Analysis of first 15 minutes.

“21 Grams” first 15 minutes film analysis

The film I have chosen to analyse is called “21 Grams” and was created in 2003, meaning it’s a modern outlook on the topics involved. In this case, the topic of the film is drugs – specifically ketamine which is a fairly new drug that young people have began taking. The film’s characters all have “past”, “present” and “future” story threads, which is what our group is wanting our film to be arranged like. The story is told in a non-linear manner, which our group wants to incorporate as many thrillers do this for effect. This film also outlooks the effects of drugs on the brain and how they can cause confusion, which happens within our own film as the teenage girls believe their friend is dead because they are all under the influence of drugs. During the first 15 minutes of the film, there are many stereotypical shots that our group should consider when planning our own angles and shots. Certain shots match the genre and make it clearer to the audience that the film is a thriller.

The opening shot of the film clarifies the position the 2 characters are in and how they are feeling about them. The man is looking over the woman as though he holds more power; the high angled shot supports this and makes the man stand out as being more dominant in a certain situation. His depressed facial expression suggests he isn’t happy about something. The way the woman is asleep and he’s already awake shows that he is worrying about the problem more than she is and is dealing with it not as well. This shot is typically found in a drama or a thriller as it introduces the audience to the main character/s without them having to say much. It is clear that these two characters may be in a relationship as the first shot of them both is in a bed; many other thrillers introduce their characters like this to show the audience what they are like. Also, the man is looking down as though he is ashamed, this could suggest he has done something wrong.
   The light background stands out because it shows the two characters are still in bed even though it is light and no longer night time. This shot also suggests the man is waiting on the woman to awaken as he has opened the curtains and let this light in. However, the way both of the characters are in the dark suggests they are hiding something.
   This certain shot lasts approximately 25 seconds, which our group couldn’t incorporate as that would be a quarter of our time filled. Although this works effectively in showing time is going slowly and that it is dragging for the man. In addition, it shows how the man is feeling and that he is important throughout the film as he has already been on a shot for over 25 seconds and the film hasn’t even properly begun as this shot is followed by the introduction of “21 Grams”. This limited movement on the shot, also suggests a more serious film.
  The way they are both naked brings them both down to the same level of importance, making no one more dominant than the other. This suggests they have both done something wrong, but he is thinking about it more than her. Our group could use this scene as well, as one girl is going to feel guiltier than the other girls for their friend’s apparent death.
   The diagetic sound used within this scene suggests everything that is happening is realistic and not just a game. This also fits in with the stereotypical scenes of thrillers and drama’s where no music is used to create a false interpretation of what situation they are in and what is going in. This promotion of realism could also show the seriousness of drugs themselves and how they can affect people’s lives.

The first time one of the characters from the first shot is shown is only a few seconds in, meaning she spends the most time on shot in the first 2 minutes. This outlines her importance in the film and our group will be doing this as well as all our main characters are at the same level of importance and should be shown equally throughout the first 15 minutes of our own film.
   The way all the characters are dressed casual suggests the place she is at isn’t a formal gathering. However, she looks like the youngest there as she has made more of an effort to dress up wearing a skirt and having her legs showing. This suggests it is odd for someone of her age to be where she is at and that the things that have happened to her shouldn’t have happened. This is similar to our film as the teenage girls that are in our film shouldn’t be taking illegal drugs, but especially not at the age they are.
   All the characters have a serious facial expression which shows realism and that they are all worried and taking the situation serious. This is important in our own film, as the topics involved are serious therefore we have to be whilst filming and coming up with ideas. The lighting during this shot also seems depressing and neutral, suggesting the woman’s feelings are also not very positive.
   As this medium shot is facing towards the woman, the shot is focusing in on her and her problems. Furthermore, this over the shoulder shot suggests everyone around her is listening to her and she is on the spot. We could used this is our own film as the girl who feels more guilty than the rest will be confronted by her peers about the situation they are all in. Everything behind her is blurred, to show the unimportance of everything else in the room, also showing the people who are listening to her aren’t interested in what’s behind her but what she is saying. This scene is made obvious to the audience that the woman has gone to a help group to help her get through whatever she has been through. This could be taken into consideration when our group is finalizing our scene ideas and what we are actually going to put into it.
   Yet again there is limited movement on the shot, suggesting everything that has been going on has taken up much of their time and they have been staying in the same place for a long time. Furthermore, this could also outline how she is the important character in the shot as no others are given the chance to speak and do not attempt to interrupt what she is saying. No music is used again, which promotes realism and takes the subjects being spoken about very seriously.

This shot doesn’t focus in as much on the two characters, but on the background and the setting they are in. The importance of the setting is that everything is layed out very organised and that they’re the only two people in the room – this showing the characters are important and that whatever is happening should be taken seriously. The man on the right is dressed more formally than the boy on the left, showing dominance and that the man is more in power than the boy. This is supported by the way the man is folding his harms as though he is in charge in comparison to the boy who looks as though he is hiding away under his hat with his head facing downwards. Although, this is juxtaposed by the way the camera angle isn’t altered and shoots them as though they are all the same level of power and neither of them is higher than the other, other than in height.
   This shot is filmed as a long shot not just to fit all the background in but to suggest the man and the boy feel distant from each other and that they are feeling awkward around each other and their company. However, this shot doesn’t last as long as the other shots and changes to a close up of the man within around 5 seconds, giving the audience just enough time to familiarise themselves with the surroundings and where the characters are.
   There is also a shift in lighting, and the windows at the back of the characters are letting light through which is taking the characters out of the dark. The light doesn’t differ from each character either, which suggests they are on the same level of dominance and doesn’t make any of the two stands out from the other. This should be taken into consideration when filming our shots as we want all the girls to be at the same level of naivety at the beginning of the 15 minutes of film, this may alter throughout as things start to be revealed and different girls are more to blame.
   This shot follows the 180 degree line which we need to do also follow. In addition, continuity is used so the shots do not look disjointed and confuse the audience.

The first thing you realise about this over the shoulder shot is that the camera is looking up at the man which suggests he has now gained power over the boy. Also, the man is standing over the boy which makes him look more vulnerable and like anything could happen. Now that the camera is focusing more in on what the man is wearing you can see that he is dressed casual but that he is muscularly, this is the first time the audience has seen the man from waist up and can have a good look t what sort of person he looks like he could be. These medium shots can be used in our own film to shot the audience a basic overview of facial expression. As his facial expression looks smug, this gives the audience are hint to what’s going to happen next and makes the audience intrigued to find out what’s going to happen to the boy.