The 2004 thriller Collateral, directed by Michael Mann, stars Tom Cruise, Jamie Foxx, and Jada Pinkett Smith. It is produced by Paramount Pictures and Dreamworks. The opening scene introduces the main characters at an airport, with Tom Cruise's character wearing sunglasses to appear slick and secretive. The costumes and location establish a serious tone. Exaggerated footsteps and plane sounds in the background create a tense atmosphere. Key characters are in focus while others are blurred, indicating who to pay attention to going forward.

1. Media Thriller
Collateral 2004

2. Background Info
The 2004 Thriller is produced by Paramount
Pictures and Dreamworks. It stars Jamie Foxx,
Jada Pinkett Smith and Tom Cruise and is
directed by critically acclaimed director Michael
Mann.

3. Mise En scene
At the beginning of the film we are immediately
presented with the production companies of the
film, Paramount followed by Dreamworks.
The opening scene of the movie introduces us to
the main character and it also gives a location.
The lighting in the establishing shot doesn’t really
go with the grain of thriller films. The lighting
features a lot of natural light, which is in contrast to
typical thriller openings, featuring low key lighting
and unnatural light.

4. Mise en scene
The costumes of the first two characters engaging in
dialogue are both extremely formal, connoting a
serious nature to the movie. They also both carry
the prop of briefcases and Tom Cruise’s character is
wearing black tinted shades which gives off the
impression that he is slick, secretive and an
independent character.
The background location is an airport, suggesting
that travel is a key feature in the film.

5. Sound
Exaggerated sound of the footsteps heightens the
tense nature of the establishing scene.
The non diegetic sounds of planes play in the
background make it even more apparent their
location.
After the exchange between the two characters, the
an instrumental is introduced, it is fast in tempo and
quickens the pace of the establishing scene.

6. Sound
The shot where Jamie Foxx gets in his taxi, each
diegetic sound is increased to emphasize his
actions, cleaning his window, turning his
indicators on etc.

7. Camera Work
In the establishing shots of the film both Jason
Statham and Tom Cruise’s characters are in focus,
whereas the other surrounding people are out of
focus, implying that these two characters are the
ones to look out for and focus on in the following
shots.
Following the two characters interaction the
camera tilts downwards to follow the activity of the
swapping of the briefcases. The camera slow zooms
on this action, implying that it is a pivotal point of
the film.