The whole opening scene has a dark tone, which looks like it is created using mainly natural lighting.
The scene opens on a black background with the title of the film in white, which suggests that there is some kind of conflict between two different sides - possibly light and dark/good and bad. The first shot shows a tracking shot over a pile of hats in the middle of a forest, this gives the audience no clues whatsoever as to the plot, but instead gives them questions and almost immediately leaves them wanting more information.
The first words said in the film are by a deep sinister voice 'Are you watching closely', this might not only tell the audience that it is a film about magic and magicians (also suggested by the great number of top hats), but also that the film is full of small hints and clues to the main storyline that might be missed unless the audience watches carefully.
The next scene changes the mood from dark and threatening to an initially happier yet mysterious mood. This is created by jump cuts of two different scenes taking place with an old man narrating over both, explaining the three stages of a magic trick as the two scenes show the three stages happening. One scene shows (presumably the old man who is narrating) an old man showing a young girl a magic trick. This shows the audience an initial light, innocent side to the story in a small birdhouse, which is contrasted by the darker jump cut: The alternate scene is in a much more majestic setting - a large performance hall - and shows a younger magician on a stage, the mood feeling dark and dangerous again. A member of the audience sneaks backstage, claiming to be part of the act. He has the same voice as the threatening first words "are you watching closely", this suggests that he isn't part of the act and has a darker motive than the film suggests. He then witnesses the magician fall into a locked tank and drown, this greatly contrasts the light innocent scene of the old man showing the little girl a magic trick.
This suggests that there is two sides to the story, that there will be both good and then extremely dark themes in the same film or media text. The sudden shocking contrast between innocence and the graphic death grips the audience and leaves them with more questions without giving any of the answers.
The scene opens on a black background with the title of the film in white, which suggests that there is some kind of conflict between two different sides - possibly light and dark/good and bad. The first shot shows a tracking shot over a pile of hats in the middle of a forest, this gives the audience no clues whatsoever as to the plot, but instead gives them questions and almost immediately leaves them wanting more information.
The first words said in the film are by a deep sinister voice 'Are you watching closely', this might not only tell the audience that it is a film about magic and magicians (also suggested by the great number of top hats), but also that the film is full of small hints and clues to the main storyline that might be missed unless the audience watches carefully.
The next scene changes the mood from dark and threatening to an initially happier yet mysterious mood. This is created by jump cuts of two different scenes taking place with an old man narrating over both, explaining the three stages of a magic trick as the two scenes show the three stages happening. One scene shows (presumably the old man who is narrating) an old man showing a young girl a magic trick. This shows the audience an initial light, innocent side to the story in a small birdhouse, which is contrasted by the darker jump cut: The alternate scene is in a much more majestic setting - a large performance hall - and shows a younger magician on a stage, the mood feeling dark and dangerous again. A member of the audience sneaks backstage, claiming to be part of the act. He has the same voice as the threatening first words "are you watching closely", this suggests that he isn't part of the act and has a darker motive than the film suggests. He then witnesses the magician fall into a locked tank and drown, this greatly contrasts the light innocent scene of the old man showing the little girl a magic trick.
This suggests that there is two sides to the story, that there will be both good and then extremely dark themes in the same film or media text. The sudden shocking contrast between innocence and the graphic death grips the audience and leaves them with more questions without giving any of the answers.
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