Research - 'Se7en' - Jack

Regardless of the fact that throughout this sequence it only focuses on what it seems to be memorabilia, and that you only really see the actions of a character's hands, it gives the spectator clues throughout that this character is most likely going to be the main character, with the provision of the Mise en Scene and his actions.

Mise en Scene:

• As the sequence goes on, it gives the audience the idea that the character is preparing for his murders, or in fact, he may have already committed a murder and is trying to get rid of the evidence. 
• Focuses on the books, texts and pictures - many shots showing character cutting significant parts of texts and pictures, and sewing things into pictures - the precision of it shows that the character is very meticulous, and this could possibly be representative of his killings. 

• Occasional filters of red, in which case could be symbolic to death or evil. 

• The character is shown crossing out specific words such as 'pregnant', 'intercourse' and 'transexual' these could be clues to what could happen later on in the film; leaving enigma codes for the spectator. 

• Low-key lighting - giving the sequence a dark feel to it, creating unawareness for the audience. 
• Highlight of when the picture of the boy is shown - the rest of the screen is black apart from the lit up picture of the boy - this is suggesting that he could be very significant therefore it wants to spectator to play close attention to how he looks. 

Camera Work:

• Shallow depth of field e.g when the character is cutting of hit fingerprints. This makes the spectator focus on what he is doing - it could be significant later on in the film. 

• Close-ups of needles, blades etc - this is so the audience can focus on these specific utilities. Or maybe it could be a sign to the audience that they could be used as potential weapons later on in the film. 

• Not much camera movement at all - this is down to it expressing that the one thing shown on frame is what the spectator should be focusing on. Due to the very fast speed of the cuts it also does not allow much camera movement and therefore it is establishing that each different thing that the camera is focused on in each frame should be the one that the spectator should be concentrating on. 

Editing:

• Very fast pace - could convey the character's emotions, suggesting the character has feelings of anxiety and his mind seems very 'scatty'. 
• The quick cuts only just give you an idea of what the character is doing but it therefore means that nothing is ever given away, creating many elements of enigma and the spectator will have to figure out the clues given themselves. 
• Turned page on the book used as a transition - can be used to create discontinuity, therefore being used to disorientate and somewhat engage the viewer to try and work out what is happening. 
• Jump cuts - used to manipulate time, suggesting what he is doing is taking a very long time - emphasising his perfection. 

Sound: 

• The sound is very parallel with the sequence as it builds up in regards to what is happening in the sequence. It starts off as a very simple, slow paced sound, and gradually builds up to a much more fast sound, creating suspense throughout the spectator's thoughts. 
• There is the addition of some scratchy squeaky noises over the top - this makes the audience think about what those sounds are - they may not be to do with anything as such, but are there to make the spectator feel uncomfortable, as they are also quite random, which can as a result disorientate the spectator.
• No dialogue - creating the suspicious personality of the camera. From what he can see he is doing throughout the sequence we can see that he is trying to hide something which is therefore most probably the reason why he isn't speaking; this could suggest he is alone and does not want to be everyone. It also gives the feeling as if he is trying to hide from the spectator as well, making the spectator intrigued to carry on watching the film.