The document analyzes the opening scenes of a film through descriptions of the camera work, mise-en-scene, and sound design. It describes a series of shots showing a deserted New York City with only birds present. A car is then shown driving through the empty streets, and inside is a man holding a shotgun. Several more shots introduce a dog and show the man aggressively driving and attempting to hit deer, suggesting he is a dangerous person seeking food or resources in this abandoned place. The analysis pays close attention to how camera angles, lighting, sound effects and other directorial choices set an unsettling and mysterious tone.
4. Camera/Mise en Scene Sound
Each of these scenes last about 5-7 seconds
long, and they are showing a deserted New
York. Because we hear of this wonderful
cure of cancer then we see the deserted
scenes 3 years later, it signifies that the cure
may of killed everyone rather than cured
them. The way that in some of the scenes
we see birds fly around gives us an
impression that not everything is gone.
In all of these scenes, there is bird noise
which implies that even if the city which
looks like New York is deserted, there are
still birds which seems odd. In a few of the
scenes we see some birds walk around and
fly which makes bird noises which is a
diegetic sound.
5. Camera/Mise en Scene Sound
We then move straight onto this next scene where we see a car driving
down the road in the deserted city which signifies something that isn’t
normal. The way the scene is filmed from a birds-eye view just highlights
the way the director is using birds to illustrate that not everything is
dead. The lighting is playing on the shadows of the buildings and some
light patches which gives it a more atmospheric scene.
We hear a roaring engine of a car that is obviously not a small car,
because it sounds more like a sports car which maybe signifies that
whatever is driving is rich.
6. Camera/Mise en Scene Sound
We then move into the car and see a hand holding a shot gun. The gun
immediately signifies danger to us because he’s in this place that’s
deserted with a gun, so we think that maybe he’s killed them.
We can still hear the noise of the car but not much else.
7. Camera/Mise en Scene Sound
Then we see a man for the first time dressed in black which is the colour
traditionally the ‘baddy’ colour to wear. The camera angle is quite
interesting because we can see he’s the driver, and we can see quite a lot
of his face.
Not much sound is going on , but there is still car noise in the
background. Because the car noise is quite intense, it makes it more of a
stressful scene to watch.
8. Camera/Mise en Scene Sound
We then see the dog for the first time showing us that its not just the
man and the birds that seem to be in this city. The dog signifies
protection because dogs protect well.
Still just the car noises in the background.
9. Camera/Mise en Scene Sound
We then see the car from behind driving into a whole flock of birds at a
rapid speed which kind of signifies he’s really dangerous and doesn’t
particularly care about wildlife. The lighting suggests its daytime, but its
quite high key lighting.
Huge sounds of revving engines and car noises and birds flapping wings.
10. Camera/Mise en Scene Sound
We then shoot straight back from the perspective of someone sat in the
car on the back centre seat so you can still see the man, and its sort of a
match-on- action type of shot.
The sounds are more car noises than birds in this scene.
11. Camera/Mise en Scene Sound
We all of a sudden jump to a different perspective of the tanks when the
car spins around the corner which is a bit different because so far, we’ve
only seen the inside the car and following the car.
We hear a big skidding of the car as it goes around the corner which is
quite a ‘action’ kind of scene which signifies that this man could be
dangerous.
12. Camera/Mise en Scene Sound
As he turns the corner and shoots down the road, we see posters which
we can read as ‘GOD STILL LOVES US.’ which is a bit of a strange poster to
be put all over tank, but you wonder why he ‘still’ loves us because this
suggests that we have done something wrong/bad which we start to
wonder about. The way that we follow the car around the tank and down
the road, we then fade into the next thing that the director wants us to
see.
A car driving into the distance, aka the noise fading out.
13. Camera/Mise en Scene Sound
Slightly before this scene, we see the dog look at something which
signifies that something's about to happen. Then all of a sudden, things
begin to change as the man becomes anxious which reflects how the
audience begins to feel.
At this point, he looks towards the dog and asks ‘What do you see?’
14. Camera/Mise en Scene Sound
The way the director has made the camera be from the point of view of
the driver, it makes us more nervous because its something that every
driver dreads and we all feel bad for what might happen. This is also
another animal what is alive/ in this dead city, so we now begin to
wonder weather all animals and this man have survived? But a dear
running through New York city is odd which makes it more interesting.
The car breaks and makes a lot of noise as the deer leaps across the
screen and in front of the car.
15. Camera/Mise en Scene Sound
We then cut to another camera angle that we haven’t seen before and its
kind of from the point of view of the front of the car, but the man isn’t
worried about not hitting the animals, he appears to be chasing them
which signifies once again, that the man is dangerous.
Lots of heavy footprints running and moving away from the camera.
16. Camera/Mise en Scene Sound
He turns to aim at a deer which makes us worried in case he hits it
because deer are quite respectable animals that most of us like signifying
this to be a bad thing. He misses then carries on driving to hit one of
them.
Car noises and feet running mostly.
17. Camera/Mise en Scene Sound
There are loads of cars in the way so the car swerves around while all the
deer get away. The camera angle is a bit odd, but the director is trying to
capture the way the car is trapped.
Screeching breaks
18.
19. Camera/Mise en Scene Sound
We then see the mans expression and how they must be feeling about
failing to hit a deer. This signifies that maybe they really needed to eat or
something.
No sound is really there.