'The Pelican Brief'- Opening Sequence Analysis

The Pelican Brief opening starts with the traditional Warner Bros logo which shows it is a big budget Hollywood thriller movie. Julia Roberts and Denzel Washington star in the movie.

During the opening sequence we see names of the director, actors, producers, personnel and a couple special mentions. The title of the the movie 'The Pelican Brief' also comes up. The font of the text used was a traditional serif font, which suggests it is a serious drama type movie.

Throughout the opening we see extreme long shots of a a horizon of a landscape with the sun rising. This does not have much to do with the movie itself, therefore makes the opening a discrete title sequence which leaves the audience confused and eager to know what happens during the movie. However, at the end of the opening sequence we see shots of a protest march in Washington DC which reveals to the audience that it will be a government related thriller. This makes it fit under the (Drama)Political/Thriller sub-genre.

Photo Activity

Mood: Confused
The mood confused was shown in this photo by showing a road sign with someone looking up at it whiling scratching their head

Mood: Happiness
The mood happiness was created in this photo by using bright lighting on his face and him smiling

Thriller Sub Genres

Thriller Sub Genres:
- Action
- Crime
- Disaster
- Supernatural
- Spy
- Sci-Fi

My favourite thriller sub genre is Supernatural because they tend to be less predictable and have more interesting storylines.

Skills Audit - Editing

Final Cut Pro - Bait tutorial

• Learned how to drag clips with double headed arrows
• learned how to use razor blade tool
• make in & out points in the viewer window
• drag clips onto the time line
• insert clips into a sequence
• layer clips

Skills audit - Editing

BAIT tutorial - Final Cut Pro

• Learned how to use the razor blade tool.
• Drag clips with double headed arrow to extend or shorten the length of the clip.
• Mark In and out points in the viewing window to extract the sequence that you need.
• Drag clips onto the timeline.
• Insert clips into a sequence
• Layer clips.
• We learned what audio and video tracks are.
• We learned how to import files to Final cut pro.

Suspense in 'What Lies Beneath'

In 'What Lies Beneath' a variety of camera work and sound is used to create suspense throughout scenes.

The scene where Claire dashes for the door in search of escape from Norman, the camera is from a low angle as Norman's point of view which is telling viewers that he is'nt dead.

Thriller Opening Analysis

The Shining

Whats Happens?
The film starts with a title sequence showing a car travelling along a long road on some mountains with titles/names scrolling up the middle of the screen. The film then carries on from the tittle sequence when the car stops outside a hotel and a man enters the hotel.

Camerawork:
The opening title sequence of the car on the road uses tracking from a high angle to give an impression of the person in the car as a target. The high angle makes the car look vunerable and the tracking camera shows that someone may be following it. The title sequence was also filmed using wide and long shots to establish the setting of the film which was in a hotel in the middle of some mountains. This also made the person in the car seem even more vunverable because it showed the audience that it was in the middle of no where and if they did get in trouble no one would probably be around to help.

Sound:
Throughout the title sequence there was a repetitive low pitched trumpet sound being played with a spooky windy sound in the background which made it clear that the film was a thriller.

Mise En Scene:
The title sequence showed a yellow car along a long road surrounded by mountains on a coast. The simple scenery of the mountains and trees made the car stand out and the main focus.

Editing:
The opening scene only had a few match cuts of the car travelling along the road because it wanted to create the impression of eyes being locked onto the car.

Titles:
The titles used a very plain and simple serif font which scrolled up the screen while the car was shown travelling behind it.

Suspense in 'What Lies Beneath'

Suspense was created in 'What Lies Beneath' with the use of sound and camerawork.

Sound was used to add tension and exaggeration to scenes in the film. For example; when Norman was crawling up the side of the bath tub, the audience would of thought that he was going to kill Calire but then he falls back down when the sound was cut off.

Camerawork was used to show the audience things that the characters didn't know. For example; when Claire was running out the door to the car, she thought that she got away but the camera showed her running away from Norman's point of view which told the audience that he was still alive.

Suspense in 'What Lies Beneath'

What lies Beneath is, in my opinion a drama thriller with a hint of paranormal activity.

Suspense is constantly created throughout What lies Beneath. In my opinion Hitchcock's bomb theory is used in the movie. The husband Harrison Ford (Norman) is the ticking bomb in the plot waiting to explode and the audience knows this. He has an evil and dark side which his wife does not know about but the audience does. Norman's true colours come to light when he actually tries to murder his wife, in order to keep her quiet about the murder of the young lady he had an affair with.

Suspense is created in many different ways in What Lies Beneath.

Sound effects and music are both used extensively throughout the movie. For example when Claire is going down the stairs backwards, towards the end of the movie, then she suddenly steps in a small puddle of blood a quick screech sort of sound is used (non-diegetic). This would make the audience jump, and give a little thrill to the audience, it also personally made me jump a little. No sound or music really drags on through any scene, we hear a freaky sound, then it softens away, then it suddenly comes back unexpected to suprise the audience and make us jump.

While Claire is in the bath helpless, with the water level steadily rising, there are contstant shot reverse shots from Claire's Point of view to the water tap she is desperetly trying to turn. This constantly goes on, whilst the water level is still rising. This gives the audience suspense and keeps us on the edge of our seats. The "Is she? or "Isn't she" kind of moment is portayed here. During the sequence Claire's emotions seem distressed and In pain, which also adds to the tension and suspense.

What is Suspense?

Suspense definition: A state or condition of mental uncertainty or excitement, as in awaiting a decision or outcome, usually accompanied by a degree of apprehension or anxiety.

Suspense creates tension and anxiety for the audience

• It keeps us on our toes as we usually do not know what will happen next in the film.
• It keeps us wondering what will happen next.
• Hitchcock's bomb theory is a tool used by directors to create suspense. The bomb theory is when the audience knows or finds out something which the characters do not.
• Suspense can be created in many ways. Through camera shots or movements and with theuse of effective sound/music.

What is suspense

suspense is a feeling of uncertainty of what may happen next.

What is Suspense

Suspense is a build up to an event which keeps the audience wondering about what might happen next