Techniques in dark horse opening scene PDF

Preview

Summary

Download Techniques in dark horse opening scene PDF

Description

Soundtrack:Poignant, slow piano with a cello and a violin. The slow pace of the music initially allows us to experience Genesis’ joy-his simple pleasure at feeling the rain. Notice how the soundtrack changes when he is being forced into the police van. Genesis singing: the chess board in his whakapapa, the place that they reisd is his marae. Genesis is singing to them. no diegetic sounds in the beginning, piano playing with Genesis walking in the rain, shows how he is detached from reality. Set and props: Chessboards: while genesis is an ex champion the game itself comes to mean so much more. The chessboard as Genesis teaches it is full oflife lessons-ones that he has learnt and ones that he struggles to enact. Dialogue: At times Genesis’ dialogue is repetitious-he says the same things over again as if he is trying to process it.Shows his mental illness/state. “Did I promise? Did i promise to teach you?”...”I promised to teach her. I promised to teach her and almost forgot.” Over the shoulder shot: to show Genesis perspective at things. Tracking/Pan: allowing the audience to see things around genesis. Closeups: to show his emotions , bits and pieces,that he is not a whole person yet.In the opening scene that majority of closeups of Genesis are either: in profile or of a fragment of him such as his hands. We do not get to see all of Genesis-parts are hidden from us. This is similar to Genesis Existence- his mental illness has caused his life to be fragmented. Close ups and Extreme close ups of the chessboard. Reaction shots -between Genesis and Ariki and also between Genesis and the chessboards. Cinematography: Genesis is shown in a slight low angle in the opening shot of the film He is not hurting anyone but isn't seen to in control of himself. However he is calling to the ancestors-this suggests some power. High angles are used to convey Genesis lack of power in the real world but are also used to show the moments when he is powerful. Genesis is again shown from a high angle as he is forced into the Police van- it is obvious that even the sight of it makes him uncomfortable and that he is agitated. Genesis is powerful-Genesis is moving into the shop and playing chess his POV, shots are from a high angle, this is where he is the king; he has control over the destinies of each piece-choosing to sacrifice or protect them. Costume:Use of colourful costumes and shows similarity between his costumes when he was a child and his adult’s clothes, which shows that he has a childish soul and he isnt very mature. A multi-coloured blanket wrapped around his shoulders. Initially it seems joyful and fits with the mood of the opening shots. As he moves out of the rain and into the shop, the colours seems to fade. When leaving the shop, the blanket is wrapped around him and tossed over his shoulders like a warrior’s clock. Genesis is going have to battle just to experience similar freedoms again. Genesis also wears a bland brown/grey cardigan- this is his life when the joy has been removed. Flashback:Foreshadows the king piece, shows how Genesis was taught chess(by his brother), gives us a lot about Genesis’s background and how he grew up.Shows the relationship between the 2

brothers. During the boyhood flashbacks the brothers are shown as equal as you watch consider whether this remains the same throughout the film or whether it changes. Lighting: natural light. The opening of the film is flooded with bright natural lights as Genesis strolls through the streets of Gisbourne. The light depicts Genesis’ sense of freedom in those moments. The shot is a wide one and frames him in mid shot with the upper half of the shot being the sky. Genesis is enjoying this small blessing and is thankful for it as he is usually locked up Yellow Filter: as genesis moves into the Curious shop, a (warm) yellow filter is used. The colour adds a soft, romance to the scene. This is where Genesis feels comfortable-playing chess. However , the yellow also suggests that the scene is tainted/filtered through his illness. While he is happy, his appearance and dialogue makes the other in the shop uneasy. The shop owner offers to call someone for him.Chess is Genesis comfort zone where he feels secure and happy and it is the thing that calms him down and brings him a sense of joy. Low key lighting: used in the flashbacks. These are Genesis’ memories of first seeing/learning about chess.The low key lighting is threatening-the innocence of these boys is being lost as they try to model masculine ideals(they drink beer and swear). Genesis is more often in the light while Ariki remains in the shadows-Genesis Likely struggled to understand him even at this point. Symbolically, Ariki has made more movement towards the shadowy world of the gangs at this point. Ariki remain in the shadows where light is shining on Genesis face, showing the contradiction between their futures. Deep focus: Mid shots: Diegetic sounds: - overlapping voices to create intensity and unease, the feeling that something bad is going to happen - Singing: to welcome his ancestors to the chess board Activities Character

Descirption at the beginning of the novel

Shown by Example and quote

Description midway through the novel

Mana

-Lost, scared and confused, not having a goal, living with no reason/purpose. -Trying to impress his dad and make him proud by acting tough. -Trying to fit into the gang life. -Didnt know his worth and was still trying to figure out his own identity. - doesn’t question his father’s choice.

‘I reckon I look like him more than you.” Which shows how he looks up to his dad and tries to be like him(just following in his dad’s steps, doesn’t have an indentity)

-Starts to become closer with Genesis. -Follows genesis wherever he goes where he discovers the chess club. -accepts to go to the chess club and tries something new. He starts going to the meetings and practices regularly and it was a place where he felt secure, happy and felt a sense of belonging.

Shown by? Example and quote

Description at the end of the novel

-Learns that he doesn’t have to follow his father into the gang. -Continues his journey without violence knowing that he will be supported by his uncle. -The arrival of Genesis and his more gentle ways shows Mana that there is a different path. -By the end of the film he as experienced success and seen another part of the

Shown by? Example and quote

country. - makes a decision to seek out Genesis when he needs guidance. -He finds home with Genesis and the chess club, refuses drugs, alcohol and the gang life. Genesis: he begins the film suffering from the mental illnessn that has defines his life. He is unable to care for himself as his previous releases semm to reveal. Released into his brother’s care he is struggling with self beleif-he needs a purpose/something positive in his life to offer him some stability. Seeking that he finds the eastern knights. Genesis sets himself a simplistic quest- he wants to ge the kids to the tournament in Auckland. Ariki: this tough older brother and father has always wanted to do the right thing for his son. While no one has been there to rescue him, Ariki has done his besr to build a life for his son. His attempt to have Mana patched show how far he is willing to go to ensure that his son is cared for after his death despite the fact that he knows the hardships that life will bring.The flashbacks throughout the film tell us that he always supported Genesis as does his going to the institution. Ariki’s relationship with his brother pushes Genesis to see what needs to be done if he is going to help Mana. When Genesis steps up, having acknowledged the resposibility that it entails, Ariki is able to let go of his son(even though this is a difficult decision he allows Genesis to tell hm that everything is going to be ok-to be his support as he has always been Genesis’(this is a recurring motif throughout in the film)....