The set up, conflict and resolution
The Set up of films used in film can be very powerful and determine to the viewer of how the film turns out to the audience. The set up of a film sets the pace and the contrast of what is yet to be revealed to the audience. The set up otherwise known as a pre-title sequence would be up to the director’s discretion of how long it would last and what The Set Up would usually contain in it for example take these three examples of opening scenes of the films Django, Seven Pounds and Black Swan.
Black Swan:
Black Swan follows the story of Nina, a ballerina in a New York City ballet group whose life, like all those in her profession, is consumed with dance. She lives with her retired, over protective ballerina mother, who forcibly supports her daughter’s professional ambition. When artistic director decides to replace the lead dancer for the opening production of their new season, Swan Lake, Nina is his first choice, but Nina has competition: a new dancer, Lily, who impresses Leroy as well. Swan Lake requires a dancer who can play both the White Swan with innocence and grace, and the Black Swan, who represents guile and sensuality. Nina fits the White Swan role perfectly but Lily is the personification of the Black Swan. As the two young dancers expand their rivalry into a twisted friendship, Nina begins to get more in touch with her dark side with a recklessness that threatens to destroy her.
The first fifteen minutes of this Black Swan has been explained to the audience from the main choreographer to the women, unfortunately I couldn’t find a video on Youtube but if you have seen the film the scene I am referring to would be familiar. I think that the conflict of the film is when Lilly arrives to fill in another ballet dancers old spot, in my opinion she is seen as competition to the other dancers and I feel as though what the choreographer wanted in Nina, Lilly has and on arrival of Lilly, as the audience you get a real grasp of that.
I think the resolution in the film is towards the end the scene, which the main character (Nina) finally evolves into a swan, I feel that that scene signifies what the concept of the film is about. As Nina evolves into the black swan I feel that this resolves what the film has been trying to signify.
Seven Pounds:
Seven pounds is a film about a character Tim seeking out for redemption. Tim sets out to save the lives of seven people who in his opinion are good people who deserve a gift, which will change their lives forever.
The set up of seven pounds is different to your average film which usually starts on a happy note, Seven Pounds starts quite depressing for that matter, as this character Tim is on the phone signifying that he’s about to die I feel as a first time watcher you’d want to know more about what has just happened, this isn’t the most happiest set up but for this particular film I feel that it is ideal.
The Conflict was quite hard for me to tell whilst watching the footage back, Tim is unhappy throughout the majority of the film and there are a range of conflicts automatically after the set up. By Tim creating problems throughout most of the film, its only when he meets Emily Posa who’s dying of a heart problem when I feel that the conflict is because you feel like you see a different side to Tim, he’s happy. I feel the conflict lies when Tim is happy because its only then when Tim realizes he’s going to end his life to prolong another in order to seek redemption.
The resolution I feel lies when Tim’s brother reveals to Emily Tim’s past and why he has killed himself to make life easier for others.
Django Unchained:
Django Unchained is set in 1858 during the segregation period, and the sole purpose of the film is about a cowboy who is on a quest to get his wife back after she has been sold to a man Calvin Candie who owns a plantation.
The set up of Django is excellent, I felt when I first watched it I was captivated by the film and felt as though I didn’t want the film to end, the set up however is quite detailed, I believe the set up takes effect when Dr. King Schultz reveals to Django that he is a bounty hunter and reveals his intentions with Django.
The conflict of Django I believe to be the moment Django admits to Dr. King Schultz that he has a wife and almost immediately after that they embark on a journey to find his wife, also Dr. Schultz offers to take Django as a deputy bounty hunter so this also serves as a middle to a film because the characters each have a purpose.
The resolution, I believe the resolution in Django to be the moment Django brutally kills Quentin Tarantino and his group on the way to the mining company, Django gets on a horse and finds his wife again, at that moment in the film you felt a big relief and are exited to see what happens next.
ondreroach 