Understanding Micro Elements in Film Openings

By Farida Islam

Mise En Scene (Dark Knight)

In this screen shot the audience can see the setting of the scene which is in a bank filled with scared people, as the bank is being robbed. A bank is conventional place for crime to happen in an action film. The main character is the criminal (antagonist) we know this because he is wearing a mask to cover his face. He is grabbing helpless man who works in the bank to help him get money. The audience can tell by the actors facial expression/ body language which one of the two men is the victim and which one is the criminal. This fits in with the generic conventions of an action film as there is a villain. Props used in this scene is a gun as a weapon for the criminal to use against hostages and a duffel bag to fill with money.

Extreme Close up

An extreme close up is an even more closed up shot. This is usually used for dramatic effect e.g. a human eye. In this shot a small part of a grenade is shown in someone's hands. This adds dramatic effect to the scene as it shows that the hostages lives are in danger.

Close Up

Close ups are used to show the character’s facial expression. In the shot the character’s face and shoulders are shown as the main focus, while the background is slightly fuzzed. This screenshot from the opening of the ‘Dark Knight’ shows one of the robbers with his mask on his head slightly titled, indicating to the audience that he is confused and maybe having a conversation with someone.

Long Shot

Long shots are used to show what’s happening in the scene. Therefore the character’s full body is shown as well as the entire background. This show the audience what the character is doing with their whole body and what everybody is doing in the background. For example in the screenshot the robber is holding a gun towards a man working behind the counter, and the audience can see all the hostages are scared and shrivelled up on the floor. In the screenshot the audience can see that the robber is dominant in this scene as he has the gun, ultimately meaning that he has the most power. Whereas the hostages on the floor are showing from their body language that they are vulnerable. The audience can also see the background i.e. a bank with desks and an office.

Extreme Long Shot

Extreme long shots are used to establish the setting- where the film is located. In this screenshot it is easy for the audience to see that this scene is shot in the city, possibly in one of these buildings.

Medium Shot

A medium shot is when the character is shown from the knee or waist up with some of the background shown, but not in focus. In this screenshot one of the robbers is looking down at the ground after shooting one of the other robbers on the roof. From his body language and the way that his arms are positioned against his body the audience are able to notice that he is most likely holding something heavy. E.g. a duffel bag full of tools for the bank robbery.

Track• A tracking shot is when a camera is placed on top of moving

vehicle e.g. car, trolley, plane etc, this then shows the action that is occurring alongside the camera. This is good when showing a character on a journey e.g. driving in a car. As it shows the character actually driving too and from a destination, also it looks more realistic.

Zoom• A zoom is when the magnification of an image is either made

smaller or larger by zooming in closer or faraway. There are two types of zoom ‘smash zoom’ and ‘slow zoom’. A ‘smash zoom’ is when the zoom is done very quickly. Whereas a ‘slow zoom’ is done much more slowly, but the camera remains stationary. Zooms are used to draw attention from the audience to specific object, character etc. In an Action film a zoom could be used when the protagonist (hero) is fighting the antagonist (villain) and uses a gun. Then the camera would use a smash zoom to show the gun.

Pan• A pan is when the scene is scanned horizontally, this is done

by placing a camera on top of a tripod. An object or an actor is usually kept in the middle of the frame. This helps the audience understand where the actor is going i.e. if he is walking somewhere you can see where to. This could be used in an Action film when the protagonist (hero) is running after the villain (antagonist).

Tilt• A tilt is similar to a pan but scanned vertically instead of

horizontally. This could be used when scanning a characters full body e.g. to show what they’re wearing. Or it could be used to scan a building e.g. to show how large/tall it is. In an Action film this could be used when introducing a new character i.e. by their appearance, costume etc.

Diegetic

• To make the film realistic in the opening scene we hear background noise e.g. car tires screeching, shattered glass, opening/closing doors. There was diegetic sound when a character was doing something e.g. the robber gliding down the rope, the audience heard the chinking the sound of when the character harnessed himself .The dialogue between characters tells us whats happening in the film.

Non Diegetic

• Throughout the opening scene fast paced music is used to make the audience feel excited about what is going to happen next. Using this music sets the atmosphere of the scene, so that the audience can feel what the film wants them to feel e.g. thrilled, exhilarated, excited. The music’s volume is decreased during dialogue between characters, so that the audience can hear what the characters are saying, but then brought back up.

Performance• The robbers wearing clown masks all seemed overconfident

in the way they walked into the bank and just robbed it. However the hostages were the exact opposite, as they way very afraid and hunched up on the ground trying to avoid the robbers. The protagonist in the opening scene only seemed brave enough to attack the robbers, because he had a gun. Interaction between characters showed their relationship. For example two of the robbers were having a conversation and one of the robbers part in the bank heist was finished, so the other robber shot him. This showed that the two robbers didn’t have much of a relationship, resulting in one shooting the other so that he will get a larger cut out of the stolen money.

EditPace-• The pace of the opening scene was very fast paced from the

start. I think this because in every shot something was happening that was important to the story. However the pace slowed down at the very end of the scene when the joker reveals himself and gets away.

Cut-• In the film opening there were many cuts made as it is a fast

paced scene. Within seconds one cut will change from one to another to carry on the story. For example the scene cuts to two robbers opening the vault – the opening device- vault door- two robbers speaking- one robber shooting the other- taking the money.

Reflection• By understanding the micro elements used in the ‘Dark

Knight’ film opening, this will help me with my film opening, as it tells me what to include more of. For example in an Action film opening the edit is quite fast-paced and many cuts are used. Also the diegesis has to match with edit of the opening, which is fast-paced. Meaning that the non-diegetic sounds e.g. music will have to be very fast-paced. Whereas the diegetic sounds e.g. dialogue will be kept to a minimum, as there isn’t much dialogue used because action is more of a focus.