STRIVING FOR PERFECTION

Having decided on my general idea, it is time to finally follow the guidelines and focus on the opening of the movie. Up until now, I have been trying to get an idea of the story I want to tell, and, as seen on my last post, that is almost settled. Now, I plan to analyze how the openings, specifically, foreshadow and develop the movie that is about to come, all the while entertaining the audience. I will be using some of the films discussed before, as well as others that I have watched since then. Here we go.

Recently, I have watched Darren Aronofsky's Black Swan (2010), which has a rather interesting start. Unlike the other movies on my list, this long feature begins in a dream sequence, using the character's subconscious to introduce the audience to the story. Given that the thriller borders on psychological, establishing the protagonist's values and ideology through the sequence can be very useful. Not only that, but since the film concerns ballet - more specifically, Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake - it is only fair that the audience is introduced to this familiar tale. Still, there is more to the scene than just the choreography and stupendous acting: the shots, editing, and mise-en-scene work together to set the tone for the piece, with extreme opposites and very fluid movement. Nina's white costume, for instance, represents both the white swan and her innocence, which is corrupted throughout the narrative. This dark influence, too, is foreshadowed in the first few minutes: Rothbart soon appears, robed in black (not unlike the original costume for the character) and manipulates Odette/Nina to his liking. The long take captures the two as they dance, and the lighting, simulating the stage, places the evil character in almost full darkness - only the back light traces his outline. From this point on, the use of computer-generated imagery drives the scene towards the thriller genre, with actual monsters haunting the character. Nonetheless, given that it is a dream sequence, the "transformation" into nonhuman creatures is subjective, and a mere representation of Nina's feelings.

the opening of Black Swan

The most notable aspects of how the Black Swan opening conveys a message is the manipulation of mise-en-scene. Yes, other factors play an important role in establishing the tone, as discussed in my previous paragraph, but, above all, the color and lighting (as well as composition) develop the character enough for the dream sequence to end in such a way that, by the time it is over, the audience already knows Nina.

Using a dream sequence could allow me to communicate my character's ideals in a short amount of time. Because I cannot portray the full descent in mere two minutes, I have to find a way to drop clues as to the fact that it will happen. With that in mind, this type of opening could come in handy: it effectively develops themes that will be relevant in the story. However, I am not sure if this type of scene absolutely fits the story I am trying to tell. The idea still remains in the back of my mind, though - maybe I will reconsider it.

The second on my list is Whiplash (yes, again). Many have made the comparison between the two movies - in fact, I have even based some of my research on a video analyzing the similarities of both films. That said, I will begin by pointing out the differences between the two openings. 

I will admit, it is much easier to define what both have in common than to point out divergences, but it is possible. To begin with, the genre itself is different, as well as the tone. Whiplash, a drama, focuses on the relationships between characters in a realistic manner - not as idealized or introspective as the dream sequence of Aronofsky's 2010 film. By showing Andrew and his soon-to-be instructor, Fletcher, only in different shots (never in a two-shot), the connection between the two characters - as well as the rift between the two - is established. Though the colors in the opening of Chazelle's film are not so starkly contrasting as the black and white of the ballet, the greenish-yellow, metallic lighting also relates to the subject of the segment. That is, shot and composition take the spotlight on this segment, although many post-production techniques are also employed.

the opening of Whiplash

It is worth noting that, above all other parallels between the movies, the greatest similarity is in the story, and how, even in the first few minutes, the object of the protagonist's obsession is already presented. In fact, stories of the kind usually tend to begin with a demonstration of the factor that will drive the protagonist beyond their limits - this is seen in the aforementioned movies, as well as in Pi and Zodiac (dir. David Fincher, 2007), the latter which, despite not showing the main character in the opening, showcases the case on which he fixates.

Knowing that, and following the precious advice given to me during my personal meeting in class - "don't overwork it" -  I should concentrate on bringing my character's work into the scene, only at the end hinting at the impending ruin. Of course, with the mise-en-scene, I could create "red flags" or other elements that indicate the obsession, but, overall, this piece should focus on establishing the protagonist as a passionate scientist (possibly to a dangerous extent). Based on the openings I have seen, color and lighting also seem to be key factors in conveying meaning and entertaining the audience, so I will try and work with that. The editing, too, can help communicating a message - Whiplash, for one, uses quite a few whip-pans. Until then, I will try to clarify my vision for the opening and work on the more technical aspects.

SOURCES:

Miyamoto, K. (2018, May 8). A Simple Way to Make Dream Sequences and Flashbacks Work. ScreenCraft. https://screencraft.org/2018/05/08/simple-way-to-make-dream-sequences-and-flashbacks-work/

The Art of the Dream Sequence. (n.d.). The Criterion Collection. Retrieved February 18, 2021, from https://www.criterion.com/current/posts/5606-the-art-of-the-dream-sequence

News Desk. (2021, January 29). Swan Lake | Ballet Story, Characters, Music & Performances. The Ballet Herald^TM. https://www.balletherald.com/swan-lake-ballet/

IMDb. (2010, December 17). Black Swan (2010). https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0947798/

Lessons from the Screenplay. (2016, November 22). Whiplash vs. Black Swan — The Anatomy of the Obsessed Artist [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ba-CB6wVuvQ&t=652s

Movieclips. (2015, December 8). Black Swan (2010) - Nightmarish Dance Scene (1/5) | Movieclips [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kd-81VRVQXw&t=6s

IMDb. (2007, March 2). Zodiac (2007). https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0443706/