Preliminary Task 1 - Brainstorm and Rationale

Grace Watson
25 February 2020
Media Studies
Preliminary Task 1 - Brainstorm and Rationale

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Brainstorm:
Grace Watson

Rationale:
Grace Watson

The scene will begin with a black screen as the titles of “GCH Prouductions • Close Shave” slowly appear. Before the scene has even begun, the viewer is already intrigued by what is meant by a “Close Shave”?! The black screen will fade away, and the opening shot, a wide shot of Rattler reaching towards a door (mise-en-scène), will fade-in (transition - editing). This specific transition will match the slower atmosphere created by the slow forming titles at the beginning, and will be reinforced later by different conventions to come (such as the humming, and slow, slow, slow walking of Rattler) that also carry an eeriness. 

There is no music at this point. All that can be heard is the loud knocking on the door (diegetic sound) that only sounds so loud and abrasive because of how silent everything else is. However, the viewer is still not completely fearful or distraught at this stage, as nothing of significant worry has happened just yet. 

The following shot will be a match-on-action shot (first technical requirement) of Rattler opening and stepping through the door, and closing it behind him. He will then walk toward the mirror ahead, a track shot will follow him doing so, and both the second character, Scar, and more of the location, a workshop, will be revealed to the viewer. The over-the-shoulder shot of Rattler looking at and examining his “beard” (non-existent) and reflection in the mirror placed on the workshop counter allows the viewer to see matters his own perspective. This shot also reveals Scar in the background reflection (mise-en-scène), as he prepares the hair cutting station for the shave to come. The barber equipment of scissors, a razor blade, shaving cream etc., pictured around him, all symbolise Scar as being a barber. Rattler doesn’t actually have any facial hair, and his hair is already nearly cut. He appears to be an unintentional character, reinforced by his being at a barber, when there is no hair to cut. His unintentional character look and his plain, straight face reveal how he is completely unaware of what it to happen to him. It’s ironic that both Scar and Rattler’s hair is short and shaved - neither appearing to need a haircut.

These shots will also reveal more of Scar and Rattler’s clothing. Clothing is often a symbol of background, occupation and wealth. Both men will be wearing dark blacks, blues and reds. Their clothes will be oversized and baggy, revealing how the men are affiliated with a gang. The colours of black and red represent death and blood, both activities that intense gangsters are heavily involved in.

It’s ironic that both Scar and Rattler’s hair is short and shaved - neither appearing to need a haircut.

The above shots also reveal the location. A workshop is supposed to be a place where wood is used for woodwork, where large structures are built, cars are fixed, boxes are packed etc. It is not supposed to be a barber. The ironic location immediately highlights a sense of strangeness. Perhaps they are involved in questionable activities, and hence would need to have their hair cut in hidden, secret and unpredictable places, such as the workshop, once again gang references.

During his walk toward the mirror, all that can be heard is the non-diegetic sound of Rattler’s footsteps, accompanied by the diegetic sound of Scar preparing the station by opening, clicking, rearranging and organising the workspace for the haircut. Everything else is still completely silent.

The silence and lack of dialogue will build up suspense as to why the actors have not greeted each other and why they both appear to be involved in gang behaviour. The viewer begins to question how healthy their relationship and their involvements are.

Up until this point, the viewer has been in a series of asking questions. Why in a workshop? Why so silent? Why so gangster-like? etc.

Close-ups of Scar and then Rattler respectively will reveal Scar motioning for Rattler to take a seat, still no sound. This will be an example of shot-reverse-shot (second technical requirement) and will once again emphasise the silence, and thereby the coldness of the scene. Where usually a barber is friendly and welcoming, their salon homely and warm, this barber is literally speechless, and he works from a cold workshop. The close-ups of the cell phone as it rings on the counter will highlight it's importance. The gun and the shank, surrounded by blood stains, will be seen on the floor below the counter. Both are symbols of death and murder, and will link with the phone call's conversation. he extreme-close-up of Scar's eyes and forehead as he hears what Ice, on the other end of the call has to say, will emphasize the terror of the situation, not only to the audience, but to him as well. His facial expression mimics the feeling of terror and worry within the viewer.

The lighting of the workshop is dim and dark. There is no light coming in from outside. This is ideal as it will compliment and mimic the fact that what is about to happen is dark and disgusting (murdering someone with a razor blade!!!). To depict Scar as being the character who has an upper hand and superiority, he, one, is in a standing position, whereas Rattler is motioned to take a seat, and, two, high-key lighting will be used to illuminate his character at some points in the scene, attracting the viewers' attention to his character and role and to what he may do.

Whilst Scar places his phone back on the table, Rattler will be heard humming a joyous song in the background. This humming will spark a sense of eeriness, as it will be the first sound other than the one sentence said on the phone-call amidst all of the silence. By now, the audience would've gotten used to the silence, and so the gradual increase in the sound of the humming, may creep them out, yet another convention. Because the audience knows what was said on the phone call, which Rattler does not, they may begin worrying for him and his life, and his humming may make them feel uncomfortable.

In the final few seconds of the scene, Scar will advise Rattler to "Close his eyes" to avoid soap in the eye. Suspense will be built through the building up of non-diegetic music made my drums and piano as Scar slowly but surely moves the razorblade closer and closer towards Rattler's neck, before suddenly, the music comes to an immediate and dramatic halt as the camera blacks out and all is finished. The black of the blackout resemble the death which has just occurred, and leaves the viewer in a state of shock and immense suspense. 

Throughout filming, the filming team will ensure to stick to the 180 degree rule (third technical requirement).