Flashbacks

Here is an example of a flashback from the BBC TV Drama 'Hunted'.

This is what we hope to achieve with our flashbacks in our final piece; to do this we will analyse the elements of Mise en Scene, Camera, Lighting and Sound, which we will then recreate in our flashback scene.

Mise en Scene: The clothing worn by the main character is similar in the present day and in the flashback (when she was a child). For example, she wears a hat. Also, her hair looks similar, so the audience connote that this is the same person but many years ago. There is a graphic match between the photographs in the file and the real life situation in the flashbacks, which creates a link between the past and present. We will aim to achieve this by using a graphic match of the child's eyes closing, then the teenager's eyes opening. Also, the child will be wearing the same clothes in the room as in the park during the flashback, creating a link between the locations.

Camera: The camera work is quick and jerky, to convey that the memories are fragmented and unclear. This adds to the mystery of the scenario, as the audience doesn't see exactly what happened. We will film our flashback similarly, to convey the day of the kidnapping, and how the memories of this day have scarred the character's life and will be the reason for her future actions.

Lighting: The lighting used during the present day scene is low key, but the torchlight shining on the file shows the audience that it is a significant prop, which will initiate the flashback. During the flashback, the lighting is also very dark, connoting the disturbing nature of the scene as well as adding mystery. In our opening we will use low key lighting in the room, but contrast it with brighter scenes during the flashback to show a juxtaposition between the two locations, as well as connoting the mental state of the character changing.

Sound: The sound in the present day scene is of tense non diegetic music, which foreshadows the disturbing and important scene which will follow. Then during the flashback, the music can be heard faintly which acts like a sound bridge, however non diegetic horror style sound effects and diegetic sounds of voices can be heard, again showing the jumbled thoughts in the characters mind as she has the flashback. To achieve an effective thriller opening full of suspense, we will use similar sound techniques as our soundtrack.