Discuss the significance of a variety of techniques used in the film Blade Runner. You may include elements such as mise en scene, lighting, characterisation, dialogue, camera techniques, sound, props and so on. Provide specific examples.
...structions, like doorways and corridors and even Venetians blinds during one scene (scene 51). Contrast is also a major part, in film technique and 'Blade Runner'. Tyrell is also in a large area, usually by himself or with very few other people nearby. Tyrell has a far grander lifestyle than any of the other characters in 'Blade Runner' and this is shown clearly by his surroundings. He has marbled rooms, lush bedroom settings that include a huge canopy bed, much gold and many candles giving a definite sense of ambience. While previously, Scott has provided a sense of loneliness by overcrowding; he now gets the point across by using the idea physically. Tyrell gets lost in these settings and once again promotes the image of a estranged, almost un human capitalist, who while owning many material things, unlike most others at this time really has nothing, just like the others. The clothing gives a definite sense of the setting and conditions of the time. The ceaseless rain makes sure that nearly everybody is covered up, normally in dark colours. This gives another reminder of the state of society. Closed off and grim. Deckard however, the mysterious, detective type, wears a trench coat and gives out a ‘Dick Tracy’ feel and look. Rachael begins with a very ‘Femme Fatale’ look, once again, heralding from a 1940’s look with geometric shapes and a stern, faultless hairstyle. This strict looks gets slowly beaten down throughout the film as she begins the dress and arrange her hair softer and more feminine in each scene. This transformation shows immediately sets her apart from the other female replicants. Zhora and Pris are very confronting. While Rachael favours a softer look, Zhora’s armour like bra, tattoo and nakedness demonstrate her sharpness and artificialness and Pris is quite punk, while also emitting a doll-like quality. She wears a bodysuit and interesting makeup once again separating her from Rachael. By the female replicants being dressed in contrast, it helps the audience see who is good and evil. Lighting a major technique used in ‘Blade Runner'. Lighting is a very dramatic element and most of 'Blade Runner' is very dark with the characters very dim, or powerful side lighting, which light the actors in a very interesting way. Examples are the scenes that take place in Deckard’s apartment, Leon’s hotel room and the final scene of the fight and Roy’s death. All throughout 'Blade Runner', lighting is thrown around, casting eerie gloom. Or light falls through a turning fan, casting ghostly shadows around. Key lighting is also used. Key lighting is a spot light that falls on the crucial aspect of the scene. This element is used in scene two with Leon’s face and the last scene with the origami unicorn. Lighting often does setting the mood. One example of this is the “dreamy romanticism” of the unicorn dream. Camera angle can completely change the way a character is presented to the audience. To make a character look big and powerful, the character will almost always be shot from below looking up. The make a person seem small and weak they are shot from above, like the audience are looking down on them. Roy is nearly always shot from below; this demonstrated when he kills Tyrell. A great example of this technique creating power is scene 74 when Roy’s bare torso rises into view in front of the camera. An example of trying to make something small and insignificant are all the shots of the Los Angeles streets. These high shots make everything look small, and therefore unimportant. Framing is used for contrast quite a lot during 'Blade Runner'. Different level shots are used for different purposes and emotions, like medium shots to extreme close-up shots. A long shot may be used to show the location and then will cut to a closer shot. When Rachael is introduced we see all of her in a long shot, but as the scene progresses, including the Voight-Kampff test, different levels of close-ups are used, to show Deckard’s growing surprise and her unemotional demeanour. This includes close up shots of her eye, the main focus during these tests. The beginning of the movie uses a contrast of a long shot, showing the landscape of Los Angeles to an extreme close up of an eye. This contrasting, changing back and forth image jars the audience and is a trick on the audience senses. ...