Exercise
Watch this famous scene from Goodfellas directed by Martin Scorsese in 1990:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=OJEEVtqXdK8 [accessed 24/02/14]
Don’t read on until you’ve answered the following questions.
• What does this scene tell you about the main character?
• How does it do this? List the ‘clues’.
Make some notes in your learning log.
What does this scene tell you about the main character?
The main character is a man, who appears to have a lot of cash to splash around, he is confident and people are providing him with exactly what he wants. He is trying to impress the lady he is with by demonstrating his power. He doesn’t appear to be everything he appears to be. The people around him are trying to keep in his good books.
How does it do this? List the ‘clues’
The camera follows the main character,
- shots of cash
- people getting out of his way
- low light, high contrast
- smartly dressed
- follows the action, rather than sits back and watches.