H.C. Technical analysis of the opening sequence of 'Ghost Ship' (Beck, 2002)

Camera	Duration	Mise en scene	Camera effect
Mid shot	0.00 - 0.04	Character blocking is the most prominent theme of mise en scene exploited in this shot. The girl is placed in the right hand third of the shot, with a hand out stretched opposite her. The backing track of a band and singer sets the tone, depicting a dance floor.	This mid shot establishes the girl as the narrative of this opening scene.
Mid close up	0.04 - 0.06	Again, character blocking is exploited showing the girl this time, dancing in the crowd with the character that held out the hand for her. Her facial expression, smiling, connotes a sweet innocent scene, and a sense of the calm before the storm.	The mid close up helps to confirm the girl as the lead in the narrative, she is instantly exposed again.
Mid close up	0.06 - 0.09	In this shot, the framing switches to focus on the man the girl is dancing with. Both characters still appear to be in the crowd on the dance floor. This again creates a sense of false security, as it appears to be an innocent scene.	Both characters are in shot and appear in the centre of the dancefloor, crowded by people. This helps to confirm their importance in the narrative.
Mid close up	0.09 - 0.11	This shot switches back to the girl, to create a false sense of security, as the girl's facial expression connotes sweetness and innocence.	The combination of all of these shots in parallel, in quick succession, suggests to the audience the significance of the girl in this scene.
Extreme Long shot/ pan	0.11 - 0.16	In this shot, the setting for the sequence is shown. The attention is drawn to the top of the boat to the dancefloor, where the lighting is most prominent.	This camera technique shows the audience where this sequence is taking place, setting the narrative for not only this scene, but the film as well.
Mid close up	0.16 - 0.18	The key aspect of mise en scene used here is the use of props and character exposition, or lack of. The shot shows a hand lifting a lever. This initialises a sense of foreboding, as the lack of identity to the hand creates mystique.	This shot is used to change the tone of the narrative.
Sweeping pan	0.18 - 0.23	The most significant development in this shot is the change in sound. High pitched strings are added in the soundtrack to add tension, as the drum begins to wind in the length of wire, connoting a sense of foreboding.	The sweep is effective as it develops the narrative, showing the action unfolding.
Mid long shot	0.23 - 0.25	In this shot of the singer, the sound of her voice becomes less prominent compared to the building sound of the strings, further developing tension.	This creates a sense of foreboding, as the innocent scene is taken over by the tension of something that is a bout to happen.
Long shot	0.25 - 0.26	Character blocking is used to show the number of people in the line of fire. Combined with the increasing volume of the strings, this builds tension in the sequence.	The sense of foreboding is further developed in this sequence, as the large number of vulnerable characters are shown to the audience.
Sweeping pan	0.26 - 0.28	The wire and its construction is shown to present the sense of forboding. The strings are again intensified, as the murder device is shown.	This technique reveals to the audience the what is about to happen.
Close up	0.28 - 0.29	The girl's facial expression shows her content, again creating a sense of foreboding, as the audience can sense the scene is about to take a dark turn.	This positions the audience with the girl, but we know what is about to happen.
Mid shot	0.29 - 0.31	This cut back to the singer mirrors the effect in the previous shot, building the sense of foreboding as the party on the boat are unaware of the impending doom.	The effect is roughly the same as the previous shot, as the audience are aware of the situation unfolding.
Pan right	0.31 - 0.34	The audience are shown the position of the party on the dancefloor in relation to the wire.	Again, with the fast cutting pace of this sequence, this shot builds tension through the identification of doom.
Mid close up	0.34 - 0.35	The girl is shown again with a smile on her face, dancing with the gentleman.	This is another shot designed to intensify the sense of foreboding.
Long shot	0.35 - 0.39	The party are shown in full, and then blurred, bringing the wire into focus.	This elevates the tension in scene, hinting at the eventual death of the passengers.
Mid shot	0.39 - 0.40	The singer is again shown in shot, her voice is very low compared to the sound of the strings.	With the fast cuttng pace of the sequence and these series of shots, the tension is elevated as the audience is aware of the impending doom of the party.
Close up	0.40 - 0.41	The girl's expression is again exposed conveying the innocence of the scene in contrast with the inevitable horror.	This reaction shot is used in the montage to deepen the tension in the sequence.
Reverse mid shot	0.41 - 0.42	The whole party is shown out of focus, as the singer is given prevelance in shot. The audiences attention is drawn still by the sound of the strings.	This very rapid cut builds the monatge sequnce.
Close up	0.42 - 0.43	The drum which holds the wire is shown spinning faster and faster as the wire is coiled up.	This turn of speed builds the pace in the narrative.
Mid shot	0.43 - 0.44	The singer is shown with focus on her task, but she is unaware of the wire being pulled tight.	The technique further develops the sense of foreboding.
Extreme close up	0.44 - 0.45	This shot shows the drum placed in the bottom right third of the shot, as the wire is reeled in in the background.	This technique futher elevates the tension as the inevitable end to the party draws closer.
Mid close up	0.45 - 0.46	The singer is exposed again, in the middle of the shot, with her focus firmly on singing.	Foreboding.
Close up / Close up / Close up	0.46 - 0.47	In this time sequence, a close up of the barrel cuts to another angled close up of the barrel and finally to a close up of the wire snapping a joint.	This ends the build up montage sequence, signifying to the audience the change in the narrative.
Close up / Long shot	0.47 - 0.49	The lights connected to the wire break off and they explode.	This symbolises the change in the narrative, whilst maintaining the rapid pace at which the drama is unfolding.
Close up	0.49 - 0.50	The tops of the flowers are sythed.	Infers to the audience what is now about to happen to the passengers.
