Week 93: Socials Roundup
Posts from 14 Oct - 20 Oct 2024
Week 93 posts include shots from Doctor Who (2005-2023); Powwow Highway (1989); Atlanta (2016-2022) and Day of the Dead (1985); and Only Murders in the Building (2021-current); Matlock (2024).
Atlanta / Day of the Dead
Atlanta 3.01 "Three Slaps" cold-opens with two men on a lake, telling tales.
The climactic shot is full of horror, and specifically looks like a 'mirror image' of the iconic Day of the Dead nightmare where arms reach not out of darkness, but a stark white wall.
Powow Highway
This scene from Powwow Highway uses colour and angles to make clear what Philbert (Gary Farmer) is experiencing alone, without any dialogue.
Philbert sits and closes his eyes in cool blues with the camera looking square at his face, an eagle circles, and then a shot soaked in hazy orange follows a man to Philbert in profile; then a sharp cut back to the blue shot looking right at Philbert opening his eyes.
Colour and camera angles clearly differentiate what is in Philbert's mind versus his immediate physical space.
Doctor Who
Doctor Who's iconic "Blink" features a few split diopter shots; not a usual choice for the show, but a perfect way to show Sally along with her surroundings (especially the angel she's meant to not look away from), in focus together whether they're further away or closer . . . and closer . . .
Matlock
Within the opening minutes, Matlock's pilot episode [no spoilers!] acknowledges and leverages how older women are invisible to society.
So it's fitting when the title comes on screen, Matty is literally invisible for a moment, before she walks into the veeeery bottom of frame, where we can barely see her from a low angle while the buildings tower over her.
Only Murders in the Building
Some shows and movies use multiple aspect ratios to differentiate timelines, as a touch of flair, etc.
When Only Murders in the Building 4.05 "Adaptation" shifts from its 'standard TV framing' to a widescreen sequence and back again, it makes the change active and dramatic.
Why? To show us the murder in as cinematic — and draaaahmatic — a fashion as Charles imagines it!