Stella's thriller opening research: Blue Velvet

Certificate: 18
Duration of opening: 2:06

Mise-En-Scene:

• set- white picket fence - suggests well-to-do neighborhood- neat- stereotypical prop of well-to-do american towns
• prop- planted tulips- suggests a friendly society, well kept, people take pride in their homes
• colour- bright, primary colours-use of blue, red, yellow- suggests happiness, friendliness of town
• prop- Tv showing a suspense/ thriller film, shows a close up of a gun- hints at film's context
• body language- fireman waving on fire engine, happy and friendly- cheesy and slightly over the top, makes setting seem too perfect, hints at an underlying sense of sinister
• set- large house with neat front garden and picket fence- typical 1950's american house, commonly scene in films about 50's america and about well-to-do neighbourhoods- introduces time period
• prop- car-cadillac- classic car, expensive
• scenery - house has trees behind- suggests a scenic location, pretty, affluent area
• Costume- schoolchildren are all wearing smart clothing, suggests affluent, family-orientated area
• Body language of woman on sofa- arm rested on sofa back-calm, relaxed-suggests a peaceful neighbourhood

Camerawork:

• until the man watering his garden is introduced the angle of the shots alternates between a low angle and eye level- the change of this pattern suggests a disruption
• shot duration decreases each time during the first five still shots that set the scene- the first shot is 12 seconds long and the last shot of this section is 2 seconds- suggests we are orientating closer and closer to the disruption
• slow tilt down from sky to flowers- establishes setting and calm atmosphere
• track through the grass- creates a sense of unknown activity, eerie, creates suspense
• For the establishing shots medium close ups medium shots and long shots are used-parallel to mellow and calm atmosphere- longer shots are less intense than shorter ones
• When the man is introduced mainly medium close ups and close ups are used to draw attention to the upcoming disruption, and suggest a building intensity

Editing:

• Graphic match of the blue velvet-dissolves in the blue sky over the town- introduces setting
• dissolves used for establishing shots- parallel to calm content of shots
• cuts used for garden scene- builds paces and suggests disruption and atmosphere change
• match on action of man falling to floor

Sound:

• song "blue velvet"- links to title and the mellow, happy  feel links to the shot contents- suggests a happy, tranquil neighbourhood
• song fades out when tracking through grass begins and is replaced by non-diegetic atmospheric folis- create a tense atmosphere, suggest darkness and a sense of foreboding

Lighting:

• at the begining of the clip, all lights are used, at a high intesity giving effect of a sunny day-creates happy mood
• on firetruck shot key light and backlight is used, creating a slight shadow, to fit the scenery of a woody road-scenic, rural
• On the TVshot only key light used- shadowy, fits with Tv programme on screen- thriller, foreshadows darkness of film