Zodiac

1. Film Beginnings Analysis
Zodiac(2007) Dir: DavidFincher
In the openingtothe psychological crime thrillerZodiac,
the firstshot of the movie save forthe studiologosisan
establishingshotof acity inwhat ismost likelyan
Americanstate (the bridge,the urbanlookandthe
fireworkssuggestthis)soasto give us a sense of
location.A few secondslater,alocationanddate text
appearson the screentellingusthe veryspecificdate of
July4th
1969, and the locationof specificallyVallejoin
California. Bothof these are directorFincher’sattempttomake itclearto the audience thatthisisa
true,historical story,allowingthe audience toconnectona
deeperlevel tothe followingeventsthattake place,since
the two characters,thoughonlyappearingbrieflyand
barelynamedinthe opening,were real people. An
establishingshottoshowlocationandtime of day will be
usedinmy openingtosetthe tone and moodof the film:
urbanisedanddark.
For the sake of historical accuracy,Fincherhassetthe film
at night.However,he hasmade greatuse of thisinhis
colourpallet,suchas verydull lightgreensandyellows,brownsandgreys.Thistakesawayany
feelingof comfortthe viewermayhave frombright,
vibrantcolours.Italso naturallymakesthe scene more
filledwithparanoiaanduncertaintyasitprogresses,
particularlywhenthe killerstepsoutof the car nearthe
endof the scene andwe can onlysee hissilhouettedbody
inan aerial shot,plantingmysteryintothe viewer’smind
as to the identityof the killer.Aswell asthis,itcreatesa
biggercontrastwiththe artificial light,albeitlightthathas
a visible source inthe worldof the filmsuchasa torch or
car. Artificial lightwithinanightsettingthatiswithinthe worldof the filmissomethingI’mvery
interestedinusingformyownopening.
Usingboth diegeticsoundandspecificcinematography,Finchergivesusa detached,observational
viewof the scene,whichmakesitfeel coldandclinical,anunsettlingqualityhelpingtoreinforce the
psychological thrillergenre of the film.Forexample,thereismusicbut itis all beingheardfroma car
radiowithinthe film,pullingusintothe worldof the filmandmakingusfeel the same paranoiaas
the characters feel. Italsoturnsa familiarpiece of music(‘HurdyGurdyMan’ byDonovan) intothe
soundtrackfor somethingasabnormal asa murder,
essentiallyassociatingthe everydaywiththe violentand
unsettling.Ithinkusingafamiliarpieceof music,within
reason,wouldworkwell asa backdropformy opening
scene,particularlyif the songiscomingfroma radio as it
doeshere.
As well asthis,nearthe endof the scene isa long,uncut
aerial shotinwhichthere isno camera movementand
Figure 1: Establishing shot of Vallejo
Figure 2: Date stamp showing real location and historical
date
Figure 3: An example of Fincher's colour pallet, such as
dull beige, muted green and a pale dark blue
Figure 4: Uninterrupted aerial shot near end of the
scene

2. we see the dark figure walkingtohiscar andthencomingback to shootthe twoteensagainwhen
he realisestheyare still alive.Notonlydoesthisshow thatthe killerisanevil,remorselesscharacter
because he feelsthe needtofinishthemoff withnohesitation,butitalsogivesusa cold,
observational view of the scene,almostasif we are watchinga documentary.Thisalsohelpsto
establishthe themesof psychological thriller,historical crime andmystery.The formerandthe latter
are themeswhichIwouldwanttoinclude inmyfilm, sothiskindof observational cinematography
will be utilisedformyopening.