Shot number - 1

Camera shot – Wide shot

Sound – Backing music begins immediately

(Non diegetic)

Content – WARNER BROTHERS is the primary

institution for this film. This then appeals to

audiences as Warner Brothers is a company

renowned for their successful films.

Shot number - 5

Camera shot – Close up

Sound – Female voice continues talking

(Non diegetic)

Content – Zoomed out slightly from the

doll to show the women’s explanation

becoming more intricate and detailed as

to what has happened to them and what

they are experiencing.

This opening begins immediately with tense music (strings/violins trilling around a minor chord) which grabs

the viewer’s attention and starts the tension rising. This music is played at a loud tempo and as it is a very

harsh sound, it introduces the viewer to the idea that this film is a horror. In addition there are horror style

versions of the classic ‘Warner Brother’ logo and ‘New Line Cinema’ logo. This adds to the proof that the

genre of this film is a horror. The dark colour palette injected within this production logo, gives a sense of

sincerity and vulnerability. Additionally, such colours – black, grey navy, are all deemed as considerably

gloomy and wary, reinforcing the genre type and also preparing viewers for the thrilling, frightening and

daunting narrative ahead.

The shot lasts for an entire 20 seconds and shows a slow zoom out. At first, the right side of the doll’s face is

visible, but as the shot progresses, the view moves further right whilst still zooming out, causing the doll to

remain unseen. This has been done because it makes the viewer question as to what the nature of this doll is.

The woman is talking in the background, describing events which we know are based around this doll. This

acknowledgment is helped by the stereotypical moving limbs and places as well as being joined by the

accusation that it could be family member or friend playing a prank on them. These are all plot lines which we

associate strongly with possession. The audience will now know (if they didn’t before) that this will be a

horror about a possession of some sorts. The fact that this shot of the doll is one of the first things we, as an

audience, see signifies that the doll is a dominant part or at least dominant within this first scene.

Shot number - 8

Camera shot – Mid, wide shot

Sound – Both nurses speaking (Diegetic)

Content – The two women continuing to

describe what has happened to them with

one looking towards the other for

reassurance.

Shot number - 18

Camera shot – Long shot / high

angle shot

Sound – Voiceover from nurses

(Non diegetic)

Content – Annabelle slouched

against the wall as if propped up by

someone.

This is a dialogue scene where we see the woman for the first time. There is also an additional person who

joins in now that we can visually distinguish between the two females. They are both young and seem

respectable which notions to the audience how normal they are. It may also portray them as vulnerable due

to their youth and gender. The lighting is very dark, creating shadows in the background and on the

characters which creates a sense of mystery. The boy on the far right doesn’t talk at all which indicates how

much this ordeal has affected them as a group. We never see the people who they are talking to in this

section although we do hear them, causing these 3 young people to be the immediate focus. The reason for

this may be to again, create suspense and mystery for the unknown. This section has only a mid-shot, a close

up shot and a zoom in based around the victims which keeps the investigators appearance as a secret.

This section goes into a flashback in order to break up the story being told. A very faint sound starts to create

a tense atmosphere as the shot switches to a long, handheld shot of the doll before going back to silence.

When it goes back to the women, they start to move forward with the camera following from the front at a

steady angle. When it goes back to the doll though, the shot becomes shaky which shows confusion that the

characters are feeling as well as unease for the viewer. The fact that the only part of this shot that has been

purposely lighten is the doll slouched against the wall, focuses the audience’s attention on it thus developing

the tension. This shot is crucial because the camera movement is very shaky, suggesting a hand-held device

filmed it. This is effective as it influences the audience to feel nervous as it is the shot of the point of view of

the women – which suggests the woman, feel nervous and intimidated.