Close up	0.51	The gentlman turns his head, as his attention is grabbed by the sound of the commotion taking place.	This makes the audience aware that the passengers are aware of what is going on.
Montage sequence	0.51 - 0.55	The wire is shown first upending a table and chairs and then making its way through all of the party on the dancefloor.	The makes the audience aware of the sinister nature of the horror in the genre.
Close up	0.55 - 0.58	The wire is placed in focus, stained with the blood of the passengers.	The deliberate exposition of blood is used to make the audience realise the horror of what has just taken place.
Panning reaction shot.	0.58 - 1.01	The party on the dancefloor stands in dead silence. only the twang og the wire is heard.	This silent shot leaves the audience in confusion over what has happened, as there is a level of disbelief.
Long shot.	1.01 - 1.04	The wire and flowers are shown in focus, with the stunned party out of focus in the background.	This again creates a sense of confusion.
Panning reaction shot	1.04 - 1.06	Further reactions from the passengers are shown, each with a stunned look.	This silent shot leaves the audience in confusion over what has happened, as there is a level of disbelief.
Close up	1.06 - 1.08	This close up shows the blood stained wire and reel.	This shot provides the audience with confirmation, as the amount of blood shown is undeniable to the horror.
Panning reaction shot	1.08 - 1.10	More reactions from the passengers are given through facial expression and body language.	The characters appear confused, but the audience is now clear over what has happened through the positioning of the cuts.
Close up	1.10  -1.14	The barrel which reels in the wire settles, stained with blood.	Provides further confirmation to the audience that the wire has just cut through the passengers.
Close up	1.14 - 1.16	A close up with a pair of shoes and blood running onto the floor.	Provides confirmation to the audience that the wire has sliced through the boat passengers and begins the next sequence depicting the aftermath.
Mid shot	1.16 - 1.18	The young girl is shown with her arms clasped around the gentleman.	This shows to the audience the trauma of this sudden occurence, as it is as if time has stopped, as the girl is dead still, unable to take in the horror.
Close up	1.18 - 1.20	The top of a champagne glass topples over.	Connotes to the audience the power with which the wire cut through the bodies.
Mid shot	1.20 - 1.21	We are shown a man's reaction.	This opens the next sequence of the scene, showing the aftermath.
Close up	1.21 - 1.22	The man's arm falls away.	Shows graphic horror.
Mid shot	1.22 - 1.24	The young girl clasps her arms around the man, as the rest of the party begin to fall to the ground.	This shows the audience the character they have identified with, giving them
Low angle	1.24 - 1.27	A man's clothes fall away and blood pours from his chest.	Exposes the graphic horror in the scene.
Low angle/mid shot	1.27 - 1.28	A couple collapse on each other.	Shows the audience graphic horror.
Mid shot	1.28 - 1.29	The girl is shown again, still clasping the gentleman, with the rest of the party falling to the floor around them.	This shows the girl's reaction.
Close up	1.29 - 1.31	A man's upper body falls on top of another dismembered body.	This shows graphic horror, in detail.
Two mid shots	1.31 - 1.33	Two couples' bodies are shown falling to the ground, as their torsos come apart.	Graphic horror is conveyed to the audience.
Mid shot	1.33 - 1.35	The girl is again shown, this time looking around her at the bodies falling to the ground.	This plays wih the audiences emotions, as we are given the girl's reaction.
Mid / long shot	1.35 - 1.39	The top half of a man scrabbles around on the floor, trying to get up.	This positions the audience with the man, as we try to empathise with the horror of the situation.
Mid shot	1.39 - 1.41	A woman groans and attempts to hold onto the bottom half of her body.	This is designed to make the audience recoil in disgust at the gorry horror on screen.
Mid close up	1.42 - 1.45	An out-stretched arm falls to the floor and blood runs from a man's mouth.	The blood has been used in an attempt to chill the audience.
Long shot	1.45 - 1.48	The girl and the man are standing in the centre of the dancefloor, with the rest of the dismembered party littered about them on the floor.	This shot conveys the scale of tragedy, again designed to make the audience attempt to empathise with the young girl, as she is left facing this horror.
Over the shoulder/ high angle shot	1.49 - 1.50	The girl looks up at the man.	Here, the audience, like the girl are searching for reassurance given the horror that has just taken place.
Low angle shot	1.50 - 1.51	The man is looking down at the girl, with an astonished look on his face, his head with a sythed mark through it.	The sweeps away the audiences hopes for any form of relief from the horror, leaving only despair.
Over the shoulder/ High angle shot	1.51 - 1.53	The girl gasps, standing open mouthed at the man in front of her.	Here the audience are shown that the girl is the only survivor, establishing the main character in the narrative at this point.
Low angle shot	1.53 - 1.55	Blood pours from the slice in the man's head, and the top half of his skull tumbles off.	This shows graphic horror.
High angle shot	1.55 - 1.56	The girl backs away, astonished and whimpering.	The sound of the girl panting is used to provide emphasis on the unnatural shock.
Close up shot	1.56 - 1.58	The man's body topples over and crashes to the floor.	The body falling away and the eerie silence as it moves conveys the supernatural element of this film.
Mid close up shot	1.58 - 2.03	The girl pants heavily, still backing away from the body and then lets out a loud, high pitched scream.	The scream is designed to chill the audience, as it is an action that we are able to empathise with.
Extreme long shot / lower camera	2.03 - 2.07	The whole of the boat is shown with the sound of the girl's scream. The camera then moves down into the sea, ending the opening.	This shows the audience that the girl is now isolated, perfetly setting up the narrative to present to the audience what exactly happened.