Saving Private Ryan
Saving private Ryan
How does Spielberg use the opening sequence of "Saving Private Ryan" to create an interesting cinematic experience for the audience?
"Saving Private Ryan" is an entertaining and moving motion picture set in 1944 during the 2nd World War. Stephen Spielberg who is one of the world most renowned film directors having masterminded "Star Wars," "Jurassic Park" and "Jaws", directed the film. He also has tackled controversial topics such as: the Holocaust, slavery, war, and terrorism.
In any film the first sequence is unquestionably the most important section of the entire film; as it has to be interesting as well as create an experience that the audience is interested by. Spielberg definitely had this in mind when he was working on the first sequence of "Saving Private Ryan."
Throughout this essay I will be discussing how Spielberg uses the first sequence to create an interesting cinematic experience for the audience. Spielberg exploits four main cinematic devices to generate an attention grabbing cinematic encounter for the viewers. The four main devices are: signifiers, imagery, sound and camera angles. Signifiers are also knows as symbols they are the directors way of telling the audience something without …show more content…
verbal communication between characters. Imagery is any literary reference to the five senses (sight, touch, smell, hearing, and taste). Essentially, imagery is any words that create a picture in your head. Using figures of speech such as similes, metaphors, personification, and assonance can create such images. Sound can be split in to two subheadings; the first being music that could be played by an orchestra. The second is deijic sound, which is sound that reflects what you would be able to hear if you were present at the event, in context, the sounds of war. Camera angles are the way the camera is positioned or moved over a set there are 8 key camera shots in every film. They are: Pan, zoom, middle shot up above, tracking, close up, from below, and long shot. However I will only be using the latter four.
Spielberg's masterpiece employs and utilises a variety of signifiers to produce a reaction from the audience. This is done without the use of dialogue or imagery, which produces an emotional response from the audience and engulfs them in this groundbreaking film.
At the commencing of the film the audience see a star spangled banner in a full screen shot making it look very important to the audience. However Spielberg creates an oxymoron by making the flag translucent and fragile; because of the flags lifelessness it signifies to the audience that something is wrong. The in imperfections in the flag suggest to the audience that American pride had been dented and damaged. A new vibrant flag would symbolise strength and power, but the aged flag portrays the wound in America's pride. The flag is covering the sun, and the sun could be interpreted as the truth in relation to what happened in the war. Over time this charade has been eroded until it no longer covers the dark secrets of the war. This has a profound effect on the audience, seeing the contradicting symbols makes them speculate on the legitimacy of what the American government has been telling them over the last half century. This put doubt in to the mind on the viewer and makes them think that this film will inform them of the truth, accurately and without motive to protect an administration from criticism. By doing this Spielberg has captured the audience's attention in the first few minuets of the film and engrossing them in the work of art.
The contrasting use of (Christian) crosses in the opening sequence is a further example of symbolism. At the military cemetery just after the viewers see the elderly private Ryan walk along the gravel path they then encounter a vast expanse of plain white crosses in a formation similar to how soldiers would stand in their regiments. This is contrasted with the black cross like structures that are seen on the beach as the soldiers in their fortified boats approach. A similar yet opposite message, which is very potent is given out. Both symbols show death and lost life however the cemetery is peaceful and placid while the front line is gruesome and shocking. The crosses are already at the battle site that hints to the audience that the soldiers have no chance of winning so their watery graves have already been prepared. This gives the viewers have an idea as to what might happen to the soldiers but no too much information, this insight into the forthcoming events creates tension because it allows the audiences thoughts to conjure a possible plot gripping them and giving them an emotional attachment to the film.
