Camera Work:

The film opening begins with a fade into a long shot on the protagonist sitting on the floor. This allows the audience identify with the main character. A close up shot is used to show the protagonists feet as she dances, this creates soft and delicate effect to the audience as it makes the protagonist look pure and elegant. This is because the shot is clear and glossy. This shot continues into a tracking shot following the protagonist’s movements on her feet. Because the shot doesn’t cut, the audience becomes aware that she is a main character. They know this because the camera continues to follow her even when a natural time for a cut could be used, meaning that the camera makes her desirable as it seems as if it doesn’t want to come off her. The shot cuts to an over the shoulder shot approaching the protagonist. The figure is a silhouette which create tension in the audience as they are unsure of who this shadow is. The mood within the audience changes to a tenser atmosphere when the two characters begin to dance together. The camera tracks their movements again however, the tracking is faster and cuts are included. This makes the audience feel uncomfortable as it is a contrast to the beginning where the atmosphere was calm and soft. This is a typical technique that psychological thriller films use, they tend to create a safe and calm mood within the audience then shock them with something that makes them feel uncomfortable of tense. Towards the end of the opening a zoom out is used and the two protagonists are framed. The Scene then changes to the same protagonist waking. A high angle shot is used to look down on her as she wakes. This makes the audience confused as they are unaware whether the dancing was a dream from the protagonist or reality.

Editing and Graphics:

The opening to the Black Swan begins with a fade in. This creates a gentle and soft opening to the image, this is synchronous to the mood that the images try to makes the audience feel (relaxed and calm). The fade creates a smooth opening to the first shot which again enhances the softness of the image. Long cuts are used when the camera is focused onto the protagonist feet, which makes the audience feel like the protagonist desirable as the shot doesn’t cut prolonging the protagonists time in the shot. This gentle editing is disrupted when the silhouette of another protagonist enters the frame. The cuts turn to frequent quick cuts, making the audience feel tenser as it distorts their emotions because of the sudden contrast between soft cuts and harsh, fast cuts. This is a typical technique that is found mainly in thriller films, the editing usually changes from soft cuts to fast and unpredictable cuts. This is used because it distorts the pattern of regular cuts making the audience feel unstable and it can also build tension. The Graphics appear in white font on top of a black background in the order of production companies and title. Most thriller films use little graphics, this is to not distract the audience from the suspense that they are trying to create. The effect of having the titles in white on a black background is to symbolize good and evil (white is the goodness and black is the bad) against each other which is a theme throughout the opening scene.

Sound:

The beginning of the Black Swan an orchestral score is played in major key, this makes the audience feel relaxed as the score is soft creating a tranquil atmosphere. During the opening scene to the Black Swan an orchestral score is changed minor key. Because the score is in minor key the audience begin to feel uneasy, this is a result of minor key being associated with an antagonist. This association is made because typically a villains score played in thriller films when he/she is on screen is in major key. Therefore the audience feel uncomfortable as the clip begins with this tone. The audience is unaware if this score is diegetic or non-diegetic as there is nothing in the image that would suggest either. This makes the audience feel tense as they do not know the source of the music and because they do not know, they become less in control and consequently tenser. When this happens diegetic sounds of heavy breathing and distorted swooshing noises are used. This adds the suspense as the audience feel tense when being exposed to harsh hissing noises.

Mise en Scene:

The black ground remains blackened throughout the scene but the protagonist’s costume is white and there is a high key beam of light on her only. This contrast of black and white can reflect various metaphorical ideas. For example, the darkness represents the evil and the light represents the goodness and purity. The way the protagonist is dance makes the audience feel as if she is fighting against the darkness. When the male is framed, his costume is in all black, as they begin to dance together they start to move around more. This shows that the protagonist is being swallowed by the darkness and evil as the movements suggest she is struggling to be free. The protagonist receives most of the time in the shot, this makes the audience identify that she is the main character as the camera doesn’t want to move off of her. The minimalistic use of props makes the audience uncomfortable. This is because it is unnatural and unrealistic which heightens the tension within them as they feel as if something is wrong.

I liked the sound track within the opening of this film. I felt that because the score was orchestral, it make the audience feel tense. Similarly, the contast between sharp white lighting and darkness is interesting as it distorts the viewer.