Preview

The Truman Show Opening Scene Analysis

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
872 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
The Truman Show Opening Scene Analysis
In this scene the protagonist, Truman, starts off with his normal day, then disappears at the dead of night. Escaping Christof’s powerful clutch as the thousands of hidden cameras cannot locate him. All actors on the set then become a desperate, violent search party. Showing links to Truman's enclosure being a like a World War Two Nazi Concentration or Prisoner Of War (P.O.W) camp. Four techniques that this scene shows strong signs of are; Set, props, camera shots, and Acting
The director's purpose for this scene is to show the extent of Truman's imprisonment, showing that it is almost impossible for him to escape. It also shows how Truman has evolved and gained enough strength to overpower the people who have imprisoned him and escape. This also has links to the Nazi
…show more content…
A large variety of point of view shots were used to show the perspective of the cameras, to give you a feeling you were actually watching the Truman show, a technique shown through the bulk of the movie. Close up shots were used when a camera looked at a character's face, this shot was repetitively used on, Marlon, Christof and the staff of the Truman show, showing the worry and stress that they were feeling at the time, intensifying the situation that the viewer is seeing. For example when Marlon emerges from the hole Truman had dug to allow him to escape, he looks straight into the camera with a worried look on his face against Christof's wish saying. “He’s gone.” Panning camera shots show the full scale of the search for Truman by following the searchlights movements across the town as it looks for Truman and tracking shots move with the props and characters to almost give you a feeling you are among those searching for the missing man. This is used whilst the marching actors are walking and his fake mother and father are calling out for him. This scene is one of the most unique in the film because of these certain camera

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    Since he was writing this novel based on a true event he knew his style of writing had to have a real journalist sense to it (Plimpton). Verisimilitude was going to be the key to making his story seem real. Verisimilitude is the appearance of being true or real. This novel was based on true events, however some things were added into the story to make the story more interesting (Plimpton). With his use of verisimilitude Truman wrote the topic with the intention of creating a new genre (Plimpton). He intended on trying not to include his perspective in the text (Plimpton). He used this technique to allow the reader come up with their opinion of the event or…

    • 1036 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    However this connection to Truman is very rarely to Truman as a person but more a product. Christof’s connection to Truman can be seen when he speaks to his creation and says “I am the creator of a television show…you’re the star”. This demonstrates the idea that Christof is proud of and loves Truman. Yet these reasons are completely wrong and that he only loves him as he will be able to generate views and revenue. This point is furthermore emphasized when Christof is willing to kill Truman just for greater views. The Audience also feels a connection to Truman as a product. Throughout the whole film we see the two security guards constantly watching the Truman show and neglecting their real jobs in order to watch the Truman Show. We see them cherishing every moment of it. Nevertheless at the end we see that the security guards say at the end of the Truman Show say “what else is on”. This exhibits that much like normal products Truman is cherished and loved yet the moment he becomes obsolete he will simply be thrown away and discarded. These people feel a relation to Truman yet not a proper human…

    • 690 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    His handling of attention to detail and imagery allows for a reader to be interested and enter the realm of his mind. The tone, however is set to be dull and grey as a journalistic tone, it even in some remark allows you to transfer your mind into the time and the imagination of Truman as a person would perceive a sense of reading it in a newspaper article. This excerpt from In Cold Blood portrays the true story remarkably smoothly and allows for an interesting that a reader can learn a great deal from, whether it be from attention or his tone he paints the image in your mind that he had…

    • 425 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    When the movie begins, Truman has long had the seeds of his impending ascent to knowledge lying in wait. As a young man, he met and quickly fell for a woman by the name of Sylvia. Due to the nature of Truman's life, she was not allowed to talk to him and was quickly taken away by someone…

    • 1045 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    In Cold Blood Essay

    • 862 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Capotes book is written to a large extent in the form of a narrative, where others accounts are the basis to the story. “Sliding off Babe, she sprawled on the grass at the edge of the garden and seized her cat, dangled him over her, and kissed his nose and whiskers.”(Page 40) This was not the creative mind of Mr. Capote who thought that this would be a nice addition to his nonfiction novel. No, this was the last account of Nancy before her murder, given by Mr. Helm. Truman could have chosen to put that account in a different form, perhaps displaying more of himself. But instead of that, Truman uses Mr. Helms account, and leaves it in this form. This is where Truman is attempting to convince the reader into thinking that he is in fact not present, the account is objective and un-opinionated; the events are not of his making, but simply the factual occurrence. This however is not the trend for the entire book……

    • 862 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    What I aim to do with this rhetorical analysis is bring forth to the reader a deeply immersive look at the rhetorical concepts present in the film The Truman Show. It is important for a viewer to fully understand the underlying messages and subtle undertones in between the lines, so to speak. The Truman Show is one man’s life being played out in a closed environment for the entertainment of the outside world. Most important to note, Truman Burbank has no clue that his whole life has been little more than just a television program produced on a grand scale to produce the image of reality in a dome. The Truman Show blends ethos, logos, and pathos together in a symphony of self-discovery and power over an adversary, whether physical or spiritual. It is one man’s journey from unknowing and subconscious subterfuge to self-awareness and vindication.…

    • 1536 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Fake In The Truman Show

