Chess - Virtigo Opening

Vertigo

in this opening of virtigo, we experience a thrilling chase between what looks like the criminal and the police men. See embeded video for any shot or effect references.



Credits

• The credits go on for a while, and are right at the start of the thriller, this helps to create the setting even before we see any part of the film.
• Whats unusual about these credits is that the backgrounds black but there are bright spirals coming from behind the text and theres a very low, taunting background music playing. This gives the effect of slight disorientation and a qwerky, creepy atmosphere, making us at slightly unease.
• Then the last swirl is in an eye shape which graphic matches onto a persons eye, being the first shot we see and the end of the credits. This also gives a slightly startiling, fearful feel. So as we arent in a nice, calm relaxed mood we are drawn in and get a jist of what the film will be like, being a thriller.

Setting

• Before we see any part of the character, apart from the mystery persons eye, we see the bars of the ladder, and then hands, then the man. This makes us suspicous of who it is and whats about to happen.
• Set on rooftops, very high and dangerous, virtigo effect shows that when the image looking down is zoomed out yet the person remains in the same place. Gives the scary disoreintation like the credits, but this time with heights. And the mans facial expression also shows that as he goes all funny in the face due to so much fear.
• Theres a long establishing shot, showing the roof tops and the night sky and we can see the characters running along, we know ones a police man as he is dressed in a uni form. This shot gives us the blood pumping adrenaline rush as we can fully see the chase and how they are catching up.
• The shorter shots, and slight shot reverse shot of the police man trying to rescue the haning man, makes it a quicker pace to show how dangerous this bit is, as like we find out its deadly. The shots looking directly down also show this danger, and for the hanging man its reinforced more by when the dead policeman is at the bottom. It creates alot of suspence making it more interesting.

In conclusion, Virtigos opening works well as we get alot of action very quickly, yet theres alot more action and things we dont yet know and will find out later. The vitigoe effect works well in creating a disorientated view however im not sure it would be appropriate in our filming.