Victoria and Violet

Victoria and Violet

I have decided to look at two students previous film openings because I found that both had a similar sub-genre to mine and the fact that both were wll composed.

Victoria

Film Opening Hall of Fame: Victoria

Mise en scene:

The ballet clothes (pointe shoes, leotard and tutu) Suits the character because it points out that the film will have something to do with ballet and it is important that the film opening lets the audience know a few bits and pieces of the entire film. In addition one thing that caught my attention was the fact that the ballet clothes were black except from the pointe shoes. The colour black connotes power, death, evil and mystery. It usually has a negative connotation. At the beginning it may give the audience an idea that the character is evil which is probably why she is wearing all black. The ballet clothes were definitely essential because if she did not wear them the audience would not be aware that the character was a ballerina. Also, the fact that she dances with the ballet clothes makes it verisimilitude.

The props used were also vital because it gave the audience clues and made us think and match up the pieces we couldn't have at the beginning. For instance, I was unsure of who Victoria was until she wrote on the mirror with the lipstick and then there was a fading edit into an old photograph of a different girl. The dolls used reminded me of childhood and innocence.

The locations used went perfectly well for the scenario because since the plot of the film was based on a ballerina, they student couldn't have had the ballerina dancing at college or in a football match but a ballet hall. The ballet hall appeared to be spacious which gave the audience a feel of the ballerina's lifestyle which lived up to the standard. Moreover, the scene where the character writes 'Victoria' on the mirror with lipstick makes it clear that she was in a bedroom because of the mirror's reflection as well as the fact that she was in a night gown.

The lighting was well managed and controlled. When the character was dancing in the ballet hall, the lighting was slightly bright but clear which was perfect because the audience could see exactly what the character was doing. In the bedroom scene the lighting was dimb and it was supposed to because it was suppose to be night time.

Camera:

There is a high angle looking down at the shadow at the ballerina, this shot made it visually successful as it immediately let the audience aware that it is a ballerina eventhough we cannot see the person physically.

The close up of the character's face as she looks up shows the black eyeliner which adds creepiness to her character.

There is a wide shot of the ballerina as she bends down but continues to point her feet. This shot works well because it shows her surrounding, since she dances holding the ballet barre and it shows the architecture of the wall.

The mid shot of the character writing 'Victoria' on the mirror links with the close up of the photograph. This makes it clear to the audience that Victoria is the girl in the photograph.

Edit:

Victoria uses many transitions such as fading which is used successfully. When in the bedroom scene the character starts to write Victoria on the mirror and then it dissolves into a photograph of a little girl and then dissolves back onto the bedroom scene and it shows that the two are closely linked.

As the character writes down 'Victoria' on the mirror, there are sudden flashes of an old photograph of a girl and dolls.

Sound:

The sound used in Victoria was successful in some areas and they were all added in post-production.  

A motif and non diegetic sound accompanied and introduced the ballerina to the audience. It consisted a mixture of the xylophone and glockspiel percussion  instruments that added ambiance. It went well because the pace was slow and the sound felt low hearted at the beginning which made appear that all was well. The music suited the character because in ballerina boxes this is the type of music that comes from it.

There were two scenes where there was a huge bang from the drum instrument in the background. For instance, when the ballerina puts her feet down and when she falls. This is probably an alert to the audience that something bad is on the way or something will happen to her later in the film.

When the ballerina opens the ballerina box, the motif sound from the start becomes slower, heavy and gloomy. It seemed like all the low keys in the piano were pressed to give that effect.

As the ballerina looks down at the cut on her leg, in the background there are children lullaby but the girls facial expression makes everything spooky.  

I think that Foley sound was probably used for when the ballerina opens the door because of the cricked sound in the background.

The laughter was not used successfully as all the other sounds because it acted like a soundbridge which I believe was not intended to. For example, the laughter came before, the ballerina smiled therefore it didn't match her facial expression.

Violet

Film Opening Hall of Fame: Violet
 

Mise en scene:

The character wears a white mid-length dress. White connotes innocence, purity, cleanliness and safety. It also associates  with hospitals, doctors, and sterility. The connotation juxtaposes the fact that the character is safe and clean because the audience later find out that she is dragged into the bathroom and the white dress is covered in blood.  

The fact that the character's hair is let out and is straight and slightly in her face makes her appear to be sinister.

The knife and blood make the audience feel slight sympathy for the girl because we are aware that she is in danger.

The photographs show the audience the things the girl does in her free time and it clearly emphasises that the person looking through them is probably going to attack or put the girl in danger. The images forbode what is going to happen later in the film.

The girl's body language is plain which makes her character even more freaky.

The location is at the woods which makes it even scarier and the cold light of day makes the girl appear dull and ghastly.

Camera:

The camera shots were used very well and successful.

The close up of the violet showed the bright purple colour of the flower which contrasted with the tree and the sun light in a way. It was the first thing introduced to the audience therefore it made the beginning appear natural and innocent. The connotations of the colour purple are: power, nobility, luxury, and ambition. The colour purple is not seen much in nature therefore it is very rare; some people consider it to be artificial. This may be the reason why it was shown first, to contrast with nature.

There is a tracking shot as the camera quickly goes towards the door which makes the pace fast. This maight have been incorporated to make the audience aware that something terrible will happen and will be inside the house.

There is a wide shot of of the girl positioned in different parts of the woods and since the footage is supposed to be shaky it makes the girl seem unstable.

There is a high angle shot that was used very well to to show that the girl was being dragged.

Edit:

Sound: