Kill Bill 1 Opening

Opening Scene

Camera Angles

The high angle and close up of the woman's face shows extreme suspense and maximizes the sounds of her heavy breathing which puts the audience into the character's shoes. The black and white suggests that it may be a flashback. The title Kill Bill proposes that the film is based around revenge. The black and white flashback could be a signifier to the audience that this is the reason the main character (The Bride) wants to get revenge on Bill, this being the starting point of the revenge, giving the audience a clear idea as to why she wants revenge. 

Sound

The sound of the man's shoes, sound like cowboy boots suggesting he may be a red neck. After Bill shoots The Bride, 'Bang Bang' sung by Nancy Sinatra plays during the starting credits and title. It suits the mise-en-scene perfectly after the shooting or The Bride. The lyrics "my baby shot me down" are also significant as The Bride says "Bill.....It's your baby" which suggest that her and Bill were once lovers; Bill must be her baby that shot her down.

Characters

When Bill says "you're seeing me at my most sadistic". (Definition of sadistic: "deriving pleasure or sexual gratification from inflicting pain on another"). Straight away this conveys that he is an evil person who gets great pleasure out of threatening and hurting others. The main character is referred to as 'The Bride' which shows she hasn't an identity. This could suggest that she is a dangerous person that shouldn't be messed with. 

Lighting

Low-key ambient lighting is used throughout the scene to create a dramatic feel and to really make it seem dark, gloomy and torturous. The black and white effect could also suggest straight away that it may be a flashback or a thought. The lighting and camera angle in this mise-en-scene is very similar to a scene from the film 'Man On Fire'. In this mise-en-scene, it is clearly identified that the man is laying in fear and, as an audience, we feel his fear too and the black and whtie lighting created a dramatic and gloomy effect.

Enigma

Throughout the opening scene, the audience can not establish Bill's face. However, we, as an audience, know that it is Bill speaking as this is clearly stated on the handkerchief. Although, his face is not shown, a lot about what sort of person he is can be learned from the what he says and the way he speaks. What does he look like? Why is he punishing her?

Personally, I really like this scene because of Bill's voice in the background whilst the camera focuses on the girl's angry and worried face. By hearing Bill's voice and footsteps it creates tension and puts the audience into the position of the girl and makes me scared as if I were really there.

Thriller Location Ideas

The Bridge - Opening Scene Ideas

The sign of the 'cyclists dimount' indicates that a bike must not be rode across the bridge. In our first scene, our agreed to have a boy wearing a hoodie, riding a bike across the bridge to imply that he is a 'bad ass' and a rule breaker

Wet and gloomy surfaces is another thriller convention and, as it's winter, it is bound to be wet during the time that our group films the opening.

A view looking down from he high bridge creates fear and signifies power over everyone passing under, making them and the cars look vulnerable.

The graffiti is a great generic convention of a thriller as i suddenly creates a rundown area which immediatley looks crime invested.

During our filming, we want to film around late afternoon so that it's not too dark but is clear enough to see the action and the church in the back which lights up as it starts to get dim/dark outside.

The car lights will be bright and, as a team, we decided that it would look good if we speeded up the cars so it looked like time was passing by very quickly.

Notes on Heavenly Creatures

Plot

Based on the true story of Juliet Hulme and Pauline Parker, two close friends who share a love of fantasy and literature, who conspire to kill Pauline's mother when she tries to end the girls' intense and obsessive relationship.

Sound

During the film a song named 'Humming Chorus' is played throughout. This is, potentially, an inter-textual reference to the opera Madama Butterfly as, like the friendsare planned to be separated, Butterfly waits for her husband to be returned to her, however, she is shocked and devistated that he has returned with his new American wife. He then decides to abandon  Buttferfly and take her son with him. The song almost contradicts the motion as the soundtrack can be described as very calm and relaxed. However, the action in both Madama Butterfly and Heavenly creatures is very traumatizing, dramatic and upsetting. The Madama Butterfly opera was very successful and admired globally, it was also interpreted in slightly different styles.

Camera Angles

Wide use of close up, showing the tension and making the girl's anxious breathing louder to place the audience in their shoes and to feel the suspense and build up of mixed emotions. Also, a close up of the bag when Pauline rushes to open the bag immediately, creating more suspense. The low angles shots of the mother in pain on the floor indicates how weak she now is because the two girls have full control and power over her with the weapon. 

This is also shown when the low angle shots are looking up at Juliet from the Mother's perceptive and it determines a threatening and powerful shot of the daughter. 

Not only does this close up shot build the suspense when Pauline rushes to get the weapon out her bag but it shows a very clear rule of thirds. This indicates Juliet in the back looking anxiously at what is about to happen, the mother who doesn't realise what she is getting herself into and Pauline, preparing to attack. It is almost in order as to what will happen i.e Pauline will get the weapon out, hit the mother and the Juliet will join in. This order can be shown in this one shot.