HW: Technical Analysis

Sin City Opening (Rodriguez, 2005)

Technical Analysis:

Shot type - Long shot, high angled shot

Duration - 13s

Mise en scene - Balcony setting looking over a dark city at night, woman walks out whos dress is highlighted in red. Fade from black at beginning.

Shot type - Mid shot, eye level

Duration - 15s

Mise en scene - Man walks from behind the woman, starts in darkness but walks into light to reveal his features and black suit. Balcony setting remains but lights are on inside the building suggesting a possible dinner or high class party based on the smart dress of the characters. 

Shot type - Mid shot, slightly high angle 

Duration - 4s

Mise en scene - Woman turns to face the man, city setting is still present in the background. Red lipstick is highlighted amongst the noir elements.

Shot type - CU

Duration - 1s

Mise en scene - Cigarette packet is evident, possibly used so characters can get close to one another. Woman is in slightly higher key lighting than man.

See shot 4

Shot type - CU, slightly low angle

Duration - 5s

Mise en scene - Half of the mans face is still in darkness so not all his features are revealed.

Shot type - CU

Duration - 5s

Mise en scene - More of the womans face and features are revealed in the light than the mans. Red lipstick is still highlighted aswell as the dress, possibly to emphasise the movement of her lips as she smokes and talks. Her eyes discreetly change colour.

See shot 5

Shot type - CU

Duration - 2s

Mise en scene - As the shots get closer and closer more of her features are revealed, her short hair and her eyes changing colour. She has black nails, and the cigarette is highlighted as white amongst the darkness.

Shot type - Big CU

Duration - 1s

Mise en scene - Lighter is the center of attention, as it clicks open the flame is revealed.

Shot type - CU, slightly low angle

Duration - 11s

Mise en scene - The white of the flame is highlighted with the cigarette, the smoke causally lingers in the air.Her eyes dramatically change colour and are much more noticeable than before as they match the dialogue.

Shot type - Mid shot, slow zoom

Duration - 28s

Mise en scene - As the shot zooms both characters become more surrounded by darkness, and their faces are covered like at the beginning of the scene. This matches the dialogue as he reveals a dark subject matter that paints the woman to be a darker character.

Shot type - CU, slightly low angle

Duration - 3s

Mise en scene - Most of the mans face is still covered in darkness sa he moves to kiss the woman.

Shot type - Long shot, level with characters

Duration - 6s

Mise en scene - Colour scheme changes completely to a completely black and white setting with no colours, where the characters are all both completely white and featureless. It is implied that the characters kiss however it is no longer clear. White rain falls even though it was not present before.

Shot type - CU, tracks up and down as it switches eye line between both characters. Follows the mans movement as he slides to the floor.

Duration - 30s

Mise en scene - The relationship between the 2 characters is emphasised, as they kiss one last time she rests on him. There is a flash to match the silenced gunshot sound before the gun appears, the woman is motionless as they fall. The rain is still falling and the previous dark colour scheme is present again.

Shot type - Long shot, very high angle

Duration - 13s

Mise en scene - The whole of the dress can now be seen, and its red colour stands out from the darkness of the floor they lay on. The gun is still in his hands and a cigarette butt can be seen on the floor, the rain continues to fall and create puddles on the ground.

 

Soundtrack:

Voiceover throughout shows the thoughts and feelings of the male hitman, he speaks in a soft voice and creates a melancholy feel throughout. There is lots of diegetic sound of the rain, the lighter, the gunshot etc. Quiet non diegetic music is used throughout, a slow piano melody. 

What did I learn?

The technical analysis allowed me to observe the number and type of shots commonly used in a scene, and has allowed to invision the amount of shots we will need for our production. Aswell as the types of shots we will need to fit the scene together and create continuity.