The weather is a further example of a signifier; the weather gives the audience a direct insight as to the potential outcome of the scene. When the weather is sunny the American nation is glorified. When the weather is dull or raining the Germans are in shot or there is some sort of conflict. An example of this is shown at the beginning directly after the credits. The viewers see the idealistic image of a united American family; this picture is bathed in sunlight. In contrast when the soldiers are approaching the Omaha beach; the weather is grey and drizzly this signifies the coming events to be dangerous and painful. The weather is used to predict the future, this builds tension because the audience know something is going to happen but not how why or when. These questions in turn intensify the audience's interest and make them search for answer in other cinematic forms
The second cinematic device I am going to discuss is imagery; imagery taps in to the senses of the audience and helps them to imagine the sensations they see on screen. Spielberg uses a lot of imagery in the opening scene to grab the attention of the viewers.
The image of the American flag is a very prominent in the opening sequence. The see several as the elderly private Ryan walks through the cemetery. As I said in a previous paragraph the audience sees a faded American fag, after the battle scene a sea of blood (which is red) can be observed. There are also many dead fish and the sand is a brown colour though where it is still pure and free from blood it is cream colour. When all of these colours are put next to each other the audience see an abstract American flag. This is called visual imagery. As the audience have seen the genuine flag only moments before this image is projected to the forefront of their minds. This makes the viewers feel as if the men who have fought in this battle are only part of a smaller picture but they were a sacrifice that had to be made. The audience know the American flag as an image of power but in this situation it is an image of failure. This shock the audience because they can see the immeasurable loss of life conflicting with the image they had in their head of a powerful nation. This visual image says what words cannot in the distressing context
An additional use of imagery is used to make the audience try to feel the pain and suffering that the soldiers went through during the skirmish, in the battle the audience sees an injured soldier lying on the beach with parts of his inner body beside him. This is a very graphic image. It makes the audience cringe imagining what it would be like to be in that position. This cringe makes the audience more emotionally involved with the film because they are trying to understand the pain that the soldier is in, and in doing so the audience are building up a relationship with characters. Seeing a person's inners strewn across a battlefield is a very vicious image, it makes the film more realistic and reflects what warfare is really like. By making it more believable for the audience by using their senses they feel more involved with the action. This technique interests the audience by inducing them to use all their senses, which is what the silver screen is all about.
The use of sound is crucial to any film. Sound is used where words cannot describe a feeling or it would not be appropriate to use dialogue. Sound in a film could be musical or deijic. When sound is used in its musical form it can empower people or characters. When it is I its deijic form it creates the sensation that you are actually there witnessing what is happening.
An example where music is used to improve the cinematic experience starts at the very beginning of the film. As the credits become visible very patriotic music begins to play. This interests the audience by making them feel proud about their country and touches an unexplainable feeling in the body. This interests the viewer because it tells the audience that the film is about war. As the audience know what the film could be about their thoughts and desires create a possible story line so the viewer is compelled to watch on. Have thought on what the film may be about make the film more interesting because it keeps the audience guessing and constantly interacting with the film.
Music can also create tension.
When the music is changed in "Saving Private Ryan" there is a normally a change in atmosphere and mood. Spielberg harnesses the power of music to make the audience believe something evil might happen. This happen when captain Miller uses a knife, a mirror and some chewing gum to look around a corner. As he does this the music suddenly changes to an eerie string orchestra. Changing the music a the time were Miller exposes his hand leads the audience to believe that it could be shot at or blown off; this creates a huge amount of tension. The tension created excites the audience and makes them more interested in the film because it is an emotional rollercoaster; having highs lows and frightening
aspects.
Deijic sounds can make the viewer feel more involved with the story line, for the most part deijic sounds are throughout the opening sequence apart from when they are faded in and out to introduce characters. An example of when they are faded out is when Captain Miller has a brief blackout on the beach. This is done to allow the audience to build a relationship with Miller as he is a main character in the story. Deijic sounds improve the quality of the film by making it more realistic and believable. If the effects sound real the audience is more likely to enjoy the film.
Different camera angles are used in a film to allow the director to control how and what the audience sees. If a film were shot in the same camera in the same camera angel then it would be boring. The use of may camera angles makes the film come alive as the audience can always see the action from the best point of view enhancing their enjoyment of the film.
