Brick (Johnson, 2005, US)

Brick (Johnson, 2005, US)

Cinematography is used within the opening sequence in the film Brick to create meaning.

This is an extreme close up of a face, it isn't very clear it seems quite blurred which shows that the director is trying not to give too much away to the audience. 

This is a long shot of the boy crouching down and the girl laying on the floor. It shows the audience that this boy has been looking at her whilst she lays on the floor. This would start to make the audience question, 'does the boy know her' or 'what relationship did the boy and girl have?'. 

This is close up and a low angle, which is representing what the relationship with the boy and girl is and makes the audience question 'why is he still staring at her?'. It also shows his facial expressions and he looks like his in shock as he cannot take his eyes of the girl laying on the floor.

The tracking shot within the scene towards this young boy builds tension for the audience because it is showing that he really can't stop staring at her. Moreover, it establishes the relationship between them. 

This is a close up shot of the girls arm that he lying on the floor in water. This shot is giving the audience clues of the blue bangles that she is wearing.

There is a cut from her laying on the floor with a close up of her arm to her unlocking a locker with someone wearing the same bangles. This cut shows the audience that it is the same person which could represent that the film has gone backwards in time. 

This is a medium shot of the person walking towards the camera, also a part of the locker is clear however the rest is blurred out, this shows that this person is going to stand by this locker.

This is an extreme long shot, this establishes the scene as it is showing  that the boy is alone and this could suggest that he is vulnerable. Also it withholds information about this boy from the audience as they still haven't met him properly.

Sound is used in the opening sequence in Brick to create meaning. For example, when the camera is focused on the boy staring at the girl lying on the floor the music seems to have a sense of emotion to it which could make the audience wonder what has happened to the girl. Incidental music is used within this scene as it enhances the atmosphere of what is happening, as it shows the boys facial expressions which at times it comes across that he has some sort of connection with this girl as he cannot stop looking at her. 

Mise en scene is used in the opening sequence in Brick to create meaning. For example, low key lighting is used more in the scene when the girl lying on the floor which represents a bad situation that has happened as a young girl is laying dead whilst a young boy is crouched down just staring at her instead of trying to help. On the other hand high key lighting is used in the scenes within the school which could represent that the film has gone back in time because the girl is still alive as there is a clip of her unlocking the locker. Props that are used are the girls bangles which is effective towards the audience because its a clue within the opening sequence and shows the audience that the girl lying on the floor is the girl who is by the lockers which makes the audience question 'how did she actually die?'. The setting is in two places, the first being by the bridge which can make the audience think and question, did this girl jump of the bridge or did this boy push her over?, for the audience to be able to question what has happened, it makes them feel more involved  within the film and this will pursue them to carry on watching it. 

Editing is used in the opening sequence in Brick to create meaning. For example, most of the clips by the bridge are slow paced this creates a sense of emotion for the audience to see a young girl who has died just laying on the floor without any help from the boy. Also as the camera in slow motion leads up to the young boys face, this shows that something has happened, as the director isn't giving much away about what the boy looks like and what he is exactly looking at. When the camera is on the boys face it is for a long duration of time, this could suggest to the audience that whatever has happened this boy has a big part within the film.