Assignment 9 draft 2 from helen;)
- 1. Assignment 9: opening sequence analysis. Rosie Helen Marisha
- 2. Task 1 Task 2 Task 3 Marisha Purpose/conventio MES Barthes ns Helen CAM SAM sound Levis –Straus Rosie Editing narrative Allan Cameron
- 3. Gattaca Film details Genre: Sci-fi, drama romance Year: 1997 Director: Andrew Niccol Main Uma Thurman character Jude Law s: Ethan Hawke
- 4. Film: Gattaca Genre: sci-fi drama romance
- 5. The Purpose and conventions • The purpose of the opening sequence of Gattaca is to create an enigma as to what the character is doing and why is he doing it. • Only up and till the end the audience is able to understand his actions.
- 6. Representation Extreme close The up of hair, this is representatio shot is used to n of this is create an that this male enigma to what character is it is. trying to remove his Close up shot identity by of hair, this removing all time the these things audience is that contain able to his DNA. recognise what is.
- 7. Camera shots Close ups –Shot Extreme close up- Establishing Purpose Shot-establishing shot gives you a idea of where the location is. OrShot scene is being set Shot where Shot –close up Close upup usually focuses on a subject or a persons whole head in one frame. Close usually Extreme close up Shot-establishing -no mid shots or They used this shot to show main character emotion. focuses on a are shot to show shot gives you a long shots subject or a specific detail, up Shot –extreme close idea of where the To create enigma Extreme closewhole persons up are shot to show specific detail, emotionemotion of a particular thing . reaction or reaction or location is. Or where and mystery also head in one frame. of a particular thing scene is being set. the character face . is always hidden which create enigma . The extreme close –ups are done to hide the identity of the character in order to reflect what the Showing in detail of film is about – what he is doing . Hidden identity. They used this
- 8. Camera angles Point of view /high angle • A point of view shot is positioned between a shot and a object or subject to show what the character is looking at. • This is done in this shot to show what the character is reaching out to get .This shot represents his eyes. Canted angle –this is camera angle which is deliberately slanted to one side. • This is used in this scene for a dramatic effect to portray dramatic
- 9. Camera movement Tracking movement • A tracking shot is a movement perpendicular to the camera lens axis. • This is done in the sequence to slow steady motion of the long strand of hair in detail on the grand .
- 10. Special effects • Colour • Looks like this has been saturated make it look more like a early hours of the morning scene or mid day scene. This effect is used to make it look like a sunny bright day.
- 11. Mis-En-Scene : lighting • Lighting Lighting or illumination is the deliberate application of light to achieve some practical or visual effect.
- 12. The different types of lighting: • The different types of lighting: 1. Natural lighting – is from a natural source such as fire or sun. 2. Available lighting – is natural occurring light on set. 3. Artificial light – not provided by natural or available source such as fire or the sun and it is man made.
- 13. Mis-En-Scene : lighting Lighting in these scenes determine a mood of calm and relaxation. In this scene it uses sepia which sets a warm, calming and bright mood.
- 14. MES – Characters (costume/prop/makeup/body lang. etc.) Dressed in a robe (costume) Shows character using a bag of urine strapped to his thigh (prop) Syringe (prop) used to inject blood into finger prints. Close up shot of character using a razor (prop) Bag of bloods (prop) preserved in a fridge.
- 15. Cont. Character is using a paintbrush to securely place the finger print of someone else’s over his finger print. Microscope, lamp, table and office chair (props) Test tubes filled with dark liquid Random jars filled with a substance
- 16. Editing • Diegesis • Continuity editing • Pace • Time allocation • Text/Titles • Transitions
- 17. Diegesis Diegesis – the internal world that the characters themselves experience. The characters home. The character in his car. The character’s workplace.
- 18. Continuity editing • Continuity editing – makes the scene look continuous In this shot the man is wearing a white robe. In the next shot the man is wearing the same robe.
- 19. Pace • Slow pace – cuts are longer + not many shots • Medium pace – average number of shots • Fast pace – cuts are short + lots of shots The pace in this clip is slow and this is to create a calm yet suspenseful atmosphere. This shot in the clip lasts for about 11 seconds.
- 20. Time allocation At the beginning about 17 seconds are used to show these two quotes, which could mean they are important in understanding the movie. The credits take about 1 minute and 32 seconds and mention most of the main characters.
- 21. Text/Titles • The text fades in and out
- 22. Text/Titles When the names appear there are letters which appear faster and more bright than the rest. These letters are ‘G’, ’A’, ’T’ and ‘C’ which also make up the name of the film ‘Gattaca’. These letters also appear in a different font than the rest of the letters that make up the name.
- 23. Transitions • Fade in/out • Overlap/Dissolve
- 24. Fade in/out Fade in/out – one shot gets lighter or darker. Lighter = fade in. Darker = fade out. This shot is an example of a fade out.
- 25. Overlap/ dissolve • This is where one shot overlaps another – as we can see in this shot we can see the character in the background and the new shot coming through. Old shot New shot
- 26. Sound Non –diegetic • At the beginning of the sequence non diagetic sounds stats off very calm and relaxed • It then gradually builds tension • Instrument used sound like a piano(intense soft music) playing throughout. Diegetic • halfway through the sequence I could hear diagetic sounds of him shaving his hair off his skin • There was diagetic sounds of him washing himself • There was also sound of the shower
- 27. Sound • Score (music)- music arranged and played specifically for the open sequence. The purpose is to sets mood and atmospheres to the scene. • Volume control –the control of how quite or loud sound is this is set to emphasize mood/atmosphere in the opening sequence of gattca
- 28. Special effects • Colour • Looks like this has been saturated make it look more like a early hours of the morning scene or mid day scene. This effect is used to make it look like a sunny bright day.
- 29. Narrative • This narrative is restricted and unrestricted. This is because it does give the audience information about who is in the film and who created it, but it doesn't give any information as to what the film is about. • The narrative depth is subjective in this opening sequence as we do not see anything in the characters point of view and towards the end of the clip we see other characters. • There are enigmas within the opening sequence which are: Who is the man and what is he doing? Why was he removing traces of his identity? What was he burning and why?
- 30. Narrative theory : Barthes •Barthe says that the audiences experiences of narrative involves anticipation and experience. •Barthe identified this by codes: •Enigma code •Action code •Semantic code •Symbolic code •Cultural code.
- 31. Narrative Theory • Enigma code (Barthes Theory) is used in the opening sequence of Gattaca as narrative is set as a puzzle/mystery as they are extreme close ups. This may allow the audience to feel puzzled because of the characters actions.
- 32. Cont. Furthermore, at the beginning of the opening sequence it poses a bible verse and a quote. - creates more mystery - makes the audience wonder whether it has any relation to the film.
- 33. Levi-Strauss • Levi-Strauss theory talks about our world is described in binary opposites .When we look at themes within stories and real life we realise they consist In this place the differences. lighting is much Good Bad darker and isolated. Night Day Male Female uyiiy87uo Dark Light In this place the lighting is much more brighter.
- 34. Narrative theory: Allan Cameron •Allan Cameron identified four types of modular narratives which are: • Forking path • Episodic • Anachronic • Split screen
- 35. Cameron’s theory in relation to Gattaca Forking path Episodic Anachronic Split screen Does this No Yes and No No No apply to the sequence? Abstract. Explanation: There is no There are different shots There are no There is no split alternative to without the character in it. flashbacks or screen in the the story shown flash forwards. opening in the opening sequence. sequence. Evidence none none none