Morgan Freeman's character is shown to be organized and methodical in his daily routine through his use of props. His costume suggests a contrast between his relaxed self at home and his professional appearance outside. The opening scene establishes Freeman's character as solitary and sets up an enigma about his job through hints that he is preparing to go out. Fast editing and music create a tense pace for the opening despite the character's quick and efficient movements. Low key lighting and a dim setting connote a gloomy and dreary mood for the character.

1. Talie Colbourne 12F FoundationPortfolio
1
Se7en (1995)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J4YV2_TcCoE (trailer, not what I analysed)
Code and
Conventions
Findings Textual Evidence
Creation of enigma
No long shot is shown of the setting which
creates an enigma for the audience because
they may have a wish to see the surroundings
in order to support the occurrences in the film.
The props which he puts into his pockets are
confusing as to what they are and create an
element of enigma as the audience want to
know what he is doing with them which means
that they need to be neatly laid out and put
into his pockets. The non-diegetic music
creates tension for the audience because it is
music which has been selected to produce
emotion in the audience. An enigma is created
by the focus of the camera on certain props,
shallow depth of fields allow the audience’s
attention to be drawn to something in
particular which creates an enigma as to why
the producers want the audience to look at
that.
(No) Long shot:
doesn’t establish
scene
Props: confuse
audience
Non-diegetic music:
creates tension
Camera focus:
points attention
Introduction to
characters
The character of Morgan Freeman is shown as
being quite organised and having a specific
way of doing things through his use of props as
he puts them all in his pockets and as he is at
the sink tidying up. At first his costume seems
relaxed because the buttons are undone on his
shirt and it isn’t tucked in, he then appears
whilst fixing his suit so as it looks perfect and
presentable; this could connote the contrast
between what he enjoys being like when he is
at home and what he needs to appear like
when he goes out. His gestures seemfamiliar
to him and therefore are almost robot like
which could connote that this is a familiar
routine for him and that he is automated to do
this, this could connote ideas about his job and
thus create an enigma about what it actually
is. A number of long shots connote to the
audience that he is alone and therefore
perhaps that he enjoys his own company and
the idea of being solitary. A number of close-
ups have been used to create tension about
the character because the closeness of the
shot makes the audience feel uncomfortable
Props: shows
unorganised
Costume: contrast
between job and at
home
Gesture: familiar
routine
Long shot: lonely
Close-up: create
tension

2. Talie Colbourne 12F FoundationPortfolio
2
due to the intimacy. The character is
methodical in everything which he does which
connotes to the audience that his job involves
him doing things which involve him being
heavily organised.
Setting up Plot
Very little plot setting up is happening in the
very first scene because it appears to simply be
him tidying up after himself. He then dresses
and uses his props to ready himself which
could connote to the audience that he is
getting ready to go out or do something, this
creates an enigma as to where he is going
because he is dressed up very smartly. During
the opening very few camera movements are
used which could connote that throughout the
film there is only one focus for the character
and that he is headset on that.
Costume: getting
ready
Props: getting ready
(No) Camera
movement: one
focus for the
character
Pace and rhythm
(Editing/mise en
scene/camera
shots)
The opening in itself is fairly short which
connotes to the audience that the man does
not take long to do things which can be done
in short amounts of time. The non-diegetic
music used is slow which is contrapuntal to the
actions and editing because these create the
idea that the opening is fast paced - although it
does build up speed as the opening goes on.
The opening is a continuity edit, with fairly fast
straight cuts which connotes to the audience
that his life in general is fast paced and
requires a great deal of quick thinking.
Gesture: quick to
do things
Non-diegetic music:
slow
Contrapuntal
sound: slow music
contrasts fast
actions and editing
Continuity edit:
realism
Straight cuts:
realismand quick-
thinking
Mood and tone
(non-diegetic
music)
The mood of the scene appears to be calmand
slightly negative which is connoted to the
audience by the use of low key lighting. The
mood of the opening is rough and raw which
creates a connection with darker ideas such as
murder and therefore fits in with the crime
genre, this is connoted through props and
colour mainly. A small amount of light is being
shown as coming in through the windows
which connotes to the audience that the place
which this man lives is dim and dreary while
outside is seen as being more enticing to him,
this alongside the straight cuts (connoting
realism) tell the audience that the man is
gloomy because he is trapped in a boring
routine.
Low key lighting:
calm and negative
Props: rough and
raw
Colour: rough and
raw
Natural lighting:
realism
Straight cuts:
realism