1. Vertigo….
1958
By Alfred Hitchcock

2. Mise-en-Scene Location(s)/Setting;
There is no location in the opening title sequence in Vertigo, however graphic patterns are shown in the opening title sequence, along with an extreme close up of a distressed, females face and eye. This is done to give away little about the film, because the director did not want to give away too many clues about the film, however it also gives subtle hints as to who the main character might be for example she could potentially be the victim as she is noticeably upset and gives connotations to looking down and a fear of heights through showing the eye. The black background gives connotations of darkness, depression and unpredictability, this is typical of the thriller genre because of its restricted narrative. The graphics suggest a psychological element because they are very unusual and unpredictable.

3. Lighting/colour stock;
The lighting is very dim and quite dark at the beginning of the OTS, this is used to create atmosphere and broaden intensity because you are intensely staring at one person face, which suddenly switches to a small bright pattern. The lighting is positioned right in the centre of the shot. This creates an instant burst of light right in your eyeline. The dark lighting may signify the primal fear that is darkness which may infact restrict the narrative. The transition to a bright pattern can be slightly disorientating, connoting the fact that being scared of heights may disorientate the person who is scared of heights. The bright colour of the pattern isn’t typical of a thriller because normally the colours are quite bland and dark. Because the colours are quite dark, it connotes quite a psychedelic which could suggest a mental or unsound state of the character. The bright red around the eye connotes a sinister and panicked feel, which is also typical of a crime thriller, as red connotes blood and danger, which may give a clue to the narrative of the film. The red around the eye also might gives clues to panic when they see something which may insinuate seeing far down from high heights.

4. Costume/Appearance of the Characters;
There isn’t any costume in the opening title sequence, however the appearance of the face is quite pale and ill looking. The face is quite bland and is wearing minimal makeup. Minimal makeup may suggest the character is ordinary person which is typical of the thriller genre. This may suggest that the character is slightly vulnerable. The eyes of the face look quite bloodshot and tired. They also look like they have been crying, or worried or in fear. Because the character looks vulnerable the audience will feel like she is unsafe and so make them tense and worried for the character. Because the character looks vulnerable this may raise questions such as, why is the character concerned? And why is she vulnerable? The role this character might play is that she could be the victim later in the film or she may be the protagonist.

5. Props used; There aren’t any props used in the opening title sequence
Props used; There aren’t any props used in the opening title sequence. The graphics also remind me of concrete objects, such as the spiral pattern reminds me of a tunnel as it spirals round and becomes bigger and longer. The face may be considered a prop as it shows a lot of expression through the eyes, exaggerating the panic in her eyes. This may give hints at the narrative by suggesting that panic is a big factor within the plot of the film, suggesting a psychological element which is typical of Hitchcock’s style within Media.

6. Actors Performance;
The main character in the opening title sequence, is the female face that looks seemingly distressed and panicked. The actor/actress conveys a sense of panic by widening their eyes suddenly, which makes them look as though they have seen or been faced with something that may make them feel fear. This is typical of a thriller to show terror and fear. The actor really does show the vague difference through facial expressions and when they change, which really conveys a lot of information through non-verbal communication, which in itself creates a mood.

7. Camera shots used;
The camera shot sequence used;
Extreme Close-Up, this is used to create the effect of building up an intensity and the viewers attention to that particular feature. This heightens our impression of her because we automatically feel as though she is intense, which creates an atmosphere and a mood. Because we are so close up as well, this can make the viewer uncomfortable, intensifying that atmosphere even more.
Medium Close-Up, this is a close-up from the shoulders up and is used to give the viewer more information about a specific character or object. It is a medium close-up of her lips, which really shows us her femininity, however because we only see her lips it’s a restriction and we don’t see her whole face but only features.

8. Camera movements used;
The camera shot sequence used;
Zoom in, this was used to close into the eye to make an extreme close up. This is done so that not too much of the face is shown to give away the identity of the subject. This automatically makes us think about why we aren’t allowed to see the rest of her face and only specific features.
Panning is also used to move from feature to feature, this is also sued to again restrict the narratives of the film. This is typical of the thriller genre because it is confusing and tricking us into believing certain things about the film.

