Media – Sequence Questions – Daniel Walter – 12E
Sequence Order for ACTION A – In the office
1. What is happening?
The sequence starts outside with a shot of a building and then the camera pans vertically down onto a moving car and then changes scenes into an office.
There are agents in the office and they’re using a computer to look at some classified top secret information. A close up is used to show the woman’s face on the computer screen. After this shot it shows men’s fingers typing on a keyboard and then changes back to the shot of the computer screen with another close up shot but this time it has the text “ENCRYPTION FILE X02” on it. At this point, we know that an encryption password had been placed onto the files of classified secret information.
After the computer screen is shown, the camera shows the user of the computers face for the first time and his facial expression looks serious. Again the camera moves back onto the computer and this time is showing a man showing another piece of classified secret information on the computer screen. After this happens the computer seems to get shut down and then something from the computer is placed into a briefcase which has a finger tip locking security system on it.
After the briefcase is locked with the finger print, is it then given to a man and the sequence ends.
2. What information are you GIVEN?
We’re not given much information due to the fact there was not much dialogue.
The only information that we are given are the peoples identities that are shown on the computer and the appearance of some of the people working in the office. We are also given the indication that the briefcase is important because it has a fingertip security system on it. Another part of information that we’re given is the characters appearance who are working in the office.
3.What information is WITHELD?
In the sequence the brief case is kept closed so the audience doesn’t get to see what is inside.
Because this is a short sequence the audience don’t get to see exactly what is going to happen next once they leave the office, we don’t get to see who they are going to meet.
We also don’t know why they’re searching people up, the only information the audience gets is the people’s names which makes it more mysterious and makes the audience wonder and almost feel as if they have to figure it out themselves.
As an audience we are shown “classified top secret” on the computer screen and “encryption”. This creates a sense of security and it makes it more “MI5” like and as a sense of reality, we do not know much information about the MI5 service.
4.Why is the sequence important?
The sequence is important because it introduces interesting objects which have a point on interest such as the briefcase and the classified information that is shown on the computers. I think this is important because it gives the audience and understanding of the atmosphere of the scene and makes the audience know that it is a secret environment.
It is also important because it creates tension and the speed that the sequence moves at shows that the detectives are in a rush to do something and that their jobs are fast paced and always on the move.
5. Why do we need to see the other scenes imbetween these scenes? – Think about the audience – what do they want to see? – What happens to the level of interest?
With the two sequences happening at the same time creates tension for the audience and gives a sense of time passing by even though the shots are done in a short period of time.
I think it is important to show the other scenes imbetween these scenes because it lets the audience know what is going on, on both sides. It shows the office preparing to deliver the briefcase whereas it shows the thieves getting ready to steal the briefcase. I think this is good because it creates a build of excitement and interest in the audience and makes to the audience keener to know what is going to happen next after the man has left the sequence with the briefcase.
