Analysis of Fight club ... by amy beckwith

Fight club

the first proper scene in fight club is the opening credits with neurones in the brain working and has been computer generated so i will analyse the first scene after the opening credits.

(video would have been embedded with screen grabs but there are no videos online and could only be watched on DVD)

camera shots 

• the first scene is a very dark scene keeping the mystery of the shot 
• the first thing you see is a gun and it is the only thing in focus emphasising the danger of the weapon the depth of field focus is then pulled from the fun onto the mans face. 
• the shots used in this are over the shoulder and extreme/close up shots there's help show the emotion on the mans face so you feel more connected with the character even tough you don't know who he is.
• they also use crabbing and fast panning shots to create speed in the scene and make it more intense.

Mise en scene 

• the scene is filmed with a dark blue tint and is drained of some colour this is a regularly seen technique in thrillers and helps create atmosphere within the scene
• the first set is filmed in a high rise building with not many props or decoration in creating more enigma as there is no way of identifying what type of room they are in and where they are.
• a good technique they have used is that they have hidden the identity of the man with a gun by only showing parts of his body in shots and not his face. this is a great way of creating enigma and getting the viewers thinking about who this man is.
• the scene then suddenly flash backs to a to a men with testicular cancer meeting room where the main character is squashed between a large mans chest. this is totally contrasting to the previous scene and throws the audience off their feet. Using flash backs and flash forwards are used quite alot in thrillers and i think they are a great technique to use and i really think it would be great to be able to use them in our coursework.

Editing 

• there are mildly fast transitions used in this scene and they also use a wipe/fade in between the 2 contrasting scene which is a great way to show time passing or switching to something different.

sound

• there is only diagetic sound used on this scene which helps you concentrait on more what the characters are saying rather than the music. in addition because it is a non action shot that just establishes the story and what is going on in the scene so there is no need for a sound track 
• there is also a voice over narration by the main character and he is explaining the story and his life.