One of the main ways James Cameron engages the
audience in the film ‘Aliens’, is through sound. In the opening sequence,
Cameron tends to use a lot of climatic orchestral music, which is quite
contrapuntal to the futuristic images on screen. This creates quite an ominous
and exciting atmosphere and also compliments the sci-fi genre of the film. Cameron
also uses a number of diegetic mechanical noises, for example the bleeping
noises on the computer screen, within the scene. This has the effect of being
more realistic as well as making the audience feel more included in the scene,
as if they are actually in it and can hear everything. It also gives an idea of
setting as the noises of the computer and the sounds of scanning etc. makes the
setting seem very futuristic and helps the audience believe that it is a
spaceship. Towards the end of the opening sequence, Cameron also emphasizes and
focuses on the sound of the characters breathing – this makes the audience feel
quite uncomfortable and makes them feel quite up close to the characters. Also,
before the dialogue, the sound can be seen as quite threatening and so warns
the audience that there may be danger. However, when the dialogue cuts in, the audience
feels more safe and secure and also allows the characters to begin to be
introduced to the audience.
Another main way Cameron engages the
audience is through lighting. In the very first shot, the lighting is blue
which has the effect of making everything look very cold and clinical, forcing
the audience to believe that this new world that has been created is quite a
cruel and dangerous world. In the first shot actually inside the spaceship,
Cameron decided to use little lighting and only on one side which causes the
whole set to be in shadows, making the set look very dark and uninhabited
resulting in the audience feeling nervous. Cameron also chooses to cover some
of the set in an icy dust, which reflects the light, attracting the attention
of the audience and also inviting them to the idea that the ship is very old. The
little lighting also creates quite a mysterious feel in the shot of a sleeping
character as she is still in shadow so it creates an uncertainty of who she is.
Another way he uses light to engage the audience is through creating
silhouettes. This is achieved very successfully in one part of the opening
scene where, by using a strong white back light, he creates a very strong
silhouette of a robotic creature. This alerts the audience that something is
coming before they even see it producing quite a sinister and dangerous feel.
There is little use of graphics within the
opening scene apart from in the credits, which are also important in engaging the
audience. The ‘ALIENS’ title is created with very cold blue lighting, which can
be quite intense for the audience and so immediately engages them and pulls
them into the film. The white credits also stand out very boldly against the
black background and so catch the audience’s eye and draw them in.
The most important way Cameron engages the audience
is through camera shots and angles. At the beginning of the opening sequence he
uses a number of wide shots to show the setting of the scene. This is extremely
important, especially as the film is futuristic as it allows the audience to
become familiar with the setting and era of the film. He also uses a very long
panning shot when we first see inside the spacecraft which engages the audience
by making them quite nervous at what could be hidden in the set but also allows
them to really get a feel of the place that the film has led them to. These
types of panning shots also give the audience the feel as if they are scanning
the ship like the robots and so makes them feel more part of the film and more
in touch with the futuristic/sci fi feel. Another point at which a wide shot
that is used is important is when the silhouettes of the robots are coming up
to the door. This zoom shot allows the audience to see everything that is
happening while still keeping an air of mystery and allowing the tension to be
drawn out. Cameron also uses a number of extreme close up shots of the sleeping
figures face. This makes the audience feel quite uncomfortable but also reveals
to them that this character is extremely important and so familiarizes her face
to them.
W.H
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