This was a group presentation given to a second year seminar class where we analyzed and storyboarded one scene from a film with ideology. My group storyboarded the opening monologue scene from American Psycho. We focused on three ideologies: reality vs. illusion, masculine identity and classist consumerism.

1. Storyboard Presentation:
American Psycho
By Ben Bourgon, Sam Fernandes and Caroline Klimek
Tuesday, April 10, 2012

2. Ideologies
Reality vs. illusion
Masculine identity
Classist consumerism
Tuesday, April 10, 2012

3. Reality Vs. Illusion
Tuesday, April 10, 2012

4. Shot #4
6 seconds
Narration: I live in the
American Gardens building on
West 81st Street on the 11th
floor.
4 A: Patrick enters frame from
the right. At the beginning of
this shot we see Patrick’s
reflection in the mirror on the
right.
4B: Once Patrick has stopped
moving there is a cut to shot #5.
Pans left.
Tuesday, April 10, 2012

5. Shot #5
8 seconds
Narration: My name is
Patrick Bateman. I am 27
years old. I believe in
taking care of myself.
Patrick is static.
Close-up – dollies forward past the back of
Patrick’s head
Tuesday, April 10, 2012

6. Shot #13
4 seconds
Narration: After I remove
the ice pack I use deep
pore cleanser lotion.
Sound effects: Water from
shower.
Static shot with slight tile up.
Tuesday, April 10, 2012

7. Shot #18
6 seconds
Medium shot
Everything is in focus
We are looking at 2
reflections in the mirror from
behind Patrick.
Patrick is putting on mask.
Static shot.
No sound effects.
Tuesday, April 10, 2012

8. Shot #20
7 seconds
Narration: I always use an after-
shave lotion with a little or no
alcohol because alcohol dries your
face out and makes you look older.
Medium close-up
Patrick opens medicine cabinet
and reaching in. Cuts at reach.
Sound effect: sound of cabinet
door opening.
Static shot with slight tilt up
Tuesday, April 10, 2012

9. Shot #22
28 seconds
Narration: There is an idea about a
Patrick Bateman some kind of
distraction but there is no real me,
only an identity something
illusionary. And though I can hide
my cold gaze and shake.
Close-up of Patrick peeling off
facemask
Only Patrick’s face is in focus.
Sound effects: the peeling off of
the facemask.
Static shot
Tuesday, April 10, 2012

10. Masculine Identity
Tuesday, April 10, 2012

11. Shot #1
15 seconds
Music comes in with cut
No sound effects
Dollies forward and pans right
Tuesday, April 10, 2012

12. Shot #9
2 seconds
Medium close up of Patrick
stretching with his ice pack
on his face.
Camera mostly static.
Slight pan left to keep Patrick in
center frame.
Tuesday, April 10, 2012

13. Shot #16
2 seconds
Narration: then a honey
almond butter scrub.
Patrick grabs more
products with right hand.
Similar to shot #12 and
#14.
Subtle tilt down Sound effects: water from
shower
Tuesday, April 10, 2012

14. Shot #21
7 seconds
Narration: Then moisturizer,
then an anti-aging eye balm
followed by final moisturizing
protective lotion.
Close-up of these specific
products as Patrick grabs
them for his routine.
Sound effects: clicking of
products being moved from
glass shelf.
Tiles down and pans right to static shot.
Tuesday, April 10, 2012

15. Classist Consumerism
Tuesday, April 10, 2012

16. Shot #4
6 seconds
Narration: I live in the
American Gardens building on
West 81st Street on the 11th
floor.
4 A: Patrick enters frame from
the right. At the beginning of
this shot we see Patrick’s
reflection in the mirror on the
right.
4B: Once Patrick has stopped
moving there is a cut to shot #5.
Pans Left
Tuesday, April 10, 2012

17. Shot #7
9 seconds
Narration: In the morning
if my face is a little puffy
I’ll put on an ice pack
while I do my stomach
crunches. I can do a 1000
now.
Patrick puts on facemask.
Patrick exits frame right.
We still see his shadow in
middle of frame.
Camera pans little bit to right and tilts slightly down
Tuesday, April 10, 2012

18. Shot #9
2 seconds
Medium close-up of Patrick
stretching with his ice pack
on his face.
Camera mostly static.
Slight pan left to keep Patrick in center frame.
Tuesday, April 10, 2012

19. Shot #5
8 seconds
Narration: My name is
Patrick Bateman. I am 27
years old. I believe in
taking care of myself.
Patrick is static.
Close-up – dollies forward past the back of
Patrick’s head
Tuesday, April 10, 2012

20. Discussion Questions
Who is Patrick Bateman’s monologue intended for?
What makes this ‘Psycho’ American?
“There is an idea about a Patrick Bateman some kind of distraction
but there is no real me, only an identity something illusionary” how
is this last line related to the mise-en-scene?
What is the significance of the camera zooming in on Patrick?
What are the similarities between the portrayal of masculinity in
Fight club and American Psycho?
How is this illustrating the paradox of masculinity?
Tuesday, April 10, 2012