Genre 1

Shutter Island - Opening Sequence

Cinematography is used in this opening sequence:

This is the first scene in the opening sequence of Shutter Island. It is a medium shot and the audience would be able to faintly see the outline of what this could be. This emphasises that it isn't going to give too much away at the beginning of what is about to happen! However it would make the audience ask questions like 'Is this a boat?', 'Is it on sea?', 'How many people are on this and where are they heading to?' This is effective as it keeps the audience interested in what they are about to watch.

This clip is still a medium shot like the one before. As we can see this clip is a lot more clear as the boat has come closer towards the camera. In this clip the audience would be able to see that it is a ship that is travelling across sea. In another case it still keeps information hidden from the audience as we haven't met any characters yet and the audience don't have any idea of where they are going and why they are going to this place. All they do know is that it is a ship with people.

This is a close up showing someone who's identity is still hidden. However what the audience will be able to see is that the character does look like a man from what this person is wearing.

This is a close up as well as being an over the shoulder shot which emphasises that this man is looking at himself through the mirror. The audience can also see the main part of his identity which is his face. It also shows that he is a main character as he is the first character to be shown in the opening sequence. This would make the audience wonder 'who is this man in the film?' 'why is he the main character in this film?' This close up also shows that facial expression of this man and from this clip his expressions suggest that he isn't feeling good at all as there is sweat on his face and he looks quite flustered in the face which could emphasise he doesn't want to be on this ship.

This is a two person shot which shows a conversation between two men. They are both dressed very similar as they have the same coat and hat on. This would suggest to the audience that they know each other and they both come across as being business men. By the look of them being business men, it could emphasise that they may be on this ship as a business trip. The type of questions that this clip would make the audience think would be 'why are these men dressed really smart?' 'where are they going?' 'how well do they know each other'.


The mise en scene used in this opening sequence is that the setting is around sea which suggests to the audience that this film will be based around the sea for example a beach or a ship which the audience have already seen in the opening sequence. The costume of the two men emphasise that they are dressed really smart and both wearing the same thing which could give a clue to the audience that they may be in business with each other. This can go further by suggesting to the audience on why they are on a ship together and it would seem as though they are on a business trip. The costume including the hats represent these men as being successful because the representation of successful people would come across as workmen who are dressed smartly and well represented.  The prop used within this opening sequence would be the ship and this emphasises that the ship may be a big part within the film.

The editing used in this opening sequence is a reverse shot which is when the two men are having a conversation on the ship which makes the audience wonder, how they know each other, if they know each other well and if they work together by what they are wearing. A long take is used when the character is looking in the mirror at himself, this shows the audience that he is the main character because a long take would emphasise the importance of something or someone.

The sound used in this opening sequence is diegetic sound as the audience are able to hear the sound of the sea before the scene even appears on screen which already gives a clue to the audience. Also the sound of the horn from the ship is diegetic sound but also hyperbolic sound as it is exaggerated. Dialogue is used between the two men, for example the main character says 'you're my new partner' this shows the audience that these two men are meeting for the first time and will be working with each other through business.