opening sequence red lights
TRANSCRIPT
Task 1 Task 2 Task 3
Nicole Purpose/conventions MES Narrative
Theory:
Barthes
Abigail CAM SAM Sound Narrative
Theory:
Cameron
Russ Editing Narrative Narrative
Theory:
Film Details
Genre Drama, Mystery,
Thriller
Year 2012
Director Rodrigo Cortes
Main Actor Cillian Murphy
Sigourney Weaver
Robert De Niro
Joely Richardson
Elizabeth Olsen
Toby Jones
Leonardo
Sbaraglia
Thriller Drama Mystery• To keep the
audience on their feet with an adrenaline rush.
• To provide the audience with asudden rush of emotions, excitement, sense of suspense.
• To relate to the audience emotionally.
• To make the audience see things in a different light.
• To keep the audience guessing who the suspect may be.
Thriller Drama Mystery• High tension
which will lead up to the climax.
• Quick cuts.• Music that builds
up the tension.• Flashbacks.
• The real life issues featured. For example, death, miscarriage, poverty, stereotyping etc.
• Shows a characters development.
• Conflict between two characters.
• Cliff hangers.
• Long cuts.• The music to build
up the suspension.
• They make you think everybody is a suspect.
• Black and
White.
Camera
shots used
Evidence Purpose
Close up •To focus on the
injection and to not
show the
background, to
creates
•Close up of polaroid
pictures makes the
writing on them visible
to the audience
Extreme
close up
•Create enigma and
to make the
audience question
how is this related to
the film
Extreme close up on the iris of the eye
Able to read the words in the book to realize that its in another language
The camera focus on the injection and
blurs the background
Tattered pictures
suggest that these images are old
Camera
shots used
Evidence Purpose
Establishing
shot
•To establish the
setting of the film
Over the
shoulder
•This shot hides the
characters face to
suggest that the
character is
unimportant
This shot shows the full setting of where
the plane is landing
Shows the character
Old man sitting in front of a desk
Camera
angles used
Evidence Purpose
Low angle •The purpose of low
angle is to make an
object or character
seem superior
however this
contradicts with the
character as they
look helpless
Canted •Disorientate and
confuse the
audience
This angle shows a female chained to a wall however doesn’t show full setting around the character
Creates enigma as the audience want to know who’s hand are those and what are they doing
The tilted angle disorientates the audience
Reverse ZoomAs the camera zooms out more information and detail is revealed.
Example 1:
Example
2:The camera zooms out with a slow speed so audience can identify each Polaroid picture
Lab Research Facility.
Surgical equipment
Deserted pitch
black hallway
suggest that
nobody uses that
pathway.
Road – Pitched
black, with head
lights lighting up
parts of the road.
Lighting Screen Grab
Low Key
Flashing red lights over the title.
Head lights of a passing cars.
Towards the end the lighting goes
to overexposed. Simply black and
white.
Term Screen Grab and Annotation
Representation
Body Language
Tense. Could
not stay still,
had to always
be touching
something.
Some sort of doctor or
scientist from the
needle, article clippings
and the x ray-of the
skull.
Term Screen Grab and Annotation
Props
Book is in a
different
language.
The image is of a
frog which could
suggest that they
are trying to perform
a spell/ritual.
Surgical scissors used to
cut animals.
A crucifix
meaning they
are somewhat
religious.
Term Screen Grab and Annotation
PropsScientist articles. Heading
reads ‘Spontaneous
combustion suspected’.
Meaning they some sort of
specialist that works with
chemicals or interested in
them.
Needle with bright white
background which could suggest a
surgical room or hygiene.
The wheels of the operating
tray.
Term Screen Grab and Annotation
Costume N/A
Continuity Editing1. 180 degree rule
2. Match on action
3. Eye-line matching
4. Cross cutting
5. Inserts shots
6. Sound bridging
Pace
Time
Cutting
Transitions
Special Effects
The cuts jump from one shot to another, it doesn’t flow smoothly, this is montage editing.
Insert shot showing
different pages of the
book
The pace is fast
Thrilling
Exciting
The cuts are short
the scene is jumping from one thing to
the next
Graphic match
Fade in and out
Cuts overlapping
Black and white
Colour red
Lights of the city
Contrast
•Majority of the sound heard in this opening sequence is non diegetic as its
score music which cannot be heard by the characters and is specifically
composed for the film.
•The volume control within this opening sequence varies from low between
low and high
•The sound of the airplane
is diegetic
•Sound of airplane landing
is created by naturalistic
sound effects to emphasis
the sound for the
audience
•This sound of the airplane
landing is synchronous
Title of film and credits is
non diegetic
It is non linear as some scenes looks like it is
a flashback.
Barthes theory of ‘Enigma Code’ does apply to Red
Lights opening sequence because of the many times
you are left wondering/questioning who’s those people
in the photographs or who’s the injection for. Etc.
Barthes theory of ‘Symbolic Code‘ does apply to Red
Lights as the title ‘Red Lights’ could have another
meaning as red lights symbolises stop.
Barthes theory of ‘Cultural Code’ does apply to Red
Lights as the equipment used in the opening sequence
is more modern than the equipment they would use
years ago.
Cameron’s theory of modular narrative
couldn’t be applied to this opening sequence
as there was no forking path, episodic,
anachronic or split screen.
Equilibrium
Disequilibrium
Equilibrium
Recognition of disequilibrium
New equilibrium
Cannot tell from the opening sequence.