Analysing 'The Birds' Scene

How many shots are there?
17 shots were used


Where was the camera positioned for each shot?
1st shot - Long Shot
2nd shot - Mid Shot
3rd shot - Medium Long Shot (tracking)
4th shot - Low angle Mid Shot turning into a Long Shot as she walks
5th, 6th shot - Mid Shot
7th shot - Medium Close-Up
8th shot - Wide Shot
9th,10th,11th shot - Medium Close-Up
12th shot - High Angle, Wide Shot
13th shot - Medium Shot
14th shot - Close-Up
15th shot - Long shot turning into a Medium Long Shot
16th - Long shot turning into a Low Angle, Close-up

1. What principles of continuity are used here? How successfully? Refer to specific shots / screen grabs.
The continuity is quite successful in this scene as it flows fluently. Examples of this is when the lady looks from the kitchen into the hallway. The first shot is taken from the side of the character looking into the hallway from the kitchen. The second shot is taken from the hallway of the character looking in. The shot creates apprehension and suspense, keeping the audience feeling tense.

2. What is the effect of the editing on the viewer? What are we meant to feel at different stages?
The editing helps to keep the viewer attention and focus on the film. This has been done in many ways in the sequence. When she first knocks on the door no one opens the door. The door then appears to be open which is quite suspicious and gives the viewer a hint that something omnious may be in store. Once the character has entered the house, we come to learn that the glasses are broken which create even more tension and dubiosity. We also see the character moving quite slowly and cautiously, which creates even more apprehension. When the lady enters one of the rooms, we see that the room has been wrecked, everything has been torn up. In this part of the sequence there are 10 shots. In every other shot, we are shown the characters reaction. The viewer is able to experience the characters emotions in a way. The sequence does not use any music, which builds up tension as the audience does not have any clue on what is going to happen next.

3. What is the 'best bit' for you in this sequence in terms of learning new techniques and why?
I felt the best part of the sequence was when she entered the room, and saw how it had been destroyed and torn up. The camera shots enabled us to get a reaction from the character while the frame slowly uncovers the mess that has been made, and of the man covered in blood. This part of the sequence flowed really smoothly.