For our preliminary task

1. Final version of Preliminary Task
with a Frame by Frame Evaluation
By Sophie Dewberry and Lydia
Robinson

2. The scene begins with a medium close up of the interrogator
sat behind a large oak table. She is holding a pen and writing
in a notebook. There are filing cabinets and files with
documents placed around the room. There is low key lighting
with the only source of light coming down to lighten up the
characters faces. It hangs low and creates shadows around the
room. The interrogator is wearing a dark blue turtle neck
jumper, wears glasses and has her hair pulled back in a high
ponytail. Her attire makes her look professional and formal
however we can tell that she isn’t a policewoman as she isn’t
in uniform. This indicates that she works for the police force
which is supported by her later dialogue. There is no music or
sound in the background which gives an eerie and mysterious
atmosphere.

3. This shot is the same as before but the door has
been knocked with the use of diegetic sound
therefore the interrogator looks up to
acknowledge the interruption. This means that
there will be a motivated edit as the next shot
would need to show more of who knocked the
door. In all, this take is long which implies that
the action hasn’t begun yet.

4. A close up of a door handle is shown next which
the audience can only assume is the one that
leads into the interrogation room. There is high
key lighting at this moment which is emphasised
by the reflection on the metal handle and the
white paint. The door is old which is shown
through the slightly yellowed edges and chipped
paint.

5. The age of the door is conveyed further in this
shot from the large vertical crack. In the same
close up a hand glides into shot to turn the
handle and enter the room. The owner of the
hand, which we assume s the suspect, is placed
to the right of the frame so we can see them
taking their time as they turn the handle.

6. This is still a close up but as the door swings
open the dimensions change slightly because we
have more space displayed in frame. The
suspect pushes the door slightly with his fingers
causing him to have more prevalence due to his
reluctance of entering the room.

7. The suspect begins to enter the room and the
audience gets a glimpse of more of the room.
We see that it is gloomy and mysterious as well
as upholding the old fashioned interior
explained at the start. We also get to see that
the suspect is wearing a black jacket which
supports the dramatic conventions of a crime
drama – dark clothing to connote that the
characters are hiding something.

8. There is a medium close up of the suspects legs
and the audience gets to see that his bottom
half is dressed in black like his top. This
particular frame shows quite a looming figure
standing in the door frame. This contrasts
greatly with the bright white surroundings.

9. The suspect proceeds to walk across the room
while the camera tracks his movements (match
on action). He approaches an old oak table and
chairs which the audience understands is the
one that the interrogator is already sat at
therefore confirming our suspicions of who the
unidentified character is. There is diegetic sound
of his rustling jacket.

10. The suspect pulls out the chair with ease and at
a slow pace so as to build the tension and
suspense furthermore.

11. It cuts to a behind the shoulder shot (beginning of a shot
reverse shot) of the interrogator who begins to ask the
suspect questions. This choice of shot shows the amount
of space between the characters – there is quite a lot
which conveys that they don’t have a close relationship.
The decision of showing the interrogator first enhances
the lost identity of the suspect. The audience still hasn’t
seen his face but are expecting it very shortly. The
interrogator is lit warmly which could portray that she is
the good person here. Her facial expression doesn’t fit to
the lighting however. There are no pleasantries just
getting down to the business at hand and accusing the
suspect of wrong doings.

12. The shot reverse shot is continued when the camera is
placed behind the shoulder of the investigator. This
allows the audience to see the suspects face for the first
time. We see that his face is also quite sombre and
instantly he defends himself from the investigators
accusations. This could imply that he is in fact guilty
which the audience know is the most probable case as he
is the one lurking behind doors and blending into the
shadows. This technique is supported by the 180 degree
rule which is shown in this sequence. The camera remains
on the right side of the interrogator and the left side of
the suspect.

13. After stating that his innocence the audience are
drawn into an extreme close up of the interrogators
eyes. They are narrowed which suggests that she is
trying to work something out and also has
connotations to psyching someone else up. Her
gaze remains steady and fixed on the suspect. This
shot is also slightly low angle. There is a non-
diegetic heartbeat sound added to this shot and the
following close ups. This adds to the tension and
implies that emotions are building up and the
suspect is panicking.

14. There is a quick cut to the next low angle shot
which is a big close up of the suspects eyes.
Unlike the interrogator’s, his eyes are diverted
from one point of focus to another. He can’t
hold her stare which is another implied meaning
of his lack of innocence.

15. A 4 second close up of the interrogator twiddling
her pen proceeds the eye shots. This is a fast
paced movement which begins to build up the
tension even further. It could portray that the
interrogator is agitated by the suspect.

16. The previous 3 screenshots are repeated 7 times
to build tension. The takes increase in tempo to
emphasis the stress in the suspects mind. By
speeding up the shot of the suspects eyes we
can imagine that he is panicking and therefore
seeing all of this happening a lot faster than
anyone else. The heartbeat is extremely intense
at these moments. At the end of this sequence
the interrogators next question is layered over
the top of the moving images.

17. The interrogator is interrupted by the suspects
shout at the end of the last sequence. A low angle
medium shot shows the suspect slamming his
hands on the table and rises out of his seat and
proceeds to walk out of frame. He does this
because he is angered and probably worrying about
not coming up with a good excuse. When he says
his line at the table he finally makes eye contact
with the interrogator to intimidate her. His eyes are
narrowed to signify his anger and irritation but also
to convey that he shouldn’t be messed with.

18. An eye level close up proceeds. The interrogator
is attempting to calm down the suspect.

19. The interrogator takes off her glasses before
turning her head to face the suspect. This is a
symbol of exasperation and seriousness.

20. The interrogator turns her head to look at the
suspect. He remains out of frame but the
interrogator looks to the right hand side of the
camera to indicate that she is talking to him.

21. The next shot is a medium two shot. The camera
is placed further away from the table and gives
more detail of the room. The suspect is looking
out of the window which lightens his face. The
audience see that the characters still have
negative facial expressions. The suspect has his
back to the interrogator which is another
connotation that he is hiding something from
her.

22. The medium shot remains the same as the
suspect reluctantly goes to sit down. His
movement is slow and slumps in his seat with
his arms crossed in front of him which shows
that he is uncomfortable and protecting himself.
The interrogator tracks his movement with her
eyes and moving her head slowly to the left. She
is trying to spook him by keeping calm but
accusatory.

23. This frame begins another shot reverse shot. It’s
a medium close up which becomes tighter when
the suspect leans forward menacingly. The
audience can see that he is leant all the way
back in his seat and glaring up to look at the
interrogator. He is making himself seem
intimidating.

24. The suspect clasps his hands and places in front
of him on the table and leans in angrily towards
the interrogator.

25. The camera moves behind the suspects shoulder
for the audience to see the interrogator’s
sarcastic rhetorical question. Her mocking retort
and judging is placed in frame. Her actions and
voice conveys that she doesn’t believe the
suspect. She scoffs to indicate her disbelief
further.

26. We get a medium close up two shot profile of
the characters. They have made eye contact
while the suspect continues to protest his
innocence. The audience see that she isn’t fazed
by his growling voice which implies that she is a
strong and possibly corrupt character. The shot
zooms slowly from a medium close up to a
regular close up. This is done to emphasis the
prolonged silence between the two and
indicates a scene change is about to follow.

27. A fade is added to conclude the scene. It is done
gradually to stifle the tension. It goes to a
completely black screen.

28. Click on the link for the full film