The Sixth Sense ( Shyamalan, 1999, US)

Media Homework

At the beginning of their sixth sense, there is an opening. Within this opening, it starts off with distribution company names, this informs the audience the different companies that have helped produce the film and there company names ECT. This is placed in the middle of the frame with serif font, which is presented and gives the lettering a posh and elegant appearance. As this is occurring, every few seconds there is a blank screen of darkness displayed, this is used to settle the audience and create a calm atmosphere so the attention is focussed on to what’s being displayed on the screen. The text appears at a medium pace, this is so that the audience don’t lose focus and interested by what appearing on the screen.

A moment of where Mise En scene is used successfully is when the female character has come down to the basement and is selecting a bottle of wine from the wall holding numerous bottles of wine. In this moment, crane shot is used to see what is behind the wine rack and to see the characters movements and gestures that are performed. In this scene you can see the bases of the bottles of wine, which already communicate the atmosphere being dark and surrounded by echoes. In this moment, because of what the colour of darkness, communicates a scary emotion towards the audience. Because the audience associate darkness, with pitch black, night time, not being able to see and potentially being afraid of something they are unable to see. A screen grab is below to present this moment:

The editing in this moment has a crane shot used. This is so that the audience can gain an understanding of whets happening and what is in front of the character. The use of the camera being behind a wall of wines, communicates that the basement she is in is used often as well as the idea of it existing for a long duration of years. As well as a crane shot being used, the camera is also using a close up to communicate her facial expressions to communicate how she’s feeling in this setting as well as selecting the correct bottle of wine for a later event. This camera work and editing used makes the audience ask questions like, why she might be down there. Why is she on her own? Who does the basement belong to? Is she collecting wine for herself or for several people? 

One example of how the camera is used effectively is a close up of a light bulb which is conveyed within the opening sequence. This is mise en scene, as well as camera work that has been used effectively. By having this included in the opening sequence, it constructs the idea of the viewing of the light bulb foreshadowing the idea of something being awake and living, that potentially the audience and viewers might not be aware of. As well as this idea being portrayed, it also communicates the idea of spiritual elements belonging in the room, and because of this it engages the audience, and changes the atmosphere so their experiencing similar emotions and shockness.

Sound:

The sound used in the opening scene when font is appearing for the first couple of minutes, sounds spooky. This is to engage the audience in to what’s happening and communicates the genre of horror/naturalistic acting. This also sets a creepy atmosphere and wants the audience to feel hooked on to the film and question might what happen next. A Sting is used in the opening scene, which reduces the atmosphere and emotions of fear, and makes it in to more of a friendly feeling for the audience to experience whilst watching the opening scene.