9. I think they used this sequence to gradually build up tension to hook the viewer. The beginning starts by showing the face at a reasonable distance, however the shots gradually begin to show extreme close ups which really makes the viewer see the face intensely and uncomfortably close. This leaves the viewer wanting to know why we cant see her whole face and why she is closed-up on to make her the focus of the opening title sequence.
Camera Angles;
The camera angle is face on and remains this way throughout the sequence. This is quite a confrontational shot, because she is the definite focus, which almost makes her look like a subject of observation as they are focusing on her entirely. I think the director did this to make you watch and look at the persons face to again build up and exaggerate the tension for you as the viewer. Also, I think he did it because he wanted to hint clues without it being to revealing of the film.

10. Camera Movements; Editing;
Zoom in is used in Vertigo to create a dramatic effect and show more of the face and at a closer level, and slowly reveals more about the narrative. Also, panning is used to show the more of the subjects face before zooming in on certain features and from moving from feature to feature, which restricts and controls how much we can view, so thus is only hinting at the narrative and events.
Editing;
The editing of the opening scene is at a gradual pace which is shown through the patterns and close-ups of the face. Even when the subjects eyes widen in panic the editing is still slow and gradually fades into the next shot. I would say that this is a simple continuity piece because all the shots are quite simple and do not become too complex and conceptual. They all run in a quite clear sequence that gradually moves into the next shot without a sudden cut, in order to slowly build the tension and intensify the atmosphere which is the purpose of the opening title sequence, to gradually introduce clues and hints of the film narrative.

11. Sound;
Most of the sound used is a soundtrack, which is used to create tension and build up an atmosphere, (complimented by the images). The choice of soundtrack is complimented by the OTS, as it’s a very serious and at some points sudden, which makes it seem like it is cut to beat. The soundtrack is a very dramatic piece that as times is very bland and quiet but can suddenly become louder and more dominant, suggesting that there are more dramatic moments in the narrative. The soundtrack is a classical piece which involves music being played in an orchestra fashion.
Non-Diegetic sounds are edited in, such as the soundtrack which involves several musical instruments, in Vertigo’s opening title sequence, and the sound is also quite gradual which mimics the way the shot sequence gradually transitions to the next shot.
When the eye widens in panic, the music also becomes louder and more intensified to fit the way they want the viewer to feel, which is slightly panicked and overwhelmed.
It uses the same soundtrack throughout the OTS to keep the tension and atmosphere building which is typical of the thriller genre.

12. Fonts;
The fonts in the Vertigo opening title sequence are quite plain and bold. The white writing suggests plain and innocent which, may represent the innocence of the main subject. It may also be plain to really stand out against the black negative background.
Graphics;
The graphics show brightly coloured patterns against a pitch black background, this can make your eyes focus on the pattern that is bright and then you can see the pattern when you look anywhere else for a while because of the strain it puts on your eyes. This could relate to the fact the film is a psychological thriller and the elements of this are shown through the opening title sequence.
Positioning;
The positioning of the camera is always face on, so the viewer is looking directly at the screen. This is so you focus on the person and is possibly there to make the viewer feel uncomfortably close to the subject. This is typical of the thriller genre because they try to make you uncomfortable and tense.
Summary;
The OTS conveys the genre type through the pace of the scene, showing that it is an psychological thriller. The graphic patterns also implies it is a psychological thriller because they are quite sketchy and confusing to follow.

13. Fonts;
In Vertigo’s opening title sequence the fonts are very plain and bold. The fonts are quite simple, however are quite large and in capitals to show the importance of the names being displayed.
The fonts are also in white, which connotes purity and innocence. This may represent with the women’s face used in the opening title sequence to show that she is innocent, therefore giving a hint to the narrative. This is typical within the thriller genre. The white fonts may also stand out against the darker backgrounds.
Also the fonts are quite bold so that they are noticeable, however they may be simple, as to not detract from the visual effects and shots of the opening title sequence.