This opening sequence uses lighting, camera shots, and sound/music and character reactions/expressions in order to communicate the genre, the basic storyline, the foreshadowing of events and simply allows the viewer to make their judgement on the film. The opening sequence of a film is the first impression and determines whether the viewer will be intrigued or not. The basis of a good opening is one which creates good expectations from the viewer and one which takes into account the editing applied, the cinematography, the mise-en-scene, sound and perhaps even any titles or credits. It is the first thing that a viewer sees, so in regards to ‘The Conjuring’, the viewer would be able to tell that the storyline follows a possession of some sort, that this was a horror due to the dark colour scheme and that this film will contain plenty of jump scares. If this appeals to the viewer then they will watch on happily but if it isn’t then at least they can prepare themselves for what is to come.

Editing: Continuity editing has been used to enable a naturalistic depiction. This allows a seamless

piece of initial footage.

Straight cuts have been used to allow a professional, clean cut look. The use of straight cuts

allows for an easy watch that is aesthetically pleasing and thus fluent through the shots.

Additionally, the use of straight cuts within a horror is typical in order to enforce this

naturalism wanted by the director to ensure that in no way can the conventions of horror

trying to be portrayed come across as cliché. In other genres like comedy, more ambitious

transitions and cuts are used to enable this ‘micky’ take effect.

These first two minutes of the film only include straight cut transitions when going through the different shots. This is in aid of not complicating the very beginning of the film and also keeping viewers interested.

MIRCO ANALYSIS

Camera Shots:

There is a variety of different shots used within the first two minutes of the film including:

Close up shots – These are used to focus in on the subject of each different shot.

This has been used in order to create tension, gain attention and highlight the key focus of the shot, for instance Annabelle, the doll. As an audience, in being closer to the subjects

face and thus having a clear vivid image of their facial expressions, we consequently end up feeling more sympathetic towards them. Additionally, feeling as if involved within the film

and as if known to the character, this personal attachment is development and thus makes audiences feel empathy with the characters on screen.

Mid shot – These are used to clearly show the subjects facial expressions in the

context of their body language. In this case mid shots have been used to do exactly this; highlight the subject’s different

facial expression and body language. In seeing the characters body language and expressions it says a lot about both their personality and the current situation they are in. Additionally, the two females rather withdrawn, enclosed postures connotes their

desperation for help and thus feeling uncomfortable and scared at what has happened.

Wide shot – These are used to give the audience a broader view of the surroundings and hence showing body language of characters in more detail.

Wide shots have been used in order to merge together all three characters body language and facial expressions and give the audience an overall outlook on how they feel. Further

inferring to viewers that whatever’s going on is to do with these two females or likewise has originated from them.

Low angle shot – A low angle shot is an angled shot positioned low on the vertical

axis, anywhere below the eye line and looking up. These are used to usually give the subject more power and strength.

Here, low angle shots have been used in order to establish setting and location. Moreover, the low angle shot of the door before the two girls walk in, this has been used here in order

to prepare viewers for something daunting to happen and hence in having a shot like this looking up at the two girls entering its indicates this idea of power. However, in this sense, the power is coming from the possessed doll which we further come to find out is sitting on

the floor in the corridor, in front of the door. Additionally, its as if the doll is waiting for the pair to come back home, thus building the suspense and tension whilst making viewers feel scared for the two characters.

Long shot – These are used to typically show the entire object or human figure and are usually intended to place it in some relation to its surroundings.

This has been used to again create tension and a sense of apprehension in going any closer to the subject of the frame, in this case, Annabelle the doll. The use of long shot allows for

there to be a certain distance away from the doll, and in doing this makes viewers feel even more hesitant and anxious as at any moment the doll could rush forwards .

Mis-en-scene:

Low key lighting is used within the first two minutes of the film to give the initial

impression of the genre – horror.

The costume and make up connotes the ‘seventies’ style and hence suggests the

time period that the film is based in, the 1970’s.

The minimal amount of props used in the different frames allows there to be full

focus on the main subject when watching the first two minutes and in this it is

Annabelle the doll.

Basic apartment setting shown as dark and gloomy not like an average warm loving

home, which usually has bright colours and bright lights this house on the other

hand is a lot more darker and gloomier this has been portrayed through the

iconography and genre that they are trying to imply to the audience.

The low key lighting also emphasises the quantity of shadows that have been

endorsed within the shots talking to the girls, this implies this unknown, haunting

presence with them – the doll.

