Black Swan is a Drama, Mystery Thriller (2010) which is about a ballet who is given the lead role in 'Swan Lake' of the delicate White Swan (Princess Odette). However, she slowly loses her mind because she becomes more and more like Odile, the Black Swan.
In the two minute opening of the Black Swan we are firstly introduced to the institution company that made Black Swan, which in this case is Fox Searchlight Pictures. IT is always placed at the beginning to inform the audience that they played a role in the creation of this film. It is also helpful as they will most likely already have an established audience for creating other successful films within the Drama and/or Thriller genre, therefore attracting audience members to watch their newest creation.
After the institution company, we are then shown the company which helped and participated with the creation but also funding of the film along side Fox Searchlight Pictures. This is Cross Creek Pictures and although they helped majorly (which is why they are included in the credits) with the production they are most likely shown second because they might not have contributed or may not be as well known in comparison to Fox.
We are now given a second notice as audience members that Fox Searchlight and Cross Creek Pictures are the companies which created the film, reassuring them that if they enjoyed previous films similar to this they will most likely enjoy this film as well. In this part of the two minute opening, this is where we are firstly introduced to the music which is used. The song used, I believe is a song which even when first heard is easily associated with ballet. This enables the audience to want to watch the film as they are given a hint as to what the film is about even if they were not able to watch the trailer of the film.
The title then fades in from black and with the title of the film we hear a distant sound of laughter over the music. The title is placed in bold white font which shows a clear contrast against the black background. The bold font along with the black background could represent the strength and power, whereas the colour itself could connote purity and innocence. This will leave the audience questioning whether or not the film is going to involve good or evil as both are also suggested within the title. The distant laughter, does not last a long time but it is however, placed long enough to be noticed, as it stops abruptly just like the way it starts, the distant effect gives a sense of uncertainty as it raises questions such as 'Who is laughing?' or 'Why is the laughter so distant?' leaving them unable to jump to conclusions or scenarios in their head.
From the black background, the image of a girl dressed in white and is dancing gradually fades in. She is presented dancing alone in a dark room, which makes it easier for her to stand out against the black surrounding her. Similarly, as suggested before, there is quite a bit of contrast in this shot. This is because the girl is dancing, what appears to be ballet which although requires a lot of strength is seen as the innocent dance connoting purity and vulnerability. There is a spotlight, shining on the girl which is lighting up the room, this helps bring a mysterious element to the film. The strength of characters dance however, could foreshadow her power or possibly the evil within her. The female character is shown in a long shot and her expressions are not clearly shown as I believe the intentions were for the audience to understand that sound or dialogue is not needed as it was quite a powerful seen either way due to the passion within the dancing.
From a loose frame, we are then shown a close up of the ballet dancer's feet. This shot mainly shows, the elegance and control within every dance step she makes. These again may possibly appeal to certain female stereotypes as she is shown in a very feminine and vulnerable way. However, the stereotypes are also challenged because although she is shown as vulnerable also has a lot of control over what she is doing.
This high angled shot of the dancer portrays her as vulnerable, mainly because she is being looked down upon by the audience members. Being seated on the floor suggests that she is perhaps weak and helpless not being able to defend herself if she was in a compromising or dangerous position. Other than the audience members, this could suggest that someone else is looking down at her. The shot then slightly zooms in closer to her connoting that this shot may be in fact a point of view shot and we as an audience are looking down at her. This is effective as it makes the audience feel as if they are a part of the scenario.
As the opening two minutes of the Black Swan come to an end, a man dressed in very dark clothing approaches the female character from behind as she appears unaware of his presence, calmly yet elegantly sitting on the floor. The male character is portrayed with power and strength as he walks confidently, leading his body with his chest. The dark clothing he is wearing suggests that he is perhaps an evil character. As he comes from the dark, barely visible at first glance, this creates an air of mystery around him as it isn't completely clear to audience members where he came from. This is very effective as it leaves the audience worried, of what might happen as she is continuously unaware of his presence and he could even harm her without her being able to effectively react. This scene again appeals to the stereotypes of a male character and conforms those of a female one as it suggests that the male character in this case is in control and has a lot more power in comparison to the female character.
In the two minute opening of the Black Swan we are firstly introduced to the institution company that made Black Swan, which in this case is Fox Searchlight Pictures. IT is always placed at the beginning to inform the audience that they played a role in the creation of this film. It is also helpful as they will most likely already have an established audience for creating other successful films within the Drama and/or Thriller genre, therefore attracting audience members to watch their newest creation. We are now given a second notice as audience members that Fox Searchlight and Cross Creek Pictures are the companies which created the film, reassuring them that if they enjoyed previous films similar to this they will most likely enjoy this film as well. In this part of the two minute opening, this is where we are firstly introduced to the music which is used. The song used, I believe is a song which even when first heard is easily associated with ballet. This enables the audience to want to watch the film as they are given a hint as to what the film is about even if they were not able to watch the trailer of the film.
From the black background, the image of a girl dressed in white and is dancing gradually fades in. She is presented dancing alone in a dark room, which makes it easier for her to stand out against the black surrounding her. Similarly, as suggested before, there is quite a bit of contrast in this shot. This is because the girl is dancing, what appears to be ballet which although requires a lot of strength is seen as the innocent dance connoting purity and vulnerability. There is a spotlight, shining on the girl which is lighting up the room, this helps bring a mysterious element to the film. The strength of characters dance however, could foreshadow her power or possibly the evil within her. The female character is shown in a long shot and her expressions are not clearly shown as I believe the intentions were for the audience to understand that sound or dialogue is not needed as it was quite a powerful seen either way due to the passion within the dancing. From a loose frame, we are then shown a close up of the ballet dancer's feet. This shot mainly shows, the elegance and control within every dance step she makes. These again may possibly appeal to certain female stereotypes as she is shown in a very feminine and vulnerable way. However, the stereotypes are also challenged because although she is shown as vulnerable also has a lot of control over what she is doing. This high angled shot of the dancer portrays her as vulnerable, mainly because she is being looked down upon by the audience members. Being seated on the floor suggests that she is perhaps weak and helpless not being able to defend herself if she was in a compromising or dangerous position. Other than the audience members, this could suggest that someone else is looking down at her. The shot then slightly zooms in closer to her connoting that this shot may be in fact a point of view shot and we as an audience are looking down at her. This is effective as it makes the audience feel as if they are a part of the scenario. As the opening two minutes of the Black Swan come to an end, a man dressed in very dark clothing approaches the female character from behind as she appears unaware of his presence, calmly yet elegantly sitting on the floor. The male character is portrayed with power and strength as he walks confidently, leading his body with his chest. The dark clothing he is wearing suggests that he is perhaps an evil character. As he comes from the dark, barely visible at first glance, this creates an air of mystery around him as it isn't completely clear to audience members where he came from. This is very effective as it leaves the audience worried, of what might happen as she is continuously unaware of his presence and he could even harm her without her being able to effectively react. This scene again appeals to the stereotypes of a male character and conforms those of a female one as it suggests that the male character in this case is in control and has a lot more power in comparison to the female character. 
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