Audiences and Institutions
- Film Title: The Matrix
- Genre: Sci-Fi
- BBFC Certificate: 15
- Directors: Andy Wachowski& Lana Wachowski
- Release year: March 31, 1999 (USA), 11 June 1999 (UK)
- Production Company: Warner Bros, Silver Pictures & Village Roadshow Pictures
- Distribution Company: Warner Bros, Silver Pictures & Village Roadshow Pictures
- Awards Won: 33
- Box Office Gross/Profit: $456 million worldwide
- Successful Advertising campaign: Yes due to huge US funded Hollywood budget (trailers/posters/merchandise)
Camerawork
- Long shot to show what Trinity is doing with her whole body during fights and chases.
- Close up of Trinity’s face when the police are about to arrest her, this shows her expression with builds tension and an anticipation of what is to happen next.
- Her facial expression is calm and composed which allows the audience to recognise her as a strong/tough character, which makes the policeman’s comment of “I think we an take down one little girl” look foolish (giving him the negative representation of being Incompetent).
- Low angle shots of Trinity when she is beating up the police to show her power over them.
- Arc shot of Trinity when she jumps up to kick the police officer shows the full extent of the kick and her physical capability.
- Shots underneath the characters when they jump over the characters when jumping over the buildings – to make us believe it is higher than it actually is.
Sound
- Slows down music when Trinity kicks the police officer emphasises that it is in slow motion, making the audience concentrate on the kick, drawing them into the action.
- The music speeds up and slows down to adjust the tempo which when sped up increases our heart rate making it more exciting but when slowed down builds tension and creates a heightened atmosphere.
Mise-en-scene
- Set in a small hotel in a city at night. Shot on a film set, would be expensive otherwise.
- Very dark lighting so we have to peer forward and will see a slight green tint in the picture. Use of chiaroscuro lighting creating mystery and tension.
- Guns are used to shoot another policeman and torches to show slight sections of light.
- Handcuffs are in the scene which policeman use to try and arrest Trinity
- Trinity wears a light black leather cat suit suggesting superhuman qualities and characteristics.
Editing
- Cuts more frequent and increase during peaks of action to make it seem more paced and excite the viewer
- Fight broken down into different stages to allow the audience to follow what is happening.
- Action changed to slow motion when Trinity jumps up to kick a policeman to show the extremity and physicality of the kick.
Opening Titles
- What titles comes first? Why?
The first title we are introduced to is the introduction video of the production institution which produced the film. The company is Warner Bros. However, there is a green computerised effect put over the top of the logo, badge and video, this is done to tie in with the film and narrative as the colour green plays a huge role within the plot. The video lasts around 10 seconds and give the audience certain expectations as particular institutions create different types of film within different film genres. The institution has come first in order to put emphasis on the company and highlight the fact that this is a ‘Warner Bros Production’, which may be a form of subliminal advertisement and promotion.
- What font, style and colour are used? Effects or Transitions used?
The font is in computerised green text, making it seem very digital and tying it into the overall style of the film. The has a particular style of computerised lettering and numbering due to the fact that computers are a prop which have large influence in the film. By using this text it sets up this particular expectation for the rest of the film, allowing the audience to make the connection between the prop and the style of text in the opening titles. The titles are green, again following the typical convention of the films style and narrative. The background to the font is black, making the text stick out and be very noticeable, putting emphasis on the names of the film and production company. The transitions follow the same conventions to a computer with lettering spelling out the words of the titles as if being types on the computer, again following with the same conventions.
- What is the size of the font? Where is the text placed in the shot? Why?
The font is very large, putting emphasis the names which are being shown. The text can afford to be large due to the background not showing any footage and the text can afford to take the whole of the audiences attention. The text is centred, again highlighting it and drawing the attention of the audience.
Order of the roles, titles, credits, song etc. What comes last? Why?
Order:
> Institutions (Warner Bros + Village Road Pictures)
> Name of Film
- The name of the film comes last, in order to put emphasis on it and highlighting the connotations that it may carry.