I can't find the link on YouTube for you to view:
'The Negotiator':
The
opening credits begin with non-diagetic music. A piano plays high pitched notes
with a constant drum beat, creating suspense; as if to stimulate a heartbeat. A
violin adds a sense of drama to the composition which could imply future
dramatic events.
The
following montage of images, taken by the camera, are edited black and white, connoting that
they are past events, which may suggest to the audience that this is an introduction to the history of the characters and their relationships.
A mid shot displays a man laughing and the ms-en-scene shows that he is black, possibly
provoking the audience to assume an African origin, and wears a white
shirt; the ms-en-scene implies his working class using his suggested ethnicity
and clothing.
A
fade to an extreme close up of a white man's eyes, teamed with the suspenseful
music, suggest an evil presence.
Stereotypically,
the black man is usually viewed as the perpetrator and the white man the
victor. The director may have chosen to subvert the stereotype to develop a
sense of uncertainty and possibly corruption, intriguing the audience.
Through the ms-en-scene in a two shot the black man and a white man are laughing, the camera allows
more of the white man to be seen suggesting to the audience that he is more important in the shot. A
connotation to an audience may be that the white man is superior. Non-diagetic
laughter is edited to echo over the music; exemplifying that this is positive a past
event.
Another
two shot, sided with the black man displays, through the ms-en-scene and camera, him pointing jovially at another
white man who is wearing a cap back to front, smoking a cigar whilst holding
what seems to be a pack of cards. The black man wears a buttoned shirt and
seems to have higher authority over the white man through ms-en-scene;
balancing the connotation of superiority. His positive character can be
established by smiles and laughter to the audience; these shots are used to help the audience
side with him. He is assumed to be the protagonist, we are following his history.
A
rising crane shot of a tall building, edited black and white, is briefly interrupted
by two quick edited fades of more edited black and white images. Through a high angled
mid shot, a white man is displayed seeming to fight the black man. The camera
allows the white man to use more space in the shot to create a sense of dominance
over the other man. Via the high angle shot, the audience could be provoked to
side with the black man, as they are forced to look up at the white man through
the camera.
A
close, level, mid shot of the black man's reaction highlights his facial
expression and defensive position, displaying a detailed expression. A sudden
non-diagetic effect is added by the editor to the music as these shots interrupt. The
director may have intentionally used this to increase tension built and to possibly
keep the audience aware.
The
title then appears through a fade effect, with the non-diagetic music still
present and an added non-diagetic breathing sound; maintaining the tension
built for the audience.
Within
a mid shot, the ms-en-scene suggests that the three white men seen are highly
ranked military officers, due to their uniforms, posture and badges. The
suspenseful non-diagetic music teamed with the previous images and ms-en-scene
may hint at corruption to an audience.
Thanks for reading! Comments are appreciated :)
Thanks for reading! Comments are appreciated :)
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