Tracking is extensively used in the battle scenes. It shows the audience the viewpoint of a soldier in battle. It creates a real life picture giving audience a first person perspective. Spielberg controls audience's eyes and makes them focus on key features such as bodies on the ground and comrades being shot. This is effective because it makes the audience feel part of the cast while being bombarded by the thoughts and the intentions of Spielberg. The viewers think that what they are seeing is not biased however Spielberg fills the scenes with imagery and signifiers. It makes the film more entertaining because the audience find things out without the use of speech.
Close-ups are a major part of the dramatisation, they inform the audience of the acute emotions within characters. For example as the aged Private Ryan falls to his knees in the cemetery. From a distance the audience would not know that he was about to cry, but as the camera is in a close up on his face the audience realises that he is very emotionally unstable ad we see his cheeks twitching trying to hold back tears. Seeing this close up allows the viewer to read the characters and get into their frame of mind. The use of close ups makes the opening scene more interesting because it builds up in an emotional relationship with the characters; so we feel sympathy for example. This makes the audience care about them and interested as what their fate is. Emotions can only be read in a close up so they are vital to the success of the film.
My third camera angle is that of blow. It is used to make people look more important and to make the audience have respect for characters without speech or action. As Private Ryan is finding Captain Miller's tombstone he is shot (by a camera) from below. Making the audience look up at Private Ryan persuades them to respect him. Respecting characters makes the viewers feel as if they have a place in the film so they like, dislike, respect and disrespect characters. This in turn produces the effect of again caring and having feelings for the characters A long shot is used in `Saving Private Ryan` to show the cataclysmic loss of life. This makes it more interesting because the audience can see the whole picture. For example after the battle there is a long shot of the beach where the audience sees the colossal loss of life. This has the effect of making the audience absorb a lot of information in one time. It also has the effect of firstly shocking them and secondly making them focus of what is in front of them. This interests them because they are finding out a lot of information and allowing them to relate to the films.
How does Spielberg use the opening sequence of "Saving Private Ryan" to create an interesting cinematic experience for the audience?
"Saving Private Ryan" is an entertaining and moving motion picture set in 1944 during the 2nd World War. Stephen Spielberg who is one of the world most renowned film directors having masterminded "Star Wars," "Jurassic Park" and "Jaws", directed the film. He also has tackled controversial topics such as: the Holocaust, slavery, war, and terrorism.
In any film the first sequence is unquestionably the most important section of the entire film; as it has to be interesting as well as create an experience that the audience is interested by. Spielberg definitely had this in mind when he was working on the first sequence of "Saving Private Ryan."
Throughout this essay I will be discussing how Spielberg uses the first sequence to create an interesting cinematic experience for the audience. Spielberg exploits four main cinematic devices to generate an attention grabbing cinematic encounter for the viewers. The four main devices are: signifiers, imagery, sound and camera angles. Signifiers are also knows as symbols they are the directors way of telling the audience something without …show more content…
verbal communication between characters. Imagery is any literary reference to the five senses (sight, touch, smell, hearing, and taste). Essentially, imagery is any words that create a picture in your head. Using figures of speech such as similes, metaphors, personification, and assonance can create such images. Sound can be split in to two subheadings; the first being music that could be played by an orchestra. The second is deijic sound, which is sound that reflects what you would be able to hear if you were present at the event, in context, the sounds of war. Camera angles are the way the camera is positioned or moved over a set there are 8 key camera shots in every film. They are: Pan, zoom, middle shot up above, tracking, close up, from below, and long shot. However I will only be using the latter four.
Spielberg's masterpiece employs and utilises a variety of signifiers to produce a reaction from the audience. This is done without the use of dialogue or imagery, which produces an emotional response from the audience and engulfs them in this groundbreaking film.
