Deconstructing a Film Opening

DECONSTRUCTING HANNA (shot by shot)

Shot:

1. Misty, grey, snowy, empty landscape. Panning.
2. Fade into second shot of snowy landscape, icy water with trees on horizon. Vignette edged, blurred.
3. Cut to medium wide shot of running water, snow. Swan is seen. Diegetic sounds of water running, no music/soundtrack.
4. Birds-eye view of an icy lake.
5. Shot of a baby arctic fox.
6. Cut to woody area. Panning across. Figure is seen in heavy furs holding a bow and arrow, poised. Camera pans across in front of tree - the figure has then vanished.
7. Panning across another place within woody area. Moose is seen walking.
8. Panning across opposite side again, figure is stood behind two thin trees.
9. Pans across on moose.
10. Close up panning on Hanna’s hiding place and her striking blue eye between the trunks.
11. Quick cut to her pull back her bow and arrow
12. Close up of the arrow firing. Can hear the arrow fly through the air.
13. Fleeting glimpse of moose’s eyes.
14. Close up of arrow impaling the moose’s body.
15. Quick, dramatic cut to moose’s startled eyes. It howls in pain.
16. Quick cut to moose running. Can hear its feet in the snow.
17. Cut to Hanna chasing after. Can hear her heavy breathing and feet in the snow.
18. Cut back to moose.
19. Shaky POV shot (of moose) - blurred trees. Vignette around edge.
20. Cut back to Hanna.
21. Wide shot of moose running into flat, snowy expanse of landscape.
22. Cut back to Hanna continuing to pursue it.
23. Medium close up shows the moose now walking.
24. Wide shot of moose struggling to continue. Noises of pain are heard.
25. Cut back to Hanna, still running.
26. Close up of moose’s head collapsing - is apparent its body has already fallen to the ground. Exhale of breathe is heard.
27. Extreme close up of rolled, bloodshot eye. Hanna can be seen in the reflection of the eyeball. Moose’s struggling breaths are heard.
28. Cut to close up of Hanna removing the arrow from the body. Another noise of pain.
29. Camera from below shows Hanna standing up above the moose, blocking out the sun. She looks down on us.
30. Medium close up. She pulls down the fabric covering her mouth. ‘I just missed your heart’, she says. Noises of pain can still be heard. She reveals a gun from below the shot. Points it straight at the camera - gun comes into focus. She shoots it - the shot is heard.
31. Cuts to ‘HANNA’ - white writing on bright red background.

What can we establish from a two-minute opening? 

• We are able to be introduced to the main characters - we are given an idea of their current situation and their motives. 
• The audience is able to start guessing and anticipating what is going to happen throughout the film from the information we are given; their may be foreshadowing, symbolism, flashbacks or a set up to give the audience ideas.
• A backstory may even be introduced - this gives further context and richness to the opening; drawing the audience in.
• A question/questions are posed to the audience to keep them guessing and building tension.
• We are clearly shown the style and tone of the film through the use of sound (absence/presence of soundtrack and the tone of this music), the chosen colour palette, the location and the speed of editing (fast paced/slow paced).