Technical

Deconstruction of Sixth Sense Opening Scene Camerawork, Transitions, Sound & Lighting Time
0.05 0.20 0.22

Device
Transition Close-up Asynchronous sound Obscured long-shot of woman with shallow depth-of-field

Detail
Fade in from black to slowly reveal lit light bulb.

Effect on Audience

0.24

0.43

Pedestal shot

0.54 0.58

Zoom Match-on-action (Motivated edit) Hard lighting (side lit) & Rule of Thirds

0.58

1.01

Motivated edit to a reverse angle shot

1.03

Low angle static shot

1.10

Cut-away to candles & warm colours.

1.10

Asynchronous sound

1.14

Framing & following tilt & focus-pull

Continuity from titles (not shown here) Suggests a type of location. Close-up of light bulb. Genre convention. Isolation. Idea. Lets us know that someone is Of cellar door opening. coming. Shallow DOF draws attention The shallow depth of field to the female character. means that only the woman is in Obscured shot from behind focus. Foreground & the wine rack suggests she is background are blurred. being watched or not alone. Of wine rack. Differs from tilt shot as the camera angle does Shows she is searching for not change; the whole camera something specific. moves. Draws attention to her On the womans face. unease. Draws the audience in to her thoughts. Seamless transition to As she turns to reveal medium long-shot Both the framing and lighting are used to emphasize the To produce shadows on the shadow; suggests she is not wall. alone. Shadows are used to connote ghostly spirits. Shows the audience that, although distracted by Following the eyeline of the something, she couldnt see character. What was she looking anything (but not necessarily at? What caught her attention? that there was nothing there) as Suggests that the audience is The camera doesnt move and observing. Maybe from the framing doesnt change to someone elses point-of-view. compensate for the movement Draws attention away from of the character towards the the character and towards the camera and up the stairs. camera position. Maintains use of shadows & ambient lighting, but addition of Moves audience to a safe, diegetic soft music contrasts warm, loving environment. with previous scene. Maintains continuity of time Use of sound perspective. Uses from previous scene. We distant footsteps (not seen) to know this scene immediately link the scenes. follows the previous. Introduces a new character New characters face is hidden. but waits until previous Shallow DOF at first, moving to character is in shot before deep DOF (everything in focus) revealing his face; suggests they are of equal importance.

1.56

Eyeline Match

Cuts to what the characters are looking at (the frame) The conversation continues without the need to cut. Maintains the slow and relaxed rhythm/pace of editing. He is sitting higher than his wife. Long shot of love scene, but stairs in the foreground. Cuts come thick & fast. Incident lighting (bathroom light) from the front maintains use of shadows. Reveals what Malcolm sees (broken window, etc) To cast a moving shadow. Towards the bathroom Towards the couple Single note, crescendo. Plays across cuts. We see what Malcolm sees. Malcolm in focus. Wife isnt. Revealing the intruder, from bottom to top Drone fades and gives way to atonal piano/strings (non- diegetic) Camera is no longer steady, even when static. Sound effect as intruder suddenly moves forward. Of his wife. Between wife & intruder Between Malcolm & intruder A single bass note on the word patients. Opposite direction of camera

2.05

Reflection

2.50 3.27 3.36 3.39 4.01 4.11 4.12 4.15 4.17 4.23 4.28 4.30 4.40 4.47 5.00 5.03 5.04-5.24 5.24 onwards 5.33 6.10-6.22

Mise-en-scene Framing & deep DOF Pace of editing increases Lighting Point-of-view shot Lighting & sound effect Eyeline Match Tracking Shot Introduction of drone (Soundtrack) POV shot Shallow DOF POV shot Soundtrack Handheld camerawork Soundtrack Reaction Shot Series of Shots / Reverse Shots Series of high/low angle shots Sound Camera Pans

Informs the audience. What are they looking at and talking about? Audience settles. Audience focussed on both the conversation and the object at the heart of that conversation at the same time. Representation : his authority and importance. Lets the audience now where this is going!! Things are getting exciting! They are getting excited! Lets the audience know that its not all love n candles! Changes the mood in real- time. Audience feel what Malcolm feels, as he feels it. Sound effect supports supernatural movement. They are not alone! Shows audience what they are looking at. Intensifies audiences appreciation of the couples emotions; brings audience into their personal space. Added tension. Puts audience at the heart of the action; awaiting reveal. Audience now focuses on Malcolm as he approaches door. It is his fate that is most important at this point. Phew, a person, not a spirit. Mood changes from potential shock/reveal moment to mystery/ intrigue. Adds to the levels of uncertainty & unpredictability. Reinforces the unpredictability of intruders intentions/movements. Reminds audience of her presence and reinforces the shock of intruders actions. Brings wife into the danger zone. Shifting of power/authority towards the intruder. The reveal! Brings the characters

pans for each character.

6.28

Reaction Shot

Of his wife

6.35

Silence

Music stops

7.00

Split Edit Tracking shot (towards darkness) Overhead shot Transition Use of title overlay

Camera cuts in the middle of Malcolms dialogue. As the intruder shoots himself As Malcolm lies shot on the bed. Slow fade to black & music The Next Fall

7.13 7.14 7.23 7.37

together emotionally. Brings their awareness into alignment (does that make sense?) Does she feel the shifting the power back to her husband as he realises whom the intruder is? The regaining of composure by Malcolm. Release of tension. Reintroduction of calm. To be contrasted when.. Shows the audience, the intruders reaction to Malcolms words; his failed attempts to appease. Audience know what has happened, but it isnt shown on screen. Puts the audience in a heavenly position; as Malcolm may be dying. End of an event or episode. Shows passage of time