The Shining Opening sequence Camera Shots

By Laura Hartnett

Establishing shot LS, shows the main character walking towards the room. Shows the surroundings in the shot. A Pan is used in this shot, as the camera follows the character towards the door.

MLS- Showing the character walking into the room, where the interview takes place. In this shot, the camera is totally focused on Jack Torrance the main character as the director wants the audience to be focused on him.

Master shot, showing the character walking through the doorway to the interviewer.

Medium long shot, showing the main character and interviewer meeting.

Profile 3 shot, showing three characters the director has chosen this camera shot to show both characters so when they meet you can see both reactions.

3- shot, the director is showing the main character sitting down and the interviewer about to sit down and talk to him.

Once the female character leaves, there is a fade out. LS of the hotel.

OTS two shot, the main character meeting the hotel tour guide, throughout this shot there is no close ups or extreme close ups, the shot is very still to keep the audience relaxed.

OTS two shot where two characters are sitting, the director has chosen this shot to show Jack Torrance and the tour guide reactions to the questions asked from the interviewer.

OTS shot of the interviewer from behind these two characters, the director has switched the camera over to this side of the setting so the audience can see the interviewer’s reaction.

CU shot of the interviewer, throughout the scene there are no two-shots or extreme close ups this keeps the audience relaxed so when an unexpected horror scene occurs the audience will become more tense. Kubrick has made no soft music in the background or background noise happening, which makes the scene seem harmless and makes the audience feel at ease.

CU shot of the main character Jack Torrance, the shot is again very still, so sign of built up close ups or unexpected music, this makes the character seem trustworthy and the audience is relaxed by the characters presence.

CU again of the interviewer, although we see the character with the camera slightly at an angle to the left, the director does not want any extreme build up with camera shots this early in the film. He is trying to keep the audience calm because this is the start of the film, and according to Todorov’s narrative theory they have not reached the disruption to the equilibrium.

Another medium shot of Jack Torrance, at this point he has heard about the tragedy that happened to the last family that stayed in the hotel, and there is a slight build up of a close up, to keep the audience interested, because the audience wants to know his reaction to this.

MS of the tour guide , again this shot is very silent, no background noise and it makes the audience feel like this character is judging Jack Torrance’s character, judging him on whether they should allow him to rent out the hotel, to make sure he doesn't seem suspicious, as they don't want him to repeat the last caretakers intentions.

Final MS of the interviewer showing his final question to the main character.

Another MS of the main character, after this shot it is the end of the scene, which ends in a fade out.