At the commencing of the film the audience see a star spangled banner in a full screen shot making it look very important to the audience. However Spielberg creates an oxymoron by making the flag translucent and fragile; because of the flags lifelessness it signifies to the audience that something is wrong. The in imperfections in the flag suggest to the audience that American pride had been dented and damaged. A new vibrant flag would symbolise strength and power, but the aged flag portrays the wound in America's pride. The flag is covering the sun, and the sun could be interpreted as the truth in relation to what happened in the war. Over time this charade has been eroded until it no longer covers the dark secrets of the war. This has a profound effect on the audience, seeing the contradicting symbols makes them speculate on the legitimacy of what the American government has been telling them over the last half century. This put doubt in to the mind on the viewer and makes them think that this film will inform them of the truth, accurately and without motive to protect an administration from criticism. By doing this Spielberg has captured the audience's attention in the first few minuets of the film and engrossing them in the work of art.
The contrasting use of (Christian) crosses in the opening sequence is a further example of symbolism. At the military cemetery just after the viewers see the elderly private Ryan walk along the gravel path they then encounter a vast expanse of plain white crosses in a formation similar to how soldiers would stand in their regiments. This is contrasted with the black cross like structures that are seen on the beach as the soldiers in their fortified boats approach. A similar yet opposite message, which is very potent is given out. Both symbols show death and lost life however the cemetery is peaceful and placid while the front line is gruesome and shocking. The crosses are already at the battle site that hints to the audience that the soldiers have no chance of winning so their watery graves have already been prepared. This gives the viewers have an idea as to what might happen to the soldiers but no too much information, this insight into the forthcoming events creates tension because it allows the audiences thoughts to conjure a possible plot gripping them and giving them an emotional attachment to the film.
The weather is a further example of a signifier; the weather gives the audience a direct insight as to the potential outcome of the scene. When the weather is sunny the American nation is glorified. When the weather is dull or raining the Germans are in shot or there is some sort of conflict. An example of this is shown at the beginning directly after the credits. The viewers see the idealistic image of a united American family; this picture is bathed in sunlight. In contrast when the soldiers are approaching the Omaha beach; the weather is grey and drizzly this signifies the coming events to be dangerous and painful. The weather is used to predict the future, this builds tension because the audience know something is going to happen but not how why or when. These questions in turn intensify the audience's interest and make them search for answer in other cinematic forms
The second cinematic device I am going to discuss is imagery; imagery taps in to the senses of the audience and helps them to imagine the sensations they see on screen. Spielberg uses a lot of imagery in the opening scene to grab the attention of the viewers.
The image of the American flag is a very prominent in the opening sequence. The see several as the elderly private Ryan walks through the cemetery. As I said in a previous paragraph the audience sees a faded American fag, after the battle scene a sea of blood (which is red) can be observed. There are also many dead fish and the sand is a brown colour though where it is still pure and free from blood it is cream colour. When all of these colours are put next to each other the audience see an abstract American flag. This is called visual imagery. As the audience have seen the genuine flag only moments before this image is projected to the forefront of their minds. This makes the viewers feel as if the men who have fought in this battle are only part of a smaller picture but they were a sacrifice that had to be made. The audience know the American flag as an image of power but in this situation it is an image of failure. This shock the audience because they can see the immeasurable loss of life conflicting with the image they had in their head of a powerful nation. This visual image says what words cannot in the distressing context
An additional use of imagery is used to make the audience try to feel the pain and suffering that the soldiers went through during the skirmish, in the battle the audience sees an injured soldier lying on the beach with parts of his inner body beside him. This is a very graphic image. It makes the audience cringe imagining what it would be like to be in that position. This cringe makes the audience more emotionally involved with the film because they are trying to understand the pain that the soldier is in, and in doing so the audience are building up a relationship with characters. Seeing a person's inners strewn across a battlefield is a very vicious image, it makes the film more realistic and reflects what warfare is really like. By making it more believable for the audience by using their senses they feel more involved with the action. This technique interests the audience by inducing them to use all their senses, which is what the silver screen is all about.
