Stella's thriller opening research: Goodfellas

Certificate: 18
I have analysed from 0:00- 1:35 in this video clip, as this is where a natural break occurs.


Lighting:

• low key lighting- most shots are lit with just the key light, however  the in car shot uses low light front lighting
•  brighter front lighting  is flashed on and off in car shot to give effect of other car's lights and so the audience sees the characters only briefly.
• use of red filter to give effect of character's standing in light of the cars tailights, but also reflects genre of film- its a gangsta.
• slight red filter on shot of dead body in boot
• key light only used on final shot ( close up of Henry) leaving shadow on his face.

Sound:

• Only diegetic sound is used, until the end of the scene when a soundtrack suddenly starts and we hear Henry's narration.
• Diegetic sound of car's engine- sounds powerful, hints at expensiveness of car.
• Background diegetic sound of motorway-creates context
• Diegetic sound of body in boot- sudden and repetitive, louder than outside noise-creates intrique
• Dialogue is calm and vague- contrasts with the situation, which suggests they are used to doing similar jobs, shows them to be dangerous.
• Dialogue- use of swear words e.g. "what the fuck was that?" connotes surprise- introduces problem/disruption.
• Use of non-diagetic narrative at end of scene "ever since I was little I always wanted to be a gangster." bold statement- shocks the audience and sets tone of piece.
• Introduction of song on the screen shot of Henry- sudden beat- brass sounds, grabs attention

Camerawork:

• Majority of shots are medium shots and medium close ups
• Only exception the Track-in on Henry at the end- tracks in from Medium close up to close up
• Composition of shots leaves a lots of space around the shot subject- this space is black- creates mysetery and suspense
• Use of  tracking past car in the first shot- creates effect of another car driving past, creates context of car driving on motorway and empathasizes importance of car
• Composition of in-car shot- Henry is in the foreground in the righthand corner- infers he is the protagonist
• Low angles used on all shots depicting gangstas-shows authority
• high angle used on the shot of dead body in boot
• use of panning when characters are crowded around car- slow, gradual- creates suspense
• track-in of boot from medium shot to medium close up- empthasizes importance
• followed by a track in of characters from medium shot to medium close up- shows contexts and suggests they are responsible for boot context
• fast track in from medium close up to close up of Henry- empthasizes character's importance

Mise-En-Scene

• costume- all three characters are in sharp suits- suggests they are gangstas
• Hair- all hair is sleek, gelled back and neat- fits with typical appearance of a gangsta
• props- weapons of a large kitchen knife, crowbar and gun - all cause huge amount of harm- characterizes them as ruthless and dangerous
• prop- car, expensive, flash and black-sleek, elegant- suggests wealth and luxury
• prop- Henry's rolex- typical item that a gangsta wears- suggests affluence
• setting- motorway at nightime and later on a roadside clearing- dark, deserted,quite-creates suspense
• colour- mainly black and red

Low key lighting

High key lighting

Ending shot of sequence- emphasises Henry's importance
to the story.

 Editing

• Initial pace of scene is very slow- the inside shot of the car is 26 seconds long- which establishes the situation, but also builds a growing sense of suspense
• when the boot is opened the pace of shots quickens with most lasting 2-3 seconds
• when the body is being shot an image of Henry's face is flashed in and out to show reaction
• screenshot close up of Henry lasts six seconds- slow pace - establishes that he is the protagonist and that this is his story