1. 2.10 C l o s e R e a dVi s u a l Te x t sExample presentation Christine Wells

2. Qu e s t i o n s t oc o n s i d e r What is happening in this shot? What theme or idea does this show? What film technique has been used? Why has the director used this technique? How did this affect the audience? 3. 1. T h e f i l m Is t u d i e dL i mi t l e s s (2011) Di r e c t e d b y Ne i l Bu r g e r 4. 2: L i m i t l e s s p l o ts u mma r y Out-of-work writer Eddie Morras (Cooper) rejection bygirlfriend Lindy (Abbie Cornish) confirms his belief thathe has zero future. That all vanishes the day an oldfriend introduces Eddie to NZT, a designerpharmaceutical that makes him laser focused and moreconfident than any man alive. Now on an NZT-fueled odyssey, everything Eddies read,heard or seen is instantly organized and available tohim. As the former nobody rises to the top of thefinancial world, he draws the attention of business mogulCarl Van Loon (De Niro), who sees this enhanced versionof Eddie as the tool to make billions. But brutal sideeffects jeopardize his meteoric ascent... 5. 3. T h e S e q u e n c eThe sequence that I have analysed is when Eddie takes his firstNZT tablet and he has a conflict with his landlords girlfriend inthe corridor outside his apartment.This scene shows the effect that the NZT has on Eddie and how he responds to it. 6. 4: A s p e c t 1: C o s t u m e 1An a l y s e t h e u s e o f a t l e a s tt w o c o s t u me s i n t h e e x t r a c t .Ho w a r e t h e y u s e d t o d e v e l o pc h a r a c t e r o r i d e a s ? 7. A s p e c t 1: C o s t u m e 1A n a l y s e t h e u s e o f a t l e a s t t woc o s t u me s i n t h e e x t r a c t . H o wa r et he y us e d t o de v e l opc h a r a c t e r o r i d e a s ? The director includes an over the shoulder shot of Eddiewho is talking to his ex-wifes brother. He is wearing oldjeans and a dull grey/brown coloured shirt and jacket.His hair is long, dirty and uncared for and he isunshaven. The director uses Eddies costume to makethe audience aware that he is down and out, he isunsuccessful as a writer and is feeling uninspired andhopeless. This shot is linked to the theme of despair asthe audience could assume that Eddie is feeling hopelessabout his life. 8. A s p e c t 1: C o s t u m e 2A n a l y s e t h e u s e o f a t l e a s t t woc o s t u me s i n t h e e x t r a c t . H o w a r et h e yus e d t o de v e l op c h a r a c t e r o ri d e a s ? 9. A s p e c t 1: C o s t u m e 2A n a l y s e t h e u s e o f a t l e a s t t woc o s t u me s i n t h e e x t r a c t . H o w a r et h e yus e d t o de v e l op c h a r a c t e r o ri d e a s ? In contrast a close up shot of Eddie at the end of thefilm shows him with short hair, close shaved and wearinga suit and tie. The director shows the audience that henow takes pride in his appearance and feels confidentabout who he is and his role in life. This links to thetheme of transformation as it informs the audience thatEddie has changed from his former deadbeat self into asuccessful business man who believes he can achieveanything. These 2 costumes are used to reinforce the developmentof Eddies character from a no-hoper to a successfulperson and also to portray the theme of transformationto the audience. 10. 5. A s p e c t 2An a l y s e t h e u s e o f l i ght i ng i nt h e e x t r a c t . Ho w d o e s i t c r e a t em o o d o r d e v e l o p c h a r a c t e r /i d e a si n t h e e x t r a c t ? Ho w d o e s i tma n i p u l a t e o r a f f e c t t h ea u d i e n c e ? 11. A s p e c t2A n a l y s e t h e u s e o f l i ght i ng i n t hee x t r a c t . H o w d o e s i t c r e a t e mo o d o rd e v e l o p c h a r a c t e r /i d e a s i n t h ee x t r a c t ? H o w d o e s i t ma n i p u l a t e o ra f f e c tt h e a u d i e n c e ? The mood changes to become intense and triumphant. Thelighting in this scene reflects this when it changes frombeing dull to well lit and bright after the effects of the pillare felt by Eddie. The director manipulates the lighting to help the audienceto understand that before Eddie took the pill his life was dulland going nowhere. When he takes the pill the bright lightsuggests to the audience that the light in his mind had beenturned on and his world has now been opened to many newpossibilities. The light shines brightly on Eddies face and combines with aclose up so that the audience can see the expression on hisface. A voiceover of Eddie saying, I was blind but now Isee reinforces the idea/theme of transformation. Thisdialogue is a reference to the apostle Paul from the Biblewho said the same thing. 12. 6. A s p e c t 3 An a l y s e t h eu s e o f mu s i c i n t h e e x t r a c t . Ho w i s i t u s e d t o de v e l op c ha r a c t e r , i de a s , o r mo o d ? The music in this scene changes as the lighting changes.When the pill takes effect Eddie is suddenly able to hearevery sound around him. He is aware of the smallestsound which helps the audience to understand that hisworld is changing. The director utilises the orchestralmusic and otherworldly sounds to suggest a spiritualexperience or epiphany. The director uses the music to show the audience theeffect of the drug on Eddie. It shows that Eddie is nowawake to the world and his surroundings, he is now ableto access 100 per cent of his brain. Because of hisepiphany he now has supernatural abilities which willhelp him to succeed in whatever he chooses to do. Theuse of music in this extract is used to reinforce thetheme/idea of transformation. 13. 7. A s p e c t 4: S h o t 1An a l y s e t h e u s e o f a t l e a s tt w o s h o t s a n d /o r c a m e r am o v e m e n t s i n t h e e x t r a c t . Wh a ti s t he p u r p o s e o f e a c h a n d h o wi s t h i s d e v e l o p e d ? 14. A s p e c t 4: S h o t 1A n a l y s e t h e u s e o f a t l e a s t t wos h o t s a n d /o r c a m e r amo v e me n t s i nt h ee x t r a c t . Wh a t i st he p u r p o s e o fe a c h a n d h o w i s t h i sd e v e l o p e d ? The director s purpose for this shot is to show theaudience the wonder and awe Eddie feels as he realisesthat his life now has endless possibilities. The director develops this purpose through a close up ofEddies face as he experiences he initial effects of thedrug. The close up is used to show the audience hisreaction to the effect, his eyes are wide and he issmiling as he sees and hears all the tiny detailssurrounding him. His expression is one of wonder andawe and the audience is able to see that the drug ishaving a huge impact on him. 15. A s p e c t 4: S h o t 2A n a l y s e t h eu s e o f at l e a s t t wos h o t s a n d /o rc a me r amo v e me n t si nt he e x t r ac t . Wh a ti s t hep u r p o s e o f ea c h a n dh o w i s t h i sd e v e l o p e d ? 16. A s p e c t 4: S h o t2An a l y s e t h e u s e o f a t l e a s tt wo s h o t s a n d /o r c a m e r amo v e me n t s i nt h e e x t r a c t . Wh a ti s t he p u r p o s e o f e a c h a n d h o wi s t h i s d e v e lo p e d ? The director s purpose for this shot is to show theaudience the change in the relationship between Eddieand his landlords girlfriend. The director develops this purpose through a two shot ofEddie and the landlords girlfriend smiling and chattingwith each other in the hallway. The two shot is used toshow the audience that he has impressed the landlordsgirlfriend with his knowledge and intelligence which is aresult of the NZT working in his system. The audiencecan see the positive effect that the drug has had on theway Eddie can relate to others. This links to theidea/theme of transformation by showing the firstchange in his personality. 17. Th e En d