Saving Private Ryan Scene 1. The transition from present to past Camerawork (angles, movement, shot types) Sound (dialogue, sound effects, music) Effect on audience 2. The instant chaos 2003 www.teachit.co.uk 1114.doc Page 1 of 8
Saving Private Ryan Scene 3. Captain Miller's confusion Camerawork (angles, movement, shot types) Sound (dialogue, sound effects, music) Effect on audience 4. The end of the battle 2003 www.teachit.co.uk 1114.doc Page 2 of 8
Saving Private Ryan Scene 1. The transition from present to past Present day: An elderly James Ryan visits the graves of U.S. soldiers at Colleville-sur-Mer in Normandy, France. There is a flashback to June 6th 1944 as the U.S. Army prepares to land at Omaha Beach. Camerawork (angles, movement, shot types) The camera slowly zooms in on Ryan's face to a big close up of his eyes. Cuts to deep focus shot of beach with iron hedgehogs both in the foreground and stretching into the background. A long shot of the boats as they approach the shore cuts to close up of Captain Miller's hand shaking (recurrent image) Close up shots of soldiers' terrified expressions. Soundtrack (dialogue, sound effects, music) Sound of waves gradually increases. Soldiers are silent - there is no dialogue at first, only the sound of the boat engines. Clear sounds of vomiting followed by shouted instructions. More sounds of men vomiting. Overall effect The scene establishes a connection between the elderly man in the graveyard and D-day. The date and setting are established. A mood of fear and tension is created. The audience is given a cursory introduction to some of the main characters. 2. The instant chaos Medium and close up shots of soldiers being killed. Over the As soon as the boat doors open the soldiers shoulder shot gives German are shot and killed. The sequence is lengthy perspective gives sense of power as soldier after soldier is killed within seconds and advantage over those on the of leaving the boats. beach. As soldiers plunge into the sea the camera follows them, giving audience their perspective as they struggle both below and above the surface. Handheld camera shots suggest we (the audience) are making our way up the beach. Dominated by gunfire -very loud. Sounds of bullets firing and hitting their targets. Shouted instructions, sometimes indistinct. Muted sound as bullets zip through the water, still hitting and killing soldiers even below the surface. Sound mutes each time camera sinks below the surface, giving soldier's perspective. Various perspectives give overview of the carnage. Camerawork brings audience close to the action most of the time. German perspective suggests Americans are fighting a lost cause - indicates the immense difficulty of the mission. Sense of confusion and hopelessness. We feel as if no-one could survive. 2003 www.teachit.co.uk 1114.doc Page 3 of 8
Scene 3. Captain Miller's confusion Captain Miller staggers out of the bloody sea. He stumbles and falls. We witness his shock and confusion at the carnage all around him. We see events from his perspective. Camerawork (angles, movement, shot types) Close up of Captain Miller as he emerges from the sea. Jerky slow motion and shots of Miller's shocked expression edited alternately with the horrors taking place all around him. Over the shoulder shot gives audience Miller's perspective. Close up as he tips bloody water out of his helmet and replaces it, making him look blood-spattered. Sound (dialogue, sound effects, music) Muted sound accompanies the slow motion, explosions can still be heard on the soundtrack but are muted. A young soldier shouts silently asking Miller for instructions. Sound returns noisily - we now hear the soldier's words above the loudness of the gunfire and explosions. Saving Private Ryan Effect on audience We are plunged into the horror of D- day alongside Captain Miller and experience the senseless carnage through his eyes. Although not a raw recruit he is nevertheless shocked beyond belief. Finally Miller comes to his senses and resumes his responsibilities. We are given an insight into the true horror of war. 4. The end of the battle Captain Miller rests. Sergeant Horvath comments, "That's quite a view", a sentiment which is echoed by Miller. We are shown vast numbers of dead soldiers as the bloody sea washes over them. Close-up of Miller's hand shaking. Camera zooms in to big close up of his eyes then cuts to show audience his viewpoint. Long shot of bloody water washing in over the dead, then close ups of soldiers' boots - the waves are bright red as they wash over the bodies. Long shot of the beach, the camera pans slowly left then gradually zooms in on the wording on the backpack of one soldier - Ryan. Gentle music quietly fades in. The waves sound peaceful after the prolonged noise, chaos and destruction. The melancholy music adds to the solemnity of the images. The peace is a relief for the audience after the exhausting tension and horror of the battle. We are struck by the enormity of the event - the sheer number of deaths shocks us. The final shot showing the name 'Ryan' on the backpack of one of the fallen soldiers establishes a link between the sequence we have just seen as well as both the title and plot of the film. 2003 www.teachit.co.uk 1114.doc Page 4 of 8
Version A Saving Private Ryan Analyse the methods used to make the opening battle sequence of 'