Saskia Smith AS Media Production

The instituion was Paramount Pictures so there ident came up when i began watvhing the opening sequence for Shutter Island. The ident was the same ident they commonly used for other films they have made however, the music was different! They used a low drum and violin based sound to create an eerie feel as soon as the film starts. This implies to the audneice that this film is going to be dark. This sound carrys on throught the titles. Paramount used a black screen with different titles on it which were in a white/grey font and looked dull. I think the font and colour scheme they used worked quite well.

 

After this we see another title on a black screen however, this time situated at the bottom of the screen in white and a thinner more traditional font. This told us the place and date and diegetic sounds began to play when this came onto the screen. We first hear water splashing and some sort of horn.

 

The picture fades to a white screen which is fog and mist and we eventually see a boat pass throught the fog. I think this shot is very dramatic because they have purposely slowed this scene down to create suspense. They use a low violin sound behind it as well which sounds creepy and if somethings coming towards you.

 

It then cuts to a shot in one of the cabins of the boat, we see a male bent over what appears to be a sink and the diegetic sounds are quite loud of him breathing and it sounds a bit like he is being sick which is common for people to be sea sick on a boat. It then goes to an over the shoulder shot of the actor Leonardo Di Caprio. He comes up from the sink still heavily breathing which puts the audience on edge and makes them not feel at ease. He says 'pull yourself togetehr teddy' as he looks at himself in the mirror. He looks tired and unwell. The lighting is very low key which suggests a negative or dangerous situation.

 

We then see him looking out of a curculary window which are usually found on boats and hes looking at the sea. He goes back over to the sink and washes his face and we get a close uo of his face, he has gt a plaser on his head whch tells us that he might have been in an accident.

 

Teddy is wearing a suit with a white shirt and colourful tie which may suggest that he is superior or a high class however, in this scene his top button is undine which portrays him as a bit messy or unorganised or off track. I like the opening sequence of this film because the music works very well with it. I also think the low key lighting works very well however, it is a bit slow for the audience to watch although visually very interesting when he walks outside and the sky is in the background and it portrays a sense of freedom.