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Question 1 by Kayla Lockington

Preliminary task 1 final copy

Bourne Identity

Bourne Identity

Discuss the ways in which the extract constructs meaning through the following:
camera shots, angles, movement and composition
editing
sound
mise-en-scene

This extract expresses the overall class and status of our main character straight away. We see Bourne walking around in what appears to be a docking/habour type area. This may imply that he is not in a place of wealth but instead a place of lower class or that he may be looking for something he has not yet found, i.e. his identity which we are later shown. Non diegetic music is playing during the opening scene in the extract. It is a symphonic blend of different ones which helps to build the tension and sense of mystery which is ironic since his personality is a mystery to himself.

During the first scene Bourne is seen to be walking with a red jacket acting as a symbol of how danger may come and that the red is him walking into his future/the unknown. The camera does a slow zoom in onto his face revealing a puzzled/confused look leaving the audience in wonder of what is about to happen. He is then shown to be walking through the streets lined with middle class houses adding to the normality in which this scene has been laid out. As we are shown the back of our main character we can see him walking off in a steady pace until he slowly disappears behind what appears to be the shoulders of walking pedestrians. This can fall under editing as the shot has been cut in order to show Bourne then a couple seconds later he disappears.

Diegetic sounds of seagulls and the murmur of voices can be heard above the music, this has been done intentionally to keep the audience in clue with what is going on around Bourne. An aerial tracking shot is used to follow along with the train as well as the car driving alongside on the road, immersing the audience with the movement on screen creating the effect that they are on the move with our character. The camera is then placed inside the train and we are shown a shot of Bourne Staring into his own reflection as if he does not recognise the person staring back at them. This acts as an indicator to the audience that not only does he not remember his past but here he does not remember who he is as a person. Read seat liners a place behind them on the headrest this is a symbolic colour as it is representing his future and what is to become of it here staring into the reflection looking at himself no correlation with the fact that this is his future self and that he is looking at the person who is about to become who he creates himself to be.

Pleonastic sound is introduced as we, the audience, are taken into the train to see Bourne sitting by himself. The sound of the train wheels on the track gets louder and louder heightening the scene making it more effective and relatable to the audience. Hues and natural lighting are used, practically throughout the whole extract, not only does this help to establish the overall tone, but it also makes us sympathise for our character even more as we see that he is living in a normal world but not so much a normal life. As he is staring out the window flickering lights appear and reflect off Bons face this can be interpreted as a representation of his pies fluttering by into the distance as it has already been forgotten.

A metal bullet that was first introduced at the beginning of the movie is now showing again acting as a symbol of iconography, it has personal meaning to born and is the only lead/clue he has to who he really is. It is the beacon drawing him to find out who is/who he was. By revealing the bullet once more, it adds to the overall feel that his character may be a shady individual, always seeking danger or in a way danger seeks him. Us as the audience can perceive this in a way that he may be more of a risk taking individual than we anticipated.

Blue lighting is shown behind Bourne as he seems to be walking away in the train station. This is acting as another symbolic colour. Blue is now representing his past, the unknown, the forgotten and how he is leaving it behind them mentally and physically as we are clearly shown a visual representation of that image. Mini shadows and Silhouette are introduced during the same taking us back to the idea of a thriller masking his true identity adding mystery and a sense of unknown. He himself does not know who is who he is correlating with the audience in the fact And that we are being left in the dark. The shot is showing him standing in the street covered in white snow, literally being left/standing in the dark. He is looking back into the blue lights (has past) say one final goodbye before you head to head out into the thrill seeking adventure that awaits him.

Armed officers enter the scene where Bourne is sleeping. This introduces a sense of authority and dictatorship amongst the extract, the legal personnel usually known to be helpful/sometimes understanding is portrayed to be corrupt and violent towards Bourne. This is when he realises that he understands the language that the police are speaking. Not only does this give him hints as to who he is but also the audience as to whom he might be. Whilst Bourne is speaking we are given an extreme close-up of his face revealing the disturbed facial expressions and the puzzlement that has now become him. Quick cuts are used in the fighting scene creating fast paced movements correlating to the actions being made by our main character. Diegetic sound is used throughout this sequence as we can hear the heavy breathing of Bourne and the natural sounds of birds in the background. This is adding the humanistic effect allowing the audience to interpret that Bourne is not all robot but instead mostly human.

