OH : Technical Analysis - Psycho (Hitchcock, 1960)

I started the analysis of the clip after the title sequence as this wouldn't be very useful for our opening sequence as we don't need to use those types of titles.
Psycho (Hitchcock, 1960) itself is a very good film to get some tips off of as it's set in the 1960's and has some of the desired genre features that our group is looking for, as a psychological horror film.

Opening Sequence for Psycho (Hitchcock, 1960)

CAMERA	DURATION	MISE-EN-SCENE		SOUND
Pan across of the establishing shot at a high angle	1:51 – 2:15	Black and white filter over the film, text over the top helping the audience understand where the film is set.		Calm strings music, possibly orchestra but no diagetic sound
Keeps the pan going but starts to zoom onto a certain building altering the focus onto it to which it then stops.	2:15 – 2:24	The black and white filter is still present but now new text comes up as it zooms into the precise location, telling the audience when it was, in full sentences.		Still the strings however its now at a slightly faster pace
Fades into a shot of the house and zooms into the window now at a medium shot.	2:24 – 2:30	A very basic building style all of the curtains are very similar allowing the audience to understand this is either an office block or hotel.		Same strings playing no diagetic sound still.
Sudden zoom into the window. Focuses on the darkness of the window as we enter the small gap of the window and window sill	2:30 – 2:40	The darkness that we enter into gives a sense of unease at the audience that anything could appear at this point.		Still the strings playing however they’ve sped up slightly as the audience becomes uneasy.
Pan across form the wardrobe to both of the characters on the bed – two shot	2:40 – 2:49	Character blocking has positioned the male character above the female even though she is given prevalence through the focus he has power in the shot.		The voice of the man is the first in the scene even though you cant see his face yet.
Still shot (CU) on the items on the side table of food.	2:49 – 2:50	Items such as the sandwich, glasses and ashtray all in the traditional 1960’s style.		Voice of the man still present even though the shot has changed creating a sound bridge between the shots.
Two shot with the man and women in the shot, it then slowly fades out.	2:50 – 2:55	Fan in the back ground giving off that it’s a hot day in the scene, with the light focused on the man though giving him prevalence in the shot.		The female speaks and then slowly enters the shot towards the male character.
Fades in, man slowly comes into the shot with a pan, to a two shot, he then leaves the shot and it starts to zoom into a CU on her face to show her unease at him leaving her.	2:55 – 3:25		They kiss and the light is focused on both of their faces to which he leaves the shot and the camera doesn’t move giving her prevalence in the shot.	There is diagetic sound only present in the shot as they both speak to each other.
MCU of the man however no movement	3:25 – 3:27		Pressed up against an open window with the light on him.	He speaks with a sense of frustration in his voice showing unease in the scene.
Back to a shot of the female character MCU	3:27 – 3:30		She wears a large collared shirt, typical of 1960’s costume.	Mans voice creates a diagetic sound bridge between the different shots however she then replies in the same shot of her.
POV shot from female character facing at the male character	3:31 – 3:32		No change of expression from the male character, still the light focused on him	No sound at all just a change of camera angle.
Quick change to look back at her – quick frame rate at this point	3:32 – 3:33		No change of expression	No sound again
A slow pan follows him at MCU	3:33 – 3:36		Certain swagger in his walk which shows a sense of confidence about him	He starts to speak in a calm voice which matches his walk
Follows her at MCU to two shot of the male and female characters at a pan, she leaves the shot through the door leaving the man as the shot the fades out.	3:36 – 3:50		Back to her and follows her out of the room in suitable attire to enter the public in giving her prevalence	His voice is present even though he’s not in the shot – end of the scene

EVALUATION - 

The scene starts with a high angled, slow panned, establishing shot. The audience are able to see the surroundings and set of the scene as the various titles come up. The name of the area and precise timing of the shot creates a sense of curiosity amongst the audience as to why its been set at such a certain time period.

Cross fading is the used to zoom, focus and change the distance whilst keeping a steady flow through each transition. The way the camera enters through the window, allows the audience to believe they're intruding and spying on the characters.

When we enter the room the focus is on the female character giving her prevalence in the shot however the male character is clearly above the female giving him more power in the shot.

Its clear from the kissing and lack of clothes that they had been making love, which would create a sense of unease amongst the audience back in the 1960's as its only right for this to take place if they're married for these acts to take place.

The way the sound comes in and out of the scene sharply through out helps to give a further sense of un ease about the shots.

 

Overall the technical analysis of this opening scene from Psycho (Hitchcock, 1960), has allowed me to have a further understanding of the general style of films in this time period as well as different culture in film and costume. All of which will help me in my final production if we are to go through with the 1960's theme.