Scene - Rooftop Bullet Time
Directors - The Wachowski Siblings
While it takes an army to make a film, I believe the
director (or in this case directors) has the most influence on what is crafted.
Others look to them to have an artistic vision and balance critical elements of
a project. Without a director, a movie becomes aimless.
“The Matrix” was an achievement both in is groundbreaking
special effects and its effectiveness as a story. These elements heighten one another,
and for this the movie can also be called an achievement in directing.
The iconic rooftop bullet time scene is especially well done
both in its composition and general execution. Having also written the film,
the Wachowskis provided a creative starting point, and were heavily involved in
the preparation required to pull off the sequence. Even before cameras rolled
they were making shot-lists and envisioning something that had never been done
before. The choice to end the scene with Trinity killing an agent was made on
paper long before it was decided to throw the shot into slow motion.
More than any other position listed here, a director is
involved in the post production process, suggesting what takes should be used
and how the final sequence should play out. While making the film, they are
also the ones to interact most with actors, encouraging a certain type of performance
and dictating some blocking/motion.
This scene from “The Matrix” is a brilliant piece of cinema
that exhibits many design principles from washed out building that fade into
the background (figure vs ground/pragnanz) to Neo’s bullet scuffs standing out
due to their texture (although the buildings also offer some interesting lines
and framing options). Within the context of the film there is contrast in color
tones between the greenish tint of this scene to the blueish tone of everything
outside the matrix. Shots are well balanced when appropriate. The camera moves
in ways that accentuate the action. All of this comes together to create one
hell of a sequence that would have been impossible without the directors’
contributions.
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