Preliminary task 1

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Thriller sub-genres

Opening sequences

The purpose of an opening sequence is to establish the mood and overall setting for the rest of the film. It gives the audience clues as to what the film or movie may be lined with when it comes to the overall plot and storyline. ‘Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street’ can be used as an example of an opening sequence that uses vivid depictions of conventions in order to describe and portray. Blood/red liquid is used throughout the opening scene relating back to the fact that throughout Sweeney Todd, he is constantly causing bloodshed and ‘murdering’ people with something as innocent as barbering tools. The ‘Blood’ that we see in the beginning is the blood from Sweeney Todd’s victims, all of it amalgamating into one eerie stream of red. This is helping to ‘set the scene’ for the rest of the movie.

The opening credits introduce the most important cast and crew that worked on the film as a whole. These names usually appear alongside different actions or soundtracks. The opening credits can almost act as more of a label as if the cast and crew who produced this movie are being given ‘titles’. The title sequence is a powerful expression that helps to hint to the overall storyline of the movie. It is often portrayed as a motion picture with a strong graphic appeal. They are a prelude to the movie and help to engage the audience and capture people’s attention. A primary function of the title sequence is to set the tone for the rest of the movie whereas the opening credits are just to inform the public eye of any leading/major roles in the movie and or film.

An establishing shot can be used at the start of the movie to allow viewers to get an idea of where this movie may be set or gives a clue into what it may be about. For example an aerial shot may be used over a large city in order to inform the audience that the film may be a bit more posh in how it may not be set in the wilderness and they are most likely not going to have to fend for themselves whilst camping in a raggedy tent. It gives the audience a vivid image of where they are in terms of the film world. Diegetic and non-diegetic sounds can be used to add to the atmosphere of the movie. Most of the time the sound matches the action for example if the shot was of a dusty hallway they could play eerie music in order to build tension, but sometimes the sound can be misleading e.g. playing soft jazz music when there is someone walking around with a knife. Montage editing can often be used in an opening sequence to create the illusion of disfiguration but it also allows you to see a bigger picture where you are seeing more than one thing at a time thus obtaining more information about the film that may be crucial to the overall development.

Vertigo released in 1958, has an opening sequence created by a man named Alfred Hitchcock. Vertigo’s opening sequence starts straight away with fast paced non-diegetic sound playing along with the opening credit title. It immediately evokes tension and suspense from the audience, your heart beat is increased and it almost gives a clue to how this movie may be a bit fast paced and intense at times. Whereas the movie Sweeney Todd, released in 2007, directed by Tom Burton, starts off with a slow and prolonged sound where it slowly increases as more technical elements are introduced this can almost relate to pleonastic sound in the sense that as the opening sequence gets more intense so does the music. Both sequences start off very differently, Sweeney Todd has an “establishing shot” of dull blue with shades of grey picture. This can be interpreted as an emotional reference as the colours represent our main character (Sweeney Todd’s) emotional stability where everything is seen in a meloncholic state. Vertigo has a bland mix of skin tones where the camera is on an extreme close up of someone’s physical feature in this case we are shown a persons lips as an establishing shot. It doesn’t exactly scream fear but instead confusion and curiosity. We are shown a mix of techniques throughout the Vertigo opening but a main symbol that could be placed under iconography is the spirals that are constantly seen spinning in different directions. This is a representation of the movie and how our main character is afraid of heights the spirals and motion of spinning create the illusion that the audience is falling into an abis. This puts emphasis on the stroyline heightening the fear factor that is trying to be brought to life. Sweeney Todd is mainly portrayed through colour and iconography throughly expresses through the use of red liquid imitating the trickling sensation of blood. It is seen to be running down blandly coloured gears and walls before coming to an idle stop in a rush of water. This can be a representation of all the bloodshed that occurs throughout the movie. We are also taken through a journey in the sense that we are shown some parts of what look to be a home/house. The ‘blood’ running through the house could not just be a random coincidence but almost enlightening the audience with the fact that it may be his families blood that is seen running down the walls. It is an indication that he may be doing this not out of a mental illness but in seek of destruction to avenge his loved ones death.