The use of sound is crucial to any film. Sound is used where words cannot describe a feeling or it would not be appropriate to use dialogue. Sound in a film could be musical or deijic. When sound is used in its musical form it can empower people or characters. When it is I its deijic form it creates the sensation that you are actually there witnessing what is happening.
An example where music is used to improve the cinematic experience starts at the very beginning of the film. As the credits become visible very patriotic music begins to play. This interests the audience by making them feel proud about their country and touches an unexplainable feeling in the body. This interests the viewer because it tells the audience that the film is about war. As the audience know what the film could be about their thoughts and desires create a possible story line so the viewer is compelled to watch on. Have thought on what the film may be about make the film more interesting because it keeps the audience guessing and constantly interacting with the film.
Music can also create tension.
When the music is changed in "Saving Private Ryan" there is a normally a change in atmosphere and mood. Spielberg harnesses the power of music to make the audience believe something evil might happen. This happen when captain Miller uses a knife, a mirror and some chewing gum to look around a corner. As he does this the music suddenly changes to an eerie string orchestra. Changing the music a the time were Miller exposes his hand leads the audience to believe that it could be shot at or blown off; this creates a huge amount of tension. The tension created excites the audience and makes them more interested in the film because it is an emotional rollercoaster; having highs lows and frightening
aspects.
Deijic sounds can make the viewer feel more involved with the story line, for the most part deijic sounds are throughout the opening sequence apart from when they are faded in and out to introduce characters. An example of when they are faded out is when Captain Miller has a brief blackout on the beach. This is done to allow the audience to build a relationship with Miller as he is a main character in the story. Deijic sounds improve the quality of the film by making it more realistic and believable. If the effects sound real the audience is more likely to enjoy the film.
Different camera angles are used in a film to allow the director to control how and what the audience sees. If a film were shot in the same camera in the same camera angel then it would be boring. The use of may camera angles makes the film come alive as the audience can always see the action from the best point of view enhancing their enjoyment of the film.
Tracking is extensively used in the battle scenes. It shows the audience the viewpoint of a soldier in battle. It creates a real life picture giving audience a first person perspective. Spielberg controls audience's eyes and makes them focus on key features such as bodies on the ground and comrades being shot. This is effective because it makes the audience feel part of the cast while being bombarded by the thoughts and the intentions of Spielberg. The viewers think that what they are seeing is not biased however Spielberg fills the scenes with imagery and signifiers. It makes the film more entertaining because the audience find things out without the use of speech.
Close-ups are a major part of the dramatisation, they inform the audience of the acute emotions within characters. For example as the aged Private Ryan falls to his knees in the cemetery. From a distance the audience would not know that he was about to cry, but as the camera is in a close up on his face the audience realises that he is very emotionally unstable ad we see his cheeks twitching trying to hold back tears. Seeing this close up allows the viewer to read the characters and get into their frame of mind. The use of close ups makes the opening scene more interesting because it builds up in an emotional relationship with the characters; so we feel sympathy for example. This makes the audience care about them and interested as what their fate is. Emotions can only be read in a close up so they are vital to the success of the film.
My third camera angle is that of blow. It is used to make people look more important and to make the audience have respect for characters without speech or action. As Private Ryan is finding Captain Miller's tombstone he is shot (by a camera) from below. Making the audience look up at Private Ryan persuades them to respect him. Respecting characters makes the viewers feel as if they have a place in the film so they like, dislike, respect and disrespect characters. This in turn produces the effect of again caring and having feelings for the characters A long shot is used in `Saving Private Ryan` to show the cataclysmic loss of life. This makes it more interesting because the audience can see the whole picture. For example after the battle there is a long shot of the beach where the audience sees the colossal loss of life. This has the effect of making the audience absorb a lot of information in one time. It also has the effect of firstly shocking them and secondly making them focus of what is in front of them. This interests them because they are finding out a lot of information and allowing them to relate to the films.