Analysis of the 'Blair Witch Project'

We have used other films to get an idea for our title sequence. One of these films was the Blair Witch Project. The opening title sequence of this isn't really relevant to our project, however some scenes are.

From 1:08-1:24.



These are the running scenes shown in the trailer. We have based our title sequence on this because of the tension. We liked the shaky cam effect and that you couldn't see their face; that just their back as they ran away from whatever was chasing them. It creates a bit of tension for the audience because it appears as if they are closer to the scary thing than the actors on screen. We liked the idea of teenagers camping in the woods and that something scares them. It could of turned out to be really cheesy, but I don't think the Blair Witch Project is, nor our title sequence.

The lighting is also quite good in these shots because they are at dusk and night fall, which is scarier because the audience can't see as much as broad daylight.

The atmosphere of this trailer is disconcerting and ominous. Quite mysterious really. The scene where Heather is talking into the camera, making her apology to her parents etc, from 1:26-1:34, is good as it adds to the ominous feel of the film. She is saying goodbye basically, so there is clearly obviously something wrong and she is scared she will die. This is implicit in the footage but does make the audience feel uncomfortable and slightly scared for her, a feel which i think would be good to add into our title sequence. This makes the audience feel uneasy and want to help her, want her to be ok, because she is pleading for help directly to the camera.

The diegetic sound heard in these shots is the heavy breathing of the people running and the rustling of the bushes and trees as they run through. The non-diegetic sound isn't played with clips, it is just a steady pounding of one drum, when title sequences are coming up onto the screen. This makes the audience more aware of the clips being played because the attention is put back on the sound in those clips. The pounding of the drum creates a steady beat and creates a bit of anxiety for the audience.

The mise-en-scene changes in every scene. From running away into the forest, to half of the frame being filled with her face. This is strange for the audience because it is such a contrast in framing and zoom, which changes the perspective to the audience.

The editing is quite fast and goes from person to person in an interview like manner and talking about the Blair Witch, and the folklore on it. Then it cuts to the forest where they are arguing and running away and crying into the camera and the audience knows something bad will happen to them in the forest, creating tension. The fast editing is even more disconcerting because it happens fast.