Paranormal Activity 3

Paranormal Activity 3

Sound

• Within the scene, there is no non-diegetic sound overlay. Instead, the majority of the scene is in silence which contributes towards creating an eerie atmosphere, also making the sounds that do follow, more pronounced and emphasised in comparison.
• The silence also adds to the intended realism, re-enforcing that the footage is being filmed by the characters within the plot and so the audience is expected to view it just as they would, to develop the same sense of intense fear.
• However, as the supernatural activity begins, it is introduced using a diegetic high frequency buzzing that rises and falls, representing something unnatural occuring and creating unease.
•  Even the dialogue between the two characters onscreen is quiet and in hushed tones as to make the corresponding sounds louder.
• In terms of producing the scene, silence and lack of non-diegetic overlay would be beneficial for us to adopt a similar approach as it would enable us to produce effective sound with a low budget and little time needed for sound editing.

Camera

•  To manipulate the naturalistic approach within the film, this scene is filmed from the same angle entirely to act as a home video but also, a wide, full shot is used to show the scale of the large room and it's high ceilings in comparison to the two small girls, making them appear much smaller despite the youngest girl seemingly having most influence over 'Toby'.
• In terms of creating a scene with this camera shot, it would be easier to shoot than perhaps track filming but unless it corresponds with the plot, could end up being boring and reduce the desired frantic atmosphere.

 Editing

• Apart from the special effects are used to create the movement beneath the bedsheets and to pull the items across the room and the parallel editing between bedrooms, there is little editing to re-enforce the intended natural location of the supernatural events.
• The special effects used are very effective but could not be achieved by us, as with a low budget, attempts at similar effects would be very obvious and could possibly be noticabble enough to ruin the scene itself.

Lighting

• Although both rooms used in the scene are supposed to be in darkness due to the scene being during night time, artificial blue light is directed down upon the beds in both scenes, highlighting the characters presence and their importance in the scene, as in the young children's bedroom, the audience is required to focus on that section of the bedroom to notice the small events that lead up to the child being dragged from her bed. 

Mise En Scene

• The sloped ceilings of the children's bedroom are included in the shot to add to the anxiety, the diagonals representing that something is wrong, foreshadowing the unnatural events to follow.
•  The two girls are both dressed in white to emphasise their innocence and also the importance of their young age, showing them as victims and being vulnerable.
• The framing is lose to allow frequent movement around the room, also to make the girls appear smaller in comparison and to show that the young girls are not trapped as the youngest has control over the supernatural.
• The youngest girl's power despite age and size is also manipulated by placing her bed furthest from the camera, representing she is the smallest character involved.
• Night-time and darkness to convey that everything should be at rest in contrast to the panic in reality, conforming to the horror genre conventions.
• Set in a house, the location is less remote than expected of the genre, subverting the conventions but also, making it easy to replicate in terms of creating a similar opening. The unusual use of setting is effective within the film as it is purposely naturalistic.