Black Swan Extract.

Within this extract there are many elements which connote to the conventions of a psychological thriller. The sequence begins with a dream sequence which immediately displays a sense of inner unbalanced within the lead protagonist’s mind. The low key lighting and spot light also connote to the dream like atmosphere as it just focuses on the protagonist and what they are doing. The use of a secondary dancer which appears on screen during the dream sequence, dressed in black and mainly framed in over the shoulder and mid shots creates an enigmatic atmosphere to the scene as we never see the face of this character.

It also displays a contrast between the protagonist and the new character, this can also connote to the convention of a psychological thriller of the main protagonist not being able to differentiate between what is reality and was isn't, as the protagonist is dressed in all white and light colours whereas the other character is dressed in all black displaying the good and the bad that the protagonist is struggling with positive and negative thoughts in their head. It can also display a split personality of the protagonist which also connotes to the convention that the characters in psychological thriller that the protagonist has an inner conflict of themselves that they are trying to fight.

This image of good and bad is also portrayed in the real world where the protagonist lives through herself and her mother. She wears white and pinks, symbolic of innocence and child like elements, similar to what she was wearing in the dream sequence and her mother is wearing mainly black clothing, similar to the other dancer shown in the protagonist’s dream. Therefore this displays the uncertainty the protagonist has between reality and not reality as certain aspects and elements from the dream sequence flow into reality.

The way the protagonist speaks in an almost childlike tone also connotes to the conventions of a psychological thriller as it’s almost as if she is not developed or does not take thing seriously. The use of the diegetic noise of her toes clicking when she wakes up gives the sequence an eerie feeling to it as this sound is enhanced and magnified, meaning the audience would too feel uneasy because of this sound.

The use of the voyeuristic shot of the protagonist looking at another dancer who is clearly portrayed as the protagonists doppelganger as she is dressed in dark colours like the dream dancer and the protagonist’s mother which also connotes to the thin line between reality and thoughts that the protagonists in psychological thrillers tend to display to the audience.

The use of mirrors throughout the sequence also connotes to the typical conventions of a psychological thriller. The majority of the shots used which involve mirrors are close up and over the shoulder shots as these do not allow the audience to see the dancers’ faces directly but only in the reflections of the mirrors. This alongside high key and natural lighting shows the audience that this section of the sequence is in the reality that the protagonist lives in. Therefore the use of mirrors also connotes to the conventions of a psychological thriller as its showing the difference between reality and not reality through the reflection of the mirrors.

Corrections are in italics.

Teacher's Comments.

A thoughtful analysis throughout with film language embedded well

Target - Do develop ideas by considering the impact on the audience and symbolism.

To improve I need to expand my examples and involve more points to do with the effect the elements in the sequence have on the audience and the symbolism they contain.