I created my questionnaire using Survey Monkey. Survey Monkey is an online program where I was able to create my own survey and send it out to an amount of people who then completed my questionnaire and sent it back. I got 20 replies from people which I sent the questionnaire to to fill out. My results are represented in graph forms below:
Costume- The costumes used in this final piece are poor. The 'characters' are dressed in their normal attire and this weakens the overall look of the opening scene. Having the 'characters' dressed in their every day wear makes the scene look unorganised and not well planned or thought out at all.
Camera- The shaky camera work displayed when the camera attempts to pan down the corridor and round to the window is poor. The camera work isn't smooth in the slightest and this makes the scene look unprofessional.
The excessive amount of extended long takes of people walking aimlessly appear to just be time filling takes. This leads the audience to believe that the creators didn't plan enough content to fill the spaces so random pointless shots were used instead. This makes the scene appear longwinded and boring.
Sound- The mumbled voices used when dialogue is being exchanged makes the scene unclear. Nothing can be heard properly and when it is, unnecessary swearing and foul language is used. This makes the scene come across as childish as if the actors and creators haven't taken anything seriously whilst planning and constructing this piece.
Lighting- The lighting is too dim when the characters are outside walking down the roads and it is almost pitch black when they are in the wooded area. The only lighting used is that of the flashlights on the individual's phones, which isn't professional at all.
This scene also created no suspense and had no build up or tension throughout. There was no obvious storyline that left the audience questioning anything. The only thing this opening scene left the audience feeling is confusion.
Strengths-
In my opinion the only strengths of this opening scene is the title and the makeup used to create a gaunt looking face on the girl at the end, but even this is poor.
Strengths Lighting- The outside lighting is slightly dim, I assume it was filmed in the early evening. This makes the scene appear creepy and dull which adds to the sinister feel of the thriller genre. The high key lighting when the male character enters the shed is great as it urges the viewer the focus on what he is holding and what he is doing. The low key lighting used on the close ups of the characters feet and hands when they are walking and opening the gate show that these simple procedures aren't all that simple. It brings a creepy essence to the actions as the viewer is left wondering why this action was such a deep focus. The bright lighting used to cause purposeful shadows brings a chilling sense to the scene as the male character cuts the dolls into pieces. Shadows create mystery and questions for the audience and this is what is required in a opening scene. The aim of an opening scene is to create suspense and mystery and using shadows executes this perfectly.
Camera and Editing- Both camera and editing have been used brilliantly to grasp the eeriness of a horror. The initial pan at the beginning of the scene makes the viewer's eyes follow the pan and land their focus on the door where the young man walks out. This camera technique hooks the viewer into focusing on what is happening on the screen.
Weaknesses
Although this piece is of a very high quality, there is always room for improvements. Personally, I believe some of the low angled shots of the male character's face appear slighting distorted and this doesn't look intentional. From this I have learnt that when I do my filming, I will consider camera angles and make sure they look normal and not deformed.
Another place where there is room for improvement is possibly with the music. I feel like the upbeat strings don't fit the scene as well as a slower piece would've done. The music sounds slightly out of place when it comes in after the high pitched screechy strings. These strings noises fit perfectly, whereas the faster ones, not so much.
Richard Saperstein Executive producers-Gianni Nunnari,
Dan Kolsurd,
Anne Kapelsun
Written by-Andrew Kevin Walker
Producers- Arnold Kopelson,
Phyllis Carlyle
Director- David Fincher The titles themselves are very distorted and faulty looking. Some of the names appear multiple times on the screen as if the screen is glitching which adds a good effect. This makes the titles look like they were accidentally replicated which adds to the unknown feeling when beginning to watch this film. The reverse block gives a good effect as the titles can clearly be seen on a black background in white writing.
The non diegetic sound throughout this opening scene builds tension as the scene begins. The use of strings builds tension as the notes reach a higher and higher pitch. The increasing pitch forces the viewer to feel uneasy as they watch. The long shot used to show the emptiness of the train platform displays a barren area where nothing seems to be occurring. This is done to display how deserted the location is. Mise en scene is used when the smoke comes from the trains. This makes the scene appear eerie and dangerous as the clouds of smoke suffocate the scene. The continuous close up of the male character who is first introduced suggests to the viewer that he is one to watch. The unsteady lingering of the camera as the character walks through the crowd gives the impression that he could turn at any second.
The titles appear to begin with on a black screen to draw attention to the most important ones such as the directors name. Using reverse block helps the audience to focus on the wording and having them in the center helps the eye be drawn to it too.
Sound
is used as the male washes up on the shore. The sound of waves
crashing makes the viewer feel uneasy as sound is distorted and nothing
can be heard clearly. The eyeline shot from the male to the children on
the beach show how the male is not in the right mind set as he is
seeing illusions. This makes the viewer feel uneasy as the characters
are not mentally stable. Mise en scene is also used to create tension
and negativity. The use of guns as props at the beginning of a film
instantly inform the reader with the fact that it is a dangerous film.
Guns bring a negative feeling to the viewer as it is commonly known harm
can be done with them. Furthermore the camera angle of the over the
shoulder shot when the man and older male are speaking at the table show
how they are watching each other in a formal way which shows that they
mean business.
The opening titles have visuals accompanying them which suggests that the film has different layers to it. Moving visuals keeps the audience entertained and engaged from the offset which is what is needed with this film as the story line is otherwise difficult to follow. The muted tones used compliment the style of film.
The
ambient music at the beginning of the scene creates instant suspense
for the viewer. The music's increasing pace suggests to the viewer that
something is going to happen suddenly. Camera is also used to create
suspense. The zoom in on the clown mask as the male is stood on the
roadside suggests that this certain clown is one to look out for. The
way this mask is focused on longer than any other shows that this clown
is the most significant one. The zoom makes the viewer pay attention to
this individual. The match on action as the clowns make their way over
the busy road across sky scrapers show how they are fearless. This
illustrates that they are villains because they have no fear. Mise en
scene is also used to display how the villains are evil. The clown mask
props enhance how scary they are and make the audience feel uneasy.
The opening credits are all dark and mysterious which mimics the film. They blend from one to the other well which makes them easy to watch and follow. The background colour is mainly black which has representations of danger and mystery. Furthermore, the black background helps the white writing stand out.
