The Analysis

How micro elements are used in film openings to create meaning and provoke response in the audience.

Mehbobur Rahman

1)Extreme Close ups (ECUS) Extreme close up shot is a type of shot which tightly frames a person or an object.

This is an extreme close up. It’s a tight frame of a person's eye. ECU is used to show an emotion; rage can be shown by the change of colour in someone’s eye. E.g Bruce Banners’ eye turns green when he turns into the Hulk.

ECU can also show Fear when the pupil of the eye gets bigger.

2) Close up Shot (CUS)

CUS shows the emotions of a character in a movie,picture etc. The CUS sets the tone of the film. In this shot Captain America looks shocked and he is not happy with what he sees. The CUS shows that Captain America is one the protagonist of the movie.

Close-ups are one of the standard shots used oftenly with medium shots and long shots. It usually shows a moderate frame of a person. if it is too tight then it would be an extreme close up.

3) Medium Shot (MS)A medium shot is a shot taken from a medium distant. It is a shot which come in between a long shot and and a close up. The MS also shows some parts of the background.

The MS shows Thor & Captain America from waist and above. This shows us that the shot doesn't concentrate on the characters emotion; this is an emotionally neutral shot. but it shows us that they are having a conversation with someone. So they intent to share information within a close area as they are inside.

4) Long Shot (LS)Long shot is a type of shot which openly fits a frame of a person or a group of people. It also detailed with the location of the area. They take a long shot from a great distance to include more details of the character, place etc.

This LS shows us detailed features of each character and it shows that they are at a specific location. The LS shows us that they are on a street surrounded by destruction. In addition, it shows us that the team of characters are ready to fight as they are holding their weapons.

5) Extreme Long Shot (ELS)ELS shows a bigger frame shot which objects in the frame are small: a building or cityscape.

This ELS shows an exact location/place which includes many detailed aspects of objects: Boats, Buildings. This also shows us that the whole city is being targeted by a missile so every little object within the frame is affected by the outcome of the missile.

6) Track (TS)

TS is a shot which taken by a camera which is on a wheeled platform. The camera can be mounted for making moving shots:forward,backwards or sideways.

This is a POV of Captain America’s Shield. This TS shows us that this is what a different character is seeing as the camera is tracking forward.

7) Pan Shot(PS)

Pan is when the camera is rotating on its vertical or horizontal axis in order to keep a moving person or object in view.

This PS shows us that captain America is in motion whilst the camera is follows him. Also the camera is rotating horizontally.

8) TiltTilt is to move a camera up or down on its vertical axis for televising a moving character or object.

This type of shot shows us that the camera is tilting downwards on its vertical axis from a high ground. Its shows that characters are looking up at something.

9) Zoom

The camera brings a subject into a close-up or causes the subject to recede into a long shot by using the zoom lens whilst maintaining focus.

This shot shows us that the camera lens was zoomed in as a close-up. This can show us the characters emotion and it shows us that the character has some importance.

10) Cut

A cut shows a shift from one shot to another or it used to stop the action of the scene: used as a command by the director.

This is a shift from one shot to a another. Instead of showing the whole scene; They cut the scenes to save more time.

11) Pace Pace is how long it takes for an editor to edit or make a transaction. So how long it takes to change one cut to another.

This scene shows Thor in a lighter background surrounded by water.

The cut instantly changes from a lighter background to a darker background. Also the scene shows Thor being electrocuted within 20 seconds of the scene.

12) PerformancePerformance is the action/acting of the actors. It is an act of presenting a play or a form of entertainment which builds up a mood.

This scene portrays the character as an evil and angry person. This is because he performs in an angry manner as it looks like he is shouting in rage.

His body structure shows us that he is aggressive and it looks like he’s ready to fight someone.

13) Diegetic Diegetic sound is sound that is visible on the screen or the sound which is implied through the action of the film: voices of characters and the sounds made by objects in the story.

The diegetic sound of this scene is the conversation between both characters. So the diegetic sounds are the voices of the characters.

14)Non Diegetic A non diegetic sound is the sound which is not visible on the screen or it is not implied to be present in the action: music, narrator's commentary and sound effects which is added to make a dramatic effect.

The non diegetic sound in this scene is the sound of Stark’s glove moving. This is a non diegetic sound as is an added sound effect.

15) Mise-en-scene

Mise-en-scene includes a variety of attributes within a film,programme or music video. Mise-en-scene includes: composition,sets,props,costumes,lighting and actors.

The mise-en-scene for this scene are: the lighting is not dark… it is daylight. The actors are wearing their superhero costumes which are bright in colours. They use props like weapons:Thor's hammer, Black widows gun and Captain America’s shield. The composition is long-shot which could include a tilt or track.

ExplanationLooking into these elements has given me an understanding of what to include within my opening scene. These elements are crucial as I need to include most of these elements so I can get a good quality video.

I will use the key shots: close-up,long-shot and medium shot. This will be good for my opening as it will show different views of shots instead of using one shot throughout the video. I will do the same with the with the additionals: pan,tilt and track.

I will mostly use Zoom and I will definitely use the important elements: cut,performance and mise-en-scene.

In addition, the performance of my opening must be accurate and good or the build up of the opening would not be up to standard.