The rosy cheeks of the doll are emphasised to connote this idea of blood and danger.

The colour red has instant denotations of threat and harm and in it being one of the

first, primary things we see; we understand that the story to come is not going to be

a pleasant one.

Sound: The sound bridges across the different shots. There is a lot of synchronous sound used within the shots, meaning sound that matches what is presented in the film.

Diegetic sound – Footsteps from nurses walking, voices from the multiple characters speaking, squeaking from the door, ‘crackle’ sound from the note.

Non – diegetic sound – Backing music, sound effects in the background.

Both have been used to create verisimilitude.

Music used: ‘The Conjuring’ – Joseph Bishara

This music used at the very inception of the opening prepares viewers for the frightening narrative ahead whilst clearly letting the audience know what type of genre it is – horror.

The eeriness of the music echoes when you listen to it as if waiting for something dramatic to happen, linking with this idea that within the film people are constantly just waiting for

Annabelle, the doll to do something.

The low pitch and tone of the two female’s voices accompany their facial expressions. Their low pitch and tone connotes how desperate for help they are and that even talking about what has happened frightens them.

MACRO ANALYSIS

Representation:

During the first two minutes of the film we are immediately introduced to the characters. The two women that

are explaining their traumas are represented as vulnerable and weak. They come across like this due to their body language and the way in which they are speaking; they speak slowly, at a low volume with many pauses and have

a low pitch connoting their terror as to what has happened to them. Whereas characters Lorraine and Ed Warren,

are represented as a confident, professional and an experienced pair consequently due to the way they also position themselves and the way they talk. The purpose of this is to show the viewers, firstly, that the main

characters consist of Lorraine and Ed Warren, and secondly, that the narrative of the film revolves around the

supernatural aspect of life.

Genre:

Horror

The first two minutes consist of many common conventions that horror films are recognised for, including: low key lighting, minimalistic props and simple settings. Thus, is why we, as viewers, can instantaneously have

knowledge of the genre as soon as it begins. There is no use of special effects used within the first two minutes

clearly showing the naturalistic depiction they are aiming for in the film. This is because sometimes the overuse of special effects within a film can make it appear unprofessional and cheap. The solemn soundtrack used within

these first two minutes instantly gives us the impression of the genre. This genre of film tends to be aimed at

teenagers, 15 +, and young adults.

Narrative: In 1971, Carolyn and Roger Perron move their family into a dilapidated Rhode Island farm house and soon strange things start happening around it with escalating nightmarish terror. In desperation, Carolyn contacts the noted paranormal investigators, Ed and Lorraine Warren, to examine the house. What the Warrens discover is a whole area steeped in a satanic haunting that is now targeting the Perron family wherever they go. To stop this evil, the Warrens will have to call upon all their skills and spiritual strength to defeat this spectral menace at its source that threatens to destroy everyone involved.

Ideology: Within these first two minutes of the film we can see that the two women are the defenceless ones and the ones

that are susceptible to the paranormal danger. With this we are introduced to our first, very common ideology of

the female gender within film production. These ladies are represented as the ones that are in desperate need of the help and hence go to others for it as they cannot independently do it themselves, as well as this they are

shown to have allowed a demonic spirit to inhabit this doll they own and keep within their home – again showing

their stupidity as females. However, this ideology is then counteracted when we see one of the main characters

Lorraine Warren (a female) being one of higher authority and knowledge.

Theorists / Theories: Vladimir Propp’s theory is used and in this case the heroes include both the female and male characters of Ed and Lorraine Warren. We know this because merely all of the attention from the victims is given to them. These heroes are invariably one of the films central characters. Additionally, in these first two minutes we are also introduced the supposed villain character being Annabelle the doll, who has created the initial narrative disruption. Moreover, Claude Levis Strauss’ theory also comes into account with these fist two minutes using the two binary oppositions of the known and the unknown. His concept is regularly used in supernatural and paranormal fiction films as film makers like having their audience unknown to certain things within the narrative giving that sense of mystery and fear.