24 Extract Essay

           Throughout the entirety of the 24 extract, it is evident that the director is trying to convey a suspenseful atmosphere. Tension is built up within each scene, allowing the video to capture the audience’s attention. Along with the creation of an ominous mood, the characters and their intents are developed. The techniques used in the extract increase anticipation and fuels one’s curiosity to continue watching the film. The director establishes a thriller genre with the techniques used. A message that the director seems gets across is to be careful of who you trust.

            In the first scene, two characters wearing casual clothing are introduced within dark lighting. The low lighting and shadows highlight facial features and expressions along with adding onto the ominous mood of the extract. Instantly, due to low incidental sound and the acting of the man and woman, it can be inferred that there is high tension between the two. It becomes evident that the woman is being held captive in an interrogation room in order for her to reveal information regarding a bomb. As the man enters the room, he looks up to a camera with an eye-line match, meaning that he may be disturbed by the idea of being watched. Close-up shots and medium close-up shots are both used within the extract, accentuating the expressions made by the actors. This demonstrates the seriousness of the situation and the contrasting attitude that both actors had towards it. Before dialogue is introduced, papers used as props are given to the women, the president’s signature apparently being on it. This signifies that the issue at hand can affect not only those in the room, but the nation as a whole, being that the president has a role. The diegetic sound within the first scene consists of the door opening and closing, footsteps, and rustling papers. This contributes towards an increase of curiosity of the audience, since there is no dialogue provided for explanation.

            The scene is then interrupted by a separate scene, introduced by cross-cutting. Within this scene, a woman and a man are observing those in the interrogation room through a computer scene.  Unlike those in the other room, these people are wearing more business-like clothing, suggesting a higher position of authority and professionalism. In the background, there are many computers and footsteps heard, creating a busy atmosphere. The purpose of including this segment was to show that surveillance is necessary in this situation, once again contributing towards the seriousness of the matter. There is another cross-cut back to the room and the woman looks up at a clock with an eye-line match, suggesting that the interrogation is a waste of her time. It may also signify that the woman is impatient, constructing her character. The woman breaks the silence by starting to talk in a concise manner to the man, asking him for exactly what she needs. The dialogue between the man and woman, shown with over the shoulder shots, emphasize the importance of the information that the woman retains. She is then introduced as Nina as the man confronts her about her loyalty. The anger of the man rises and he throws the table across the room while yelling at the woman. A reaction shot is used to show how the behavior of the two observers. Their body language consists of the woman nervously looking towards the man who is picking at his lips. These actions show that the actors are unsure as to what the destructive man is planning on doing.

            The scene cross-cuts back to the interrogation room and more dialogue is provided between the characters. A zoom in is used to accentuate the anger of the man as the woman warns him that his actions could result in his expulsion of the case. Another cross-cut is used to update the audience on the observers and their status and then cross-cuts back. The man tackles the woman against the wall, the diegetic sound including the chair screeching and him yelling. A split screen then is used to compare what is happening in both rooms and to highlight the urgency. Hand- held movement follows the man running towards the interrogation room that builds the intensity of the situation. As the woman is being choked, there is high incidental sound that concerns the audience of the man’s intentions. The girl looks desperately at the man who then orders the one attacking to stop. She heavily gasps and the incidental sound fades. As the man walks away, now introduced as Jack, he passes security, another aspect that adds towards the critical setting of the extract.

            Ultimately, each technique used contributes to the seriousness of the extract and the increase in tension that the director means for. The combination of mis-en-scene in each scene developed the overall mood in the extract. The message, being to be careful of who you trust, was reflected upon the attitude of the characters seen through the camera movements, angles, editing, and sound techniques. These techniques helped create an extract filled with suspense, the main aim of the director.