Michael Jackson's "Beat It" - Opening Sequence Analysis
The opening sequence of Michael Jackson’s video for Beat It immediately sets the tone for how the rest of the video will play out by introducing the viewer to the story at hand. As there is no music in the opening sequence, the viewer focuses purely on diegetic noise and the characters within the frame. The camera is closest to a man sitting at a diner bar; he takes up most of the frame in the medium close up. The camera is also level with him and the rest of the diner patrons, so his level of power or influence is ambiguous. The viewer is not immediately sure what to make of the man at the bar, due to his indistinguishable features and the dim lighting. A low or high angle shot would have signaled if he is in a position of power or is actually powerless. Another bar patron emerges from the background and makes his way to the main figure. As he approaches, he adjusts a wide brimmed hat low over his face so the viewer never gets a clear look. The masked figure heightens the level of uncertainty the viewer feels in this desolate diner as he taps the main figure on the shoulder and the two begin to leave. As they exit, this is the first time the camera is mobile. The new framing signals who is really in charge, as the masked figure begins to take up most of the frame as the two men approach the exit door. The closer the two men get, the more the viewer can see of their clothing, triggering a response from the viewer through mise en scene. Who are they and what are they up to? Jackson spends the rest of the video answering these questions.
