weather gets worse then would be in a lot off danger and may die. High-key lighting is used and the image is bright which could also show the principle subject and this could show that at this very moment everything is going smoothly for the character. Editing directions A shortening cutting rhythm is used to help draw the (Match cuts, jump cut, audiences’ attention to the smallest detail on the screen, reverse shots etc) while suspending their pleasure. Sound techniques Digetic sound is used as we can hear the sounds made (diegetic, non diegetic, by the objects onscreen and sound also represents music silence, dialogue from coming instruments in the story space. The sound that we can hear is the champagne being poured, hearing him type and lighting his cigarette. Actor’s positioning and The actor is sitting at his desk and typing for 45 seconds, movement he then gets up, drinks champagne and lights his cigarette. He is sitting in his cottage, which shows for now he is in a safe environment. Narrative Structure
- 3. Who is the hero and who We can tell that he may be the hero because he is portrayed as a is the villan? fun man, but because he is alone and in the middle of nowhere it may suggest that he could be the victim further on in the film. Where is the story set? The opening scene is set in his cottage in the middle of nowhere, What does this tell you which could show that danger may be approaching him soon. The about the genre of the genre may be a thriller or a horror because the colour red is used film? and red suggests danger. How many principle Only one. characters are there? How is the story told? Chronologically which shows that nobody is sure what might Chronologically? Or does happen. it switch between present and past? And what is the effect? What questions are you What will happen to him? Is he attacked? Does he reach his left with? destination safely? Which theories can you Propps theory can be applied. This is because it is not clear in the apply to these openings? opening 2 minutes who the hero or who the villan is. How can they be applied?