Additional analysis of the opening FlightPlan
At the start of the opening a repeated shot of a train zooming past a high speed is alternated with a black screen. When the screen is black a basic white font in used to display the credits. The editing of the alternating shots creates the dramatic atmosphere.
The music being played over the the opening of the film creates tension. This is because of the high pitched violin sounds, suggesting that something out of the ordinary may happen. A foley sound is used when the women opens the door and this is used to add emphasis to the action being performed.
The zooming from behind, over the shoulder of the female when she is sitting on the train platform creates the feeling of anxiety and makes the audience think that someone is behind the women, and may be putting her in danger. Furthermore it also makes her appear vulnerable, as she is unaware of what actually is behind her and she is looking in the opposite direction.
There are many questions generated from the opening scenes of FlightPlan which makes it a successful opening. This is because the audience interact with the film and are engaged immediately meaning they will be more likely to continue watching the film to find out the answers to their questions. Some questions generated from the opening of the film are:
. Why is the women sitting at the train station alone?
. Why is the women in a different country?
. Who is the man who leads the women from the train platform?
The use of a flashback in the opening scene is also another way of engaging the viewer as they want to continue watching to acknowledge the relevance of the particular flashback. The impact the flashback has on the audience if that it creates confusion at first but then you get the sense that all will be explained later on in the film. The flashback occurs when the women is sitting thinking in silence on the platform bench. This gives the impression that the flashback is a memory she is now going over in her head. The flashback involves the viewing of a body.
When the train pulls away from the platform, a very effective close up of the vehicle is used along with a sudden loud sound effect which creates fear and startles the viewer.
Miss en scene:
The character appears to be focussing on something at the beginning that is unknown to the audience and we get the impression that it is something negative by her facial expression which is emotionless and the tears convey the character's sadness.
The costume that the blonde lady has is all black which makes her look very serious, and in addition we can tell by her figure expression that she looks like she is remembering something that has happened. This can suggest that this is not going to be a happy film.
The opening is firstly in an empty train station which seems very unusual as train stations are usually busy with people and this makes the audience question immediately. This may later have some significance on the film, it then cuts to a room with a coffin making the audience question who is in it and what has happened.
The opening of the film began with bright lighting in the train station then changing to being really dim in the room with the coffin with only the light shining down on the coffin. This makes the audience focus on the coffin and question who is in it. The dim lighting could suggest sadness and creates mystery into what happened.
The coffin is also in the centre of the frame and it is well lit compared to its surroundings there we pay more attention to this prop. It is symbolic of death and may give us an insight as to why the character from the previous shot was looking upset. The male character located on the left, who we may assume is the undertaker is dressed formally which shows the serious nature of the film.
Camera angle shots and movement:
When the camera is on the man in the coffin there is an aerial shots representing the notion of death. Moreover, this could foreshadow future events that could occur in this film.
The crane shot of the main character cold also illustrate the isolation of the main character which could show that she may have been detached from relationships with the other characters in the film. This also makes her appear vulnerable which suggests that she is a victim throughout the film.
The establishing shot introduces the setting to the audience which shows an empty train station. This is a common setting for films with a thriller genre.
Sounds:
The sound effect in the opening of the film is a connoting mystery which makes the audience feel uneasy. The ambient sound of the crows flapping their wings adds realism as 'background noise' and creates an ominous atmosphere and this is very stereotypical of a thriller film. The undertaker's dialogue 'you need to enter the code now' is in a different language emphasising the seriousness of the situation. Finally the incidental music played occasionally has the effect of creating tension which maintaing audience interest and viewing experience.
Editing:
There is continuity editing which enables the narrative of the film to make sense in chronological order. Some of the cuts use a fade transition. The consistent match on action makes the production appear more convincing to its audience. The use of shot reverse shot shows the reactions of the characters to one another and enhances the audiences experience as we feel more involved in the narrative.
