1. Past Student Analysis - Redemption
Immediately, in the opening, the scene is set through the useof a
clear long shot presentingLondon cityscape. Additionally, there is a
label at the bottom showing that it is London; the wordsappear letter
by letter. This is implemented to make surethe audienceknow
where the film is set.
Followingthe long shot setting the scene, there is an over-the-
shoulder shot showingthe protagonist lookingover the city. This
reveals to the audiencethat he is looking for something important.
There is also non-diegetic musicthat plays that consists of sudden
drumbeats. The over-the-shoulder shot combined with the non-
diegetic musicgets the audiencefeeling suspicious, wonderingwhy
the protagonist is lookingfor something important. The audienceis
hooked and wantsto continuewatching to find outwhat it is.
2. In the next scene there is a close up of a phone, which displaysthe text
“Location: N 52 504, S93 861 16:30”. Thisdemonstratesto the
audiencethat the protagonist is going to meet somebody, assumingly
to collect the importantthing he is lookingfor. The audiencenow feels
a sense of anticipation, as they wantto find outwhat the important
object is. Furthermore, the fact that the location is in coordinates
creates tension, as the audiencehas no clue where the coordinateslead
to – they are now puton edge.
After readingthe text message, the protagonistbegins walking through
London to travelto the location in the text. A tracking shot is utilised
here to follow the movementof the protagonist. After the clip of him
walking, the title emerges through a black background and smoke
entitled “Redemption”. Redemption hasconnotationsof regaining
possessions, which could demonstratethat the protagonist is walking
through London to the location in the text to take back something that
was originally his.
3. There is another close-up to present to the audiencewho the
antagonist is. His expression is severeexhibiting the seriousness of
the currentscene. Withoutthe use of the close-up, the audience
would notknow the significance of the scene, and no tension would
be built up.
Moreover, havingtwo bodyguardson the edge of the framewith the
man in the middledemonstrateshe is the antagonist. Framing is
importantas it can revealdetails to the audience.
4. In the followingscene, there is an action match where the
protagonist is escaping from the antagonist and his bodyguards. This
scene is high intensity, which gets the audienceon edge and their
heart racing, as they want the protagonist to escape. The camera cuts
to differentangles to show what each character is doing. For
example, there is a medium mid shot to presentthe bodyguards
firing their pistols.
Next there is a tracking shot followingthe protagonist with the
briefcase. At this point the audiencebelieves the protagonisthas
escape and effectively “won”.
5. However, as he walks further down the street the antagonist catches
him. This causes the audienceto rapidly go from feelingrelieved and
relaxed to fearfulfor the protagonist’s wellbeing. An emotional
connection has been established between the audienceand the
protagonist throughout the film, so by the endingof the openingthe
audienceis left tormented, as the protagonist has been captured.
The low-key lighting stays consistently the same throughout the film
to keep a suspensefuland tenseatmospherethroughout the opening.
If the lighting keptaltering, then the atmospherewould nothave the
same suspensefuleffectit has currently. The atmosphereis
significant in setting the tone of a film, which is why the lighting has
been used effectively throughout.
Overall, I would personally marked thisAS thriller openinga high
level 4 as it successfully utilizes a variety of shot types, including
close-ups, extreme close-ups, long shots, mid-shots, action matches.
The low-key lighting is used effectively combined with the non-
diegetic musicto create a suspensefuland tenseatmosphere.
