Analysing The Opening Scenes of Se7en

Mise en scene, editing, sound and camera.




Editing by Rubie
In the opening scene of Se7en editing has been used mainly to change the view points and locations. The jump cuts used to change the scene from inside the house to the street deliberately, in order to make a point, as it boldly ends the scene and progresses into something else. In the shot with the man in bed and the metronome, matched cuts have been used as their is a familiar relationship between the two shoes as it's happening in the same room at the same time. It has been edited like this to draw attention to the situation and also is a one-step change of shot size as one is zoomed in on the object whereas the other is just a shot of the man. The repeating of these two scenarios within the shots  make the audience think and try and piece together and relate the two. Cuts have been used throughout every few seconds in order for the audience to see details and surroundings and objects. Cuts are also used during conversations as well in order to show who is speaking and draw attention to them. When the opening titles are running, fade shots are used frequently and at a fast pace to transition between shots. The shots appear from behind the other shots and superimpositions have also been used as two shots and placed directly over each other, and then proceed to fade out inset shots are also used within this part but it mainly consists of cuts which makes it very jumpy and effective.

Mise en Scene & Sound by Harry
During the Se7en clip thyere are a variety of ways in which mise en scene and sound are portrayed. For example at the start of the clip onhe of the characters appears to be wearing scruffy yet casual clothes, this gives the impression that the character may not be that well off and has little respect to his personal appearance however as the clip progresses you see the character in a different light as he is seen to be smartening up by putting on a blazer and tie giving him an overall smarter image. Whilst this is occuring the sound of a radio can be heard in the background, this gives the audience the impression that this is just an average day in the life of the character, yet his lifestyle and job is still a mystery. 

Further on in the clip the character appears to leave his home for what appears to the audience to be his place of work. He is now seen to be wearing a long coat, again adding to his smart and now somewhat professional image. For the first time, the audience hears the character speak, the dialog of the man appears to be in a serious tone as he is seen having what could be considered as an authoritive conversation with one of his potential colleagues, during which the street noise in the background gives the audience a sense of realism.

Finally towards the end of the clip the man is seen lying in bed wearing casual bed-time clothes again with the street noise in the background, for example a dog barking again this gives the audience a sense of realism. Then the metadome can be heard vividly as the dominant noise in the clip as the man drifts of to sleep, this is then broken by a crack of thunder which then leads to the title sequence in which a possible theme song is introduced, you can male out a sharp screehing sound which then dies down as the song becomes more upbeat. This all adds continuety for the audience.

Camera shots by William

Camera looks behind the man in the first scene (no movement, does the director want him to be shown? Will he have an effect on the storyline of the movie?)

Camera is low (around the tie area and is raised to show the character)

Low angle (showing bodies and then raised to character as shown before to examine it.)

Camera moves alongside the man talking to the other man, who is also looking down at something (can see the guy in the background blurred out making the audience aware of who’s talking.)

Camera low angle (looking up at the men outside raining showing dominance and power within the scene)

Camera follows someone’s hand when they are putting down their glasses and making what seems to be clock tick and says focused to that (gives the impression the director doesn’t want the audience to know who they are bout make them aware of them.)

Long shot of the man in the bed dark surroundings face not as clear, closing onto him (brings tension and confusion to who he is, can he be someone that we are going to meet or already met, that is going to stir problems in the rest of the movie to come.)

Intro credits along with clips show close up on objects that seem unusual (could they be related, hints maybe?)