Assignment 1 - Moving Image Analysis

by
Mr Barton

The establishing shot is a wide shot of space, which tells the audience that space
might be important to the narrative, and that the genre of the film may be sciencefiction. The camera tilts down, following the path of a shooting star, which again
may be significant to the narrative.
This shot is an intertextual reference to the establishing shot in Star Wars, which is a
classic of the sci-fi genre, where the shot opens on empty space, and tilts
downwards towards the action or setting. This is another clue to the audience that
this film is of the science-fiction genre.
The accompanying music starts as ambient electronic music, to mirror the calmness
& tranquility of space, but as the shooting star travels towards the planet below,

A lowering crane shot is used to transition from the establishing shot of space, to
the location below. A wide shot is used to show the audience as much of the
location as possible. In the background is a tube station, showing that the film is set
in London, UK. The buildings, vehicles and street furniture all seem familiar,
suggesting to the viewer that the film is set in the present day, rather than the past
or future.
The low key exterior lighting shows us that this scene is set at night, and implies
that there may be scary or threatening elements to the narrative. We can see
fireworks going off all over the city, telling us that it is most likely early November.
Diegetic audio includes fireworks, car horns and police sirens, signifying aggression

This shot is a medium close-up of a female character, coming out of the tube
station. The audience gets a good look at her face, and is aware that she will be a
central character, as she is the first person we have seen close-up.
Her location shows the audience that she is on an average income as she is using
public transport, rather than using a taxi or her own car. She is dressed in a warm
winter coat & hat, signifying that the weather is cold, and that she probably has to
walk home from the station. Her clothes are bright colours, perhaps showing she is
a happy person.
We hear the character talking to her mum, and apologising for not calling her
sooner, implying that she is a nice friendly person. Ambient non-diegetic music

For this shot, the camera tracks from right to left, following the character
walking home, past shops and market stalls. We can see this is a busy
urban area, and there are lots of people around.
The scene uses high key lighting, from the shops and street lights. The
high key lighting and the large amount of people creates a sense of safety
for the character.
The conversation continues, and she says that she is walking home, and
that her shift ran over, telling the audience that she is near where she
lives, and that she is a hard worker. Diegetic audio includes other peoples

The character turns a corner and walks down a residential street. The
street is much quieter than the main road she was on. There are a few
adults and children, who have sprklers, confirming that it is set around
Bonfire Night.
There is low key lighting, provided by the street lights, causing there to be
lots of areas of shadow on the street, particularly at the end of the street
that she is walking towards. This creates a sense of danger or foreboding,
as she is walking towards the darkness.
The high angle shot shows the character as small, vulnerable and alone in

The character turns into an alley, which is narrow, long and very dark.
Each street she turns down becomes more threatening and unsafe,
implying she is walking towards danger, or that something bad will
happen to her. We cant see the end of the alley
There are no other people in the alley, making it seem threatening. It is
also lit with very low key lighting, by the street lights, creating big areas
of darkness. As the alley is so thin and there are no houses on it, or
people, it seem even less safe than the previous road.
The camera pans from left to right, leaving the character to walk down the

As the camera focuses on the graffiti, a some sort of firework goes off with
a loud bang, and the light from the firework illuminates the graffiti. In the
light we see the shadows of two figures, implying to the viewer that the
female character is getting followed. This adds to the tension already
created by the setting and lighting.
Diegetic audio includes a few small fireworks explosions, and then one
very loud explosion, at which point the flash from the firework illuminates
the wall, and shows the shadows. The big explosion stand out, and links
the sense of danger, to the subjects creating the shadows, who the
character and audience have yet to see.

At the sound of the firework, the female character turns suddenly to see
what made the sound. A medium close-up is used to show that she is
startled and a little worried, which we can tell by her facial expressions.
Her reaction shows us that there isnt anything or anyone behind her. This
incident adds to the building sense of tension, and looming threat towards
this character.
The subtle, non-diegetic mysterious music continues, carrying on the
sense of uncertainty.

A wide shot is used here to show the isolation of the character on this
darkly lit street. It shows that there are no other people around, and the
low key lighting creates many areas of unseen threat ahead of the
character.
A car drives past slowly, with loud urban music playing on its radio. The
slow pace of the car seems threatening, as it may stop. The loud music
implies that the driver and passengers are possibly young and anti-social.
This creates a sense of tension, as the female character is vulnerable.
At this point, the symbolic codes are suggesting to the audience that the

This tracking shot moves backwards, in front of the character, as she

walks along the street. It allows the audience to see the characters
changing facial expression as she sees something ahead of her. She looks
worried and apprehensive, but tension is created as the shot does not
allow the audience to see what she has seen that has made her worried.
The character stops, finishes her conversation and puts her phone in her
bag. This signifies to the viewer that she is worried about what is ahead of
her. This also means that she is completely alone, and therefore more
vulnerable.

A P.O.V. (Point of View) shot is used to show what is ahead of the

character. A long shot is used to show how far away the group of people
are, and that the street is empty except for them, meaning that the
female character is alone, and outnumbered, creating a sense of tension
and threat.
The low key lighting means that the female character, and the audience
initially can not see clearly how many people are in the group, their
genders, ages or appearance, making them more threatening.

A medium-long shot is used to show the five characters ahead of the

female character, in more detail. They all appear to be male, and in their
mid-teens, as they are on foot, or on BMX bikes. All five have their faces
covered and their hoods up, implying that they do not want to be
identified, so could be planning to commit a crime.
A P.O.V. shot is used to help the audience to empathise with the female
character, as the males characters look towards her.
There is inaudible conversation between the characters, as they look
towards the character, implying that they are talking about her, or what

The camera tracks left to right, from an over-the-shoulder shot behind the
five male characters, to follow the female character as she crosses the
road. The two male characters on BMXs ride across the shot towards the
female character. Their actions imply that they are going to approach the
female character, and the fact that their faces are covered, suggests that
they may attempt to attack or rob her.
This wide shot allows viewers to see that the street is deserted except for
these characters, so the female character is vulnerable, alone and
outnumbered. This adds to the rising sense of tension. The low key
lighting makes the situation more threatening and scary.

This over-the-shoulder shot allows the viewer to empathise with the

female character, as we can see the two male characters on BMX bikes
coming towards her. Their dark clothes and covered faces make them
seem menacing.
The low key lighting makes the setting seem more scary, and the viewer
can see that the street is deserted in the other direction too, meaning the
female character is alone and vulnerable.
The two male characters ride past her very closely, which is threatening,
and the female character turns her head to follow them.

..

..

..

A whip pan is used, from right to left, to mirror the female character
turning her head back quickly from looking behind her, to be confronted
by one of the male characters standing in front of her. A medium close-up
two-shot is used to show how close the male character is to the female
character. It also allows viewers to see the fearful expression on the
female characters face.
The framing of the shot, combined with the male characters costume
keeps his face hidden from viewers, continuing the sense of enigma
attached to him, and the sense of threat.

..

..

..

..

..

..