CEMS for opening credits of ‘North by Northwest’.

The opening credits for the film blend in with surrounding buildings, these buildings may have a certain significance in the film, however the audience are not sure at this point as it is right at the beginning of the film. There is also music played in the background of the credits, the music is energetic and bouncy, having this music helps set the scene for the audience and it creates a certain mood.

 This is an example of the opening credits blending into a building.

CAMERA-

The first shot in the film is an establishing shot, this helps show the audience what surrounds the people in the scene and what the environment they are in is like. As the scene carries on, there are different types of camera shots used. We are confronted with a man and woman walking together talking, there is a two shot used, this helps show the audience that two people are talking to each other and the other people in the scene are irrelevant. The camera tracks the people all the way to when they get into the cab. Whilst the two people are getting into the cab there is an over the shoulder shot of the man and woman. There is also a high angel shot used when the man tells another person that they are getting into that cab, this use of the high angel shot makes the man who wants to get into the cab look superior and more powerful.

EDITING-

 When the man and woman are in the cab driving, there is obvious use of special effects as you can tell that they are not really in a cab driving,- the back window of the cab gives this away. The special effects are obviously not going to be as good as they are these days as the film was made in 1959 and since then there has been a lot more technology invented. The use of special effects helps convey the image that the two people are actually in a cab. From each scene in the film there is jump cuts, this helps save time in the film and also it shows what other people are doing in the film. The use of jump cuts helps keep the audience interested and it also tells them what is happening in the film.

MISE EN SCENE-

SOUNDS-

There is non-digetic sounds in the background of the first scene with the hotel, the music is quite classical, this conveys an image to the audience that the hotel is posh. There is also non-digetic sounds in the restaurant when people are talking in the background, this helps set an atmosphere and shows that there is other people eating.

This is the front cover of the film. With the man’s expression on his face and the plane chasing him, helps attract the attention of the audience. As it stands out and looks very exciting.

The man is dressed up in a suit and tie, this helps tell the audience that he is an important person and maybe quite wealthy. Also in the first scene there are many people in suits this tells the audience that the area maybe in a city with lots of people working for businesses. The man also reads ‘The Times’ newspaper in the cab, this helps tell the audience that he is quite intellectual.

 This is the main character in his suit, with others around him in suits, they look very wealthy, it conveys an image to the audience that they are rich and important.