3. INTRODUCTION
• We watched the beginning 6 minutes of the film Seven that stars Morgan
Freeman and Brad Pitt. The movie was released on 22nd September 1995 in
the US and later released on 5th January 1996 in the UK. It was directed by
David Fincher and was distributed by New Line Cinema.
4. MISE-EN-SCENE
• The film begins with highly saturated and bright colours that may connote
happiness and hope for the future. We then see that Morgan Freeman’s
character is wearing a crisp white shirt, this may also link to the connotation
of happiness but as he is an older man wearing this shirt then it may connote
that he is powerful and well respected in his career. As he starts to get ready
to go to the murder he is investigating, Freeman puts on a dark coat; the
building that he then enters to investigate the murder inside is dimmer and
darker in lighting. This could connote death as there is a murder investigation
happening inside and dark colours are often what we think of when death is
in question. In the extract it is pouring with rain, this weather may connote
the sadness of the investigators and the family of the deceased. This bleak
weather may also symbolise the direction in which the case is going or the
direction in which the relationship between Freeman and Pitt’s characters is
going.
5. CAMERA
• When Freeman’s character is looking in the mirror an over the shoulder shot is used;
this may connote that he takes pride in his appearance and may also show that he
is of a steady and stable mind as he is taking his time to get ready. We see that
blood is covering the wall through the use of a mid-shot, this allows the viewer to
clearly see that something sinister has taken place here and at least one of the
people involved may be dead as there is so much blood. When Freeman’s
character is back at home and in bed there is a close up on a ticking device
(metronome) on his bedside table, there is a close up on this; this may connote that
the character is running out of time as he may die or something bad may happen to
him. IN the opening credits the camera angle is constantly changing; this may
connote that numerous different people are investigating the case and that they
may all be seeing the evidence from a different point of view which may lead to
confusion and the audience having to be active.
• There is shot/reverse shot when the two lead characters played by Freeman and Pitt
are speaking to each other in the street.
6. EDITING
• In the extract to create the typical atmosphere you would expect in a
thriller, the editing is very quick this may therefore indicate to the audience
the pace in which the film will continue. We see evidence of jump cuts and
cross cutting between scenes. An example of this will is from us seeing
Freeman in his apartment getting ready for the day to him and Pitt at the
city centre crime scene. Inserts are also used in the extract, for example,
when Freeman’s character is getting ready in his apartment organising his
possessions, there is an insert shot used to display the significance they pose
in the characters life.
7. SOUND
• There is synchronous sound when the character picks up his keys and they
jangle, there is also the sound of footsteps on the pavement and the sound
of the rain hitting the floor. As with most films there is a significant amount of
dialogue (people speaking). There is non-diegetic sound when music is
inserted over a shot to add to the atmosphere as the opening credits are
rolling. During the close up on the metronome there is a ticking sound that
would be associated with a clock, this may connote that time is ticking awy
either for the character himself or time running out to catch the killer who did
the crimes.
