Okay then- last media lesson, we got an idea of what we'd have to make next, filmwise. Well, it's a choice between print and film, and even though print has it's positives of not having to rely on anyone but yourself- the film project looks alot more fun. We'll at some point have to make the opening of a film, and it will have to feel like an opening- and not a trailer. Anyway, I thought I'd analyse the opening of Sorority Row for practice and also to take a chance to see how much editing and camera movement language I've remembered.
Soooo, Sorority Row- a 2009 slasher flick released about a month ago. Crammed with as much sex, gore and drugs as the filmmakers could fit into an 15 rated movie. This relects the target audience, we know that it is aimed at young people- because if it was rated an 18 instead, then there would be alot of people who couldn't watch this in theatres.
The film opens with an establishing shot of a Sorority house, it is night time and we can see that the ground is wet and leaves are falling from the sky- this tells us that it is a cold, autumn night and is a common setting for a scary horror film. After a few seconds, we see a bolt of thunder- something that is routinely used in cartoons and old films to create a spooky atmosphere for the characters. The camera, then swoops closer into the house in a spirit-like way (even though it was create by the means of a crane) which suggests omniscience, like the house and the characters (that we have yet to meet) are being watched over by someone.
We then see a closer view of a door, and before it opens we hear an earsplitting scream- however, it is not a distraught damsel-in-distress that is running from a serial killer that bursts through the door....but an attractive girl in her underwear who has been locked outside of the house without her clothes. This a satirical poke at cliche horror films of the past- as we are tricked into thinking a girl is danger, when she is actually playing around. The camera continues to zoom in through the door, and we see that inside a party is going on- a complete contrast to the cold bleak surroundings of outside.
The camera continues to 'track' around the party, favouring panning and moving the camera rather than cutting- as the fluid movement of the camera adds to the 'party' atmopshere and helps the audience believe that they are at the party too. This is used even when the character Cassidy is walking round the corridors of the house to get to her friend's bedroom, the tracking of Cassidy serves two purposes- firstly, it makes us aware that she is a main character and that she will be significant in the story and secondly, it suggests that she is being followed...this is commonly used in horror films, as being followed by someone is fear-provoking. It is also important that in the first few minutes we can distinguish who the main characters are, as the opening should set up the rest of the film.
The first cut used comes when Cassidy reaches Jessica's room, and is dragged in for a 'Theta toast', this cut is used to show that girls are now alone- away from the rowdiness of the party. It cuts from an over the shoulder shot of Jessica, and then goes into a group shot of the all the Theta Pi sorority sisters together holding champagne flutes- this suggests their closeness as friends, as well as sorority sisters. This is also teamed with close ups of their faces to show their facial expressions and emotions as they talk about each other, and two-shots to show how they interact with one another. Just before they grab the laptop, a group/long-shot is used to show the girls in their surroundings and show that they are all equally curious about what is happening. As they all watch the screen. eye line matches are used to show that what's occuring on the laptop is what they are definately looking at- showing that it is of the upmost importantance to the group.
From then on, two shots and group shops are used with all the girls apart from Cassidy to show that she is not 'in' on the prank. Close ups are also used to show her worry- this plays up to the 'damsel in distress' representation, and makes her unique to the group as all of the other girls are going up against that stereotype- as they have previously spoken about sex and drinking, and they have now shown their cunning with the trick they have played on Garrett. One of the last shots is a close-up of Claire's face as she says the word 'showtime', expressing her excitement and the thrill she is getting from this prank- her facial expressions look almost beautifully evil which gives us an uneasy feeling and about what is coming next and draws us further into the film.
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