    • 1267 Words
    • 6 Pages

    He was chosen out of five newborn babies whose mothers couldn’t take care of them. Christof created the set and has constantly been airing Truman’s life since his birth. The concept that he wanted to bring to the viewers was a reality show, which presented a completely unscripted and authentic person, along side with a community of characters. Nothing is fake in Truman’s world, rather controlled. Chistof is viewed in this film as if he were the God of Truman. He shapes his world through fear and love, but Truman still has the ability to think freely. He lives a normal life as many would see. He has friends, neighbors, collogues, parents, and a wife. He goes to work everyday and lives in what a typical neighborhood would look like. There is one thing that sticks out early in the film, Truman only knows about the town in which he lives in, well, and…

    • 1267 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    The Truman Show Analysis

    • 409 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Shoe-Horn Sonata And Memorial. Misto and the picture book Memorial by Gary Crew. ... This is also a good example of Truman's treatment in The Truman Show. ...…

    • 409 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Better Essays

    The movie _The Truman Show_ is a compelling movie about the affects of a controlled society on an individual. This movie stars Jim Cary as Truman Burbank and is set in modern-day reality. The hypothesis of the movie is a mammoth sociological experiment involving this man named Truman. Truman is born and raised on a gigantic movie set. Truman's every action, since his birth, is documented in the form of a television reality show. Every aspect of Truman's life has been preconditioned since his birth. This preconditioning is much like how society teaches children today; the only difference with Truman is his life is much more controlled. One's culture is the totality of customs learned like ideas, values, and knowledge (Schaefer, 2003). Truman's culture and norms where taught to him based on what Christoph, the director in the movie, thought was an ideal society. Truman's social location is even chosen for him as the movie reveals he is a white male salesman earning a modest income. The most interesting twist to the movie is Truman's life is broadcast worldwide much like the reality shows of today. The Truman show examines how society has a propensity to accept the reality that we live in, and how we become products of society and other sociological viewpoints.…

    • 1166 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Better Essays

    In The Truman Show, there is irony present throughout the whole movie. During most of the film, Truman wanted to leave Seahaven and go explore the world. He had a desire to do more than just live a quaint, common life. He is unique, and it is his motivation that makes him stand…

    • 1135 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    In Truman Capote’s In Cold Blood the illuminating scene comes in part three of the book known as “The Answer”. This scene represents the climax of the novel as Capote finally divulges the reason for the murders of the Clutter family and reveals that it wasn’t just a senseless murder like it was made out to be.…

    • 1061 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Peter Weir’s film he Truman show is about how Truman Burbank’s life is being manipulated and is a television reality show. In the opening sequence the main characters in Truman’s life are presented, giving thoughts about what the Truman show means to them. In the introduction, Truman’s wife in the show, his best friend Marlon and Christof the shows director are introduced. Weir uses visual manipulation to show the flow of power within the film. Christof is introduced in a close up shot, with him in centre to show that he has power within the film. Christof also speaks in a very direct tone, while Marlon and Truman’s wife are seen speaking in a very soft and welcoming tone, this is done to show that Christof has the power within the film and to reinforce his superior presence. Also in the opening sequence the shows main character is introduced in a way to highlight the extreme lengths the media is willing to go to in order to maintain its ratings. Truman is seen talking to himself in his bathroom, unaware that he is being filmed through his bathroom mirror, and is being viewed live by a global audience. Through this technique weir is trying to express his concerns about how the media are willing to do anything for ratings, and to highlight the insensitivity it shows towards an individual’s privacy.…

    • 1217 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Hollywood - trueman capote

    • 1011 Words
    • 3 Pages

    In the story “Hollywood” Truman Capote is focusing on how the outer picture of L.A is shown, and how it can be a dangerous thing. Truman is a narrative speaker in the story, so we follow him throughout the whole story. We get to see everything from his point of view, both as a writer and as the narrator of the story. Hollywood and L.A is pictured like everything is pretty, humble and perfect on the outside, but deep down the city is mostly drowned in outcasts from the war, people who are…

    • 1011 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Directed by Peter Weir, the movie “The Truman Show” showcases a smash cut and contrasting angles to influence the audience’s emotions. As Truman makes his way to work one day, he walks past a homeless-looking man who he thinks is his father. When Truman asks “Dad?” the scene is initially quiet, but proceeds to a smash cut to two people dragging the homeless man onto a bus with loud, fast-paced music playing. This smash cut displays the intensity of the scene and how Truman feels about the situation: confused and disoriented.…

    • 248 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Weir used dialogue and movement of actors to establish for the viewers what Truman is like in the beginning. The start of the film shows him acting out a role of a brave explorer in front of a mirror, saying: 'Eat me dammit!That 's an order! ' Because he doesn 't have enough excitement in his life and Seahaven is not offering him the challenge he wants, he tries to make up for it by imagining a different life. He 's also constantly tells his best friend, Marlon that he 's 'thinking of getting out ' and is 'going away for a while. ' But interestingly enough, even with a great desire of getting out, Truman never tries his hardest to leave Seahaven. Weir used Cristof 's dialogue to show this: 'If it was more than just a vague ambition, if he [Truman] was absolutely determined to discover the truth, there 's no way we could prevent him. ' In this stage of the story, Weir shows that Truman is far from being a courageous man.…

    • 1084 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays