The Dark Knight - Laura

Camerawork

• Extreme long shot used to show the tops of skyscrapers in order to establish setting, stereopticon thriller scene as the dangerous heights create action. A  very high angle long shot is then used to show them on the zipwire, the high angle and the fast zoom looking down heightens the audience’s sense of fear  as we can see the ground.
• A low angle medium shot is used when the three clowns get out of the car, this low angle gives them a sense of superiority as they are the villains, and therefore makes the audience fear them along with the people inside the bank. Furthermore, the mid shot reinforces that they are holding guns therefore further showing they are the villains and that there will be forthcoming action  (below). 
• Long shots are used throughout the inside scene when they are robbing the bank to convey the action clearly. Further to this, they are running so it also builds the fast pace to convey the danger.
• Over the shoulder shot used where the first clown has his back to the second clown. Focus pulling is used on the first clown in order for the audience to feel sorry for him as he s about to be killed. This over the shoulder shot emphasises this betrayal as it puts them in the same view line, showing they were meant to be comrades, and this betrayal also further signifies that they are the villains.  
• A slow zoom into a close up of the clown mask is used (below). The shot originally gives us the normal outside setting, high key lighting is used to convey this real setting. This therefore intensifies the juxtaposition between the normal setting and the scary mask, conveying the upcoming danger. Furthermore, the lighting also puts the man holding the mask in silhouette, as well as having his back to us, therefore keeping up the concealment of identity even without the mask on.  

Mis en Scene

• Guns and explosions are part of the iconography for thrillers (http://latymermediathriller07michaelr.blogspot.com/2007/11/blog-post.html) as they convey that there will be violence and action; which are some of the aspects that keep you on edge and thrilled throughout the film: which is the aim of the genre. In this clip they are introduced to us within the first 15 seconds, as an indication that there will be action straight away.
• All of the character’s are also carrying big black bags, these represent the action that is happening, as they are stereotypical props for a bank heist or robbery
• Each villain is wearing a clown mask. This conceals their identity, creating a mystery about them and conveying that they are the villains. Also, clowns are feared in general, and these ones have scarier make-up, therefore purposefully provoking a fear in the audience, and also in order to drive the plot as they need to evoke a fear from the people in the bank as well. 
• Lighting is used in order to create the clowns as silhouettes. We see this when they are in the car, as the key light has been taken out, intensifying the background light making the clowns dark. This carries on with the theme of concealing their identity, along with creating a sinister atmosphere to make the audience scared (below).

• We also see high key lighting is used when one of the clowns goes to the main bank vestibule. These lights that are used are florescent in order to give the effect that this vestibule is especially important, as it is isolated within this room and the florescent lighting signifies that is especially secure.

Editing

• The pace of the cuts reflect the action and what is happening in the scene. A slow zoom is used in the beginning shot to therefore create slow suspense for the audience. Whereas when the heist is actually happening the cuts are fast paced in order to reflect the action, as we see they are running, and they must get this done in time before the police turn up.

Sound

• Slow music is used at the beginning shot when it is slowly zooming in on the skyscraper. It is one long note that gets louder as we get closer to the skyscraper. This creates suspense and tension for the viewer, as the increasing zoom and music make them worry that something will happen. Which it then does, when the window explodes, therefore the shock is intensified for the audience as they knew something bad was coming but didn’t know what. This slow zoom and music effect is also used when it zooms in to the close up of the clown mask. This therefore makes it seem even more sinister, as the music behind it almost makes it seem as if the features are coming alive, making what the audience is fearing come to life, and then we see it does when he puts it on.
• Quiet fast music is used in the background in the car scene, when they are sharing the dialogue about the ‘joker’. This therefore puts emphasis on this character that hasn’t been introduced yet, and so this sinister music gives us a sinister feeling towards this character.