Opening sequence analysis- Miss georgiou

Halloween

An opening sequence sets a storyline for the rest of the film. It is used to engage the audience so that they want to watch the rest of the film and see what happens next. This is done by creating suspense and tension, plus presenting an enigma to the audience and making them think, therefore furthermore engaging them. This is shown in a great example during this film from the twist at the end shocking the audience and keeping them engaged.

Editing
The first form of editing I spotted was slow editing, this was shown as the antagonist slowly walks towards his victim. By slowing the camera work down the sequence is prolonged so that suspense can build up for the audience. By doing this a sense of tension is built as we are given time to think about what might happen next and prepare ourselves. This suspense built shows a typical convention of a thriller as tension is created for the audience building up to a shock moment. The tempo of this clip is used to various effects. It is also quickened after the murder has taken place to make it seem as though he is running away. This furthermore builds upon the tension created; however, it is used to a different effect as it excites the audience and puts them on the edge. By doing this the viewers become more engaged as they want to see what happens next.
Another form of editing used here is a reaction shot. This is shown when the mask is removed from the boys face and we see the colds face at the centre of attention. This has been done to emphasise the boys facial features and expression. The boys face was innocent and bewildered, this shows how he himself is confused into what has happened and it portrays this sense of confusion onto the audience. By using a jump cut from the dark, masked, frightening scene to the more colourful friendly scene of the young boy and his family; the sense of shock is emphasised as we go from seeing serious, dark, violent scene to being confronted with a friendly innocent child. The sense of shock is a general convention used in most thrillers.

Cinematography 
Cinematography is used to a great effect during this clip, mostly to emphasise the presentation of characters. The main form of cinematography used in this clip is POV. We see this whole clip from the point of the killer. This is done to engage the audience by putting us into the point of view of the antagonist. It shows us his actions, thoughts and a clear view of the death scene itself; by doing this it elaborates upon the shock, suspense and surprise factors which are key to a successful thriller. The main way in which this POV technique is used is to build upon the sense of suspense. This is done by hidding the identity of the antagonist. It builds up tension as we do not know how dangerous this character is. It creates an enigma. This is where the audience are left asking questions, as we don't know the identity of the character this enigma is introduced. It is a key convention of a thriller and one of the best ways to build suspense as it leaves the audience desperate to find out what is happening.
Another cinematography technique used during this clip is the use of camera angles. Much like the use of POV, this also emphasises the presentation of characters. When showing various characters throughout the clip a high angle is used to show them being beneath the camera. One way this is used is to show the female victim being stabbed by the murderer. It is used to present innocence and to emphasise to the audience how innocent the hound women is, This is a typical convention of the young female victim used in a thriller. The effect of this is that the audience find it easier to feel sorry for the victim, therefore increasing the effect of shock and suspense upon the audience. Another example of a high angle is used when the young boy is shown as the killer. The camera hangs above the boy elaborating upon his innocence and the surprised reaction of his parents. This furthermore presents innocence and creates an enigma for the viewers.
The effect of this enigma is exaggerated through the juxtaposition of both the camera angles and the POV technique. Firstly the POV angle is used to show the character being menacing and threatening. This is done by hiding the innocence indentity of the killer and presenting him as looking down on everything, through a low angle, in a dangerous and sinister manner. We are given an image of the character being a menacing, deadly, dangerous killer. This greatly affects the sense of shock and surprise as we see the innocent young boy through the high camera angle. This juxtaposition leaves the audience with and overruling sense of suspense, tension and confusion; forcing them to want to watch the rest of the film.

Sound

Various sound techniques are used throughout this clip, this is done to convey various emotions for the audience such as surprise, shock and suspense. It helps develop the orthodox thriller conventions during this clip. One of the main ways sound techniques are used is to build suspense. The clip does this through the use of silence. As the antagonist walks around and through the house not a noise is made. This silence makes it seem as though he is stalking his victim and doesn't want to be seen. It makes the audience wary of the dangerous antagonist and inflicts a sense of fear upon the viewers. The silence makes us alert for something important or dangerous about to happen, by doing this it makes the audience prepare themselves for a shock factor, this and the prolonged sequence builds up an immense amount of suspense. Another sound technique used to create suspense is the emphasis of the diegetic clock noises. This creates a slow beat elaborating upon the tension built. It could also symbolise the little time left of the girls life, in furthermore creates suspense everyone to see what happens to the girl. Suspense is used to keep the audience interested and increase the effects of shock.
In addition to this sound techniques are used to also elaborate upon the shock factor of the clip. One method used to do this is the parallel sound of a knife stabbing the woman. This emphasises the gory death of the young innocent girl. This quick gory death is a jolt to the audience and exaggerates the conventional emotion of shock. Also used to portray a sense of shock is the use of off screen music. At the start of the clip there is a friendly children's rhyme played in the background. This forebodes how old the antagonist could be and creates confusion for the audience, it could show how twisted the plot might be. It also creates an enigma as we think about why this music is being played. This creates tension and makes us watch on. Most importantly the technique increases the fear inflicted upon the audience. By the juxtaposing the friendly music with death it increases the shock factor as we see the dangerous, gory death of the young boys sister. The shock element engages and excites the audience.

Conventions

I have mentioned various typical conventions during this clip such as suspense, shock, female victim and more. Another convention used during this clip is the use of low key lighting. Examples of this is shown in the walk to and around the house. It is a typical for the convention as it creates a dark gloomy setting. The effect this has on the audience is that it builds mystery and tension as we do not know what exactly is happening. Another way this tension and mystery is build is through the camera focusing upon the house itself. This creates mystery about this house as the viewers think about what may be about to happen, this mystery element is key to a thriller.
The iconography used during this clip demonstrates various conventions generally used in thrillers. For example the knife and the mask hiding the killers identity. This is generally used to convey the suspense, surprise and shock key to a thriller. The effect the knife has on the audience is that it forebodes death and builds fear and suspense. The mask creates an enigma, furthermore elaborating upon the suspense built. These emotions are key into creating as successful thriller.

Summary 

There are various techniques I can take from this essay that might be useful in my film. The main convention I will use from this is an enigma. Throughout this opening sequence an enigma is created, this is exaggerated at the end by the plot twist used to confuse the audience. This is all done to keep the viewers engaged and keep them thinking. It is highly effective during a opening sequence as the engagement keeps people watching on.