Analysing the scary scene in "The Birds"

•  How many shots are there?
• There are 18 shots.

• Where was the camera positioned for each shot?
• Establishing shot
• Mid shot
• Long shot
• Low angle, mid shot
• Mid shot
• Mid shot
• Close up
• Mid close up
• Mid shot
• Medium close up
• Close up
• Close up
• Long shot
• Mid shot
• Close up(mid)
• Long shot
• Low angle close up
  

What principles of continuity are used here?

The principle of continuity is used at the start when she opens the door (mid shot) and then it turns into a medium long shot as soon as she gets inside the house.  The next scene where they have used continuity is where the women walks into the room with the dead man where it goes from mid shot (showing a medium shot of the room) and then a close of the characters face so the audience got a clear view of her reaction to the situation. This allows the audience to get involved and follow her through the journey.

What is the effect of the editing on the viewer?

This allows the audience to get involved which is likely to have more of an effect on the audience rather than just telling the story. This keeps the audience drawn in and interested as it is more realistic. By using a point of view shot, it allowed the audience to put themselves in the characters shoes as both herself and the audience are not aware of what has happened. The movements of the camera such as when they zoomed into the dead man helped emphasize and feel what the lady must of felt.


What is the best bit for you in this sequence in terms of learning new techniques and why?

When the women witnesses the death of the man, the movement of the camera and techniques allowed us an audience feel her every step and get involved. The mid shot to a close up really created suspense and made the clip so much more upbeat then it would have been without the camera techniques and the editing.