Research Task by Mark

Casino Royale:
Here is the link to the full opening clip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=epxYm3OouQA
Below is an edited version of the opening with some of my analysis notes linked to the specific shots.

Camerawork

• Close ups are used to show emotion and fear. 
• Long shots are used to show location (establishing shot) to bring the audience up to date.
• Low angle shots at the beginning are used to show the character has authority, but as he gets higher on the lift, and closer to danger and frightened to find out what's coming. Tracking shot to follow the character to see where he is going (it's a mystery).
• Two shot is used to show the distance between them, and that they will be related somehow.
• Depth of field is used to only make us concentrate on the characters only, but not used very often in the opening.

Mise en Scene

• The scene is very dark, with only key lighting shown from one side of the character when their in the office, which adds the effect of suspicion to both of the characters and creates the thriller mood.
• The setting is in an office and both of the characters are wearing office-like clothing - Suits and jackets.
• The two characters seem to be very relaxed, although the character who walked into the office, seemed very jumpy once he saw James Bond. The lighting is also a lot brighter in the flashback scenes. 

Sound

• Parallel sound is used throughout, it's very tense soundtrack music and creates the sense of a thriller because the music is dramatic, so the audience is expecting something to happen.

Editing

• A flashback is used to help the audience understand the story - the cuts are a lot faster in the flashback as more action is going on.

Taxi Driver:
This link is to the opening extract on youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BlILSt2ppO4
Below is an edited version of the opening with some of my analysis notes linked to the specific shots
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Camerawork

• Big close ups are used on eyes to show emotion right at the beginning, creates tension as the audience are unsure why he is crying and creates the "thriller" mood as we are asking questions right from the beginning. 
• A lot of mid shots used to show body language and to show the audience who the characters are. 
• A tracking shot is also used as the character walks into the taxi firm to show we are following him and so the audience feel they are part of the film.

Mise en Scene

• Very low key lighting, no fill light used, made to look like natural light from the sun.
• In a traditional taxi office, with desk 
• Body language of the person on the desk is very relaxed and laid back, whereas the other character applying for the taxi job, is more serious. 

Sound

• Contrapuntal music at the beginning of the scene; the music is quite upbeat when the character is crying; walking into a taxi place and its very tense, dramatic music; the suspicious soundtrack suggests the character has something to hide but we don't know what it is yet.

Editing

• A graphic match is used in the opening sequence where the character has mist from crying and then the smoke from outside the taxi firm which works very well. 
• Additionally, match on action is used when the taxi employer passes the other character his papers back. 
• There is a lot of shot/reverse shot sequences used throughout so that the audience can follow the dialogue without any confusion on who is talking. 
• All the takes are long so the audience can understand the story line and get to know the character a bit better, but not too well so the character doesn't give away too much right at the beginning of the film.

Pulp Fiction:
This link is to the opening extract on youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lwusCDRiDwE
Below is an edited version of the opening with some of my analysis notes linked to the specific shots.

Camerawork

• Two shots are used a lot in the opening scene, lots of close ups and also over the shoulder which brings us closer to the characters which was done slowly from the beginning. 
• Also the shots seem to be point of view when they are facing the characters as the camerawork seems to be handheld.

Mise en Scene

• Body language of right hand side male character is very relaxed, but also very jumpy as if he has something to hide and laid back whereas the female character seems more sophisticated and more up-right. 
• It's a cafe, usually thrillers are based somewhere strange/out of the norm. 

Sound

• The only sound in this clip is mainly dialogue with some background noise of the cafe. 

Editing

• Shot/reverse shot is used quite often, other than that, the takes are quite long apart from when it is a shot/reverse shot then it follows the dialogue.

The Dark Knight:

This link is to the opening extract on youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GuaUcGr32SM

Below is an edited version of the opening with some of my analysis notes linked to the specific shots.

Camerawork

• Establishing shot to show the audience where the film will be taking place.
• Lots of close ups used , and additionally tracking shots to follow the character so the audience feels they are involved too.

Mise en Scene

• Masks to hide face, to hide identity from others.
• Lighting looks natural, but is both key and fill light used outside, but not in the bank where they are trying to take money the light is only on one part of their face to hide their identity and so the audience  realise they are the evil guys, it therefore creates tension as we don't know who they are as they are wearing the masks.

Sound

• Mainly dialogue but there is a little bit of background music, screams when they go into the bank too.

Editing

• Cuts are very quick after the establishing shot.
• Match on action where he shoots the glass.

Unstoppable:

Below is an edited version of the opening with some of my analysis notes linked to the specific shots.

Camerawork

• Establishing shot is used to show where the character just shown lives.
• Close ups used to see facial expressions and emotions on the characters
• Long shots to show where he works

Mise en Scene

• Body language shows he doesn't want to get up for work, could suggest something might happen there, then a link to the rail yard to show that's where he works.
• Facial expression of the character looking at his wife and his kids, looks upset as he can't see the kids.
• Facial expression of the wife when he is ringing shows that she wants to answer it but she can't possibly.

Sound

• Alarm going off (foley)
• TV in background, goes quieter when she knows its him calling

Editing

• Match on action with him ringing his wife and the phone going off in her house