Section 2: Research into examples of comparable media products- The Silence of the Lambs Screening Notes

The simple and bold credits

Long shot of her doing obstical course

The opening of Silence in the lambs begins with images of trees and nature, the sounds of birds and peaceful noises. The credits begin straight away; they are in large bold lettering that is easy to read. The lettering is black with a simple white out line so it is straight to the point and clear. The setting is significant to the opening as it looks to be winter, it’s foggy and the trees are dead.  This has an eerie effect and spookier than if for example it was sunny. As the music become more intense, the introduction of the first character happens as a young girl is running through the forest. She is wearing grey sweats and is panting heavily. Her costume is a typical exercise outfit but I think is quite formal as it is pants and long sleeved jumper and they grey fits in with the dismal setting. The cinematography changes in parts, to a camera shot from behind to give the feel somebody is following her or stalking her. This gives a more insecure feeling to the audience as if something is going to happen. I find the setting isolated, and as she seems to be training for something she is in fact all alone, she seems determined and serious about it.

Her in her FBI training costume

We then find out she is training for the FBI the camera showing us the badge on her sweatshirt, this explains to the audience what she is doing and why. Her loud footsteps and heavy breathing create a strong rhythm and the shot of the sign saying ‘hurt, agony, pain’ I think relates to her determination and themes throughout the film. There is a musical crescendo to when another man of the FBI stops her rhythm and the first dialogue is about somebody wanting her. As she runs back to her work and office, she is again shown isolated as everyone else is training in groups, the wide shot of trainee’s shows this. She seems to have a fast paced lifestyle shown by her quick walking and shooting past people in corridors, it shows again her dedication to her job. She walks through a room full of guns and people cleaning them, which shows aspects of the job and the environment she is in. 

As we follow her reaching her destination, she has to enter a lift which represents the male domination of this job, as she is surrounded by men all taller and bigger than her. They are all in uniform and show she may be out of place here, it shows progression and that men seem to be higher up in a lot of jobs. However I think it shows her character to be a strong woman as she doesn’t look fazed by the men at all. Her isolation continues as she is still surrounded by men in suits as she exits the lift. Reaching Crawford’s office, you can immediately tell he is respected and high in the job, as his office shows this through all the different achievements he has on his walls. As she turns to look around the suspense and music build, the camera tracks in on her worried face. This is to make the audience question what is there, as they cannot see it yet. As the camera looks at the wall it is of disturbing photographs, of murders. I think this sets them up for more disturbing events to come and makes them realise what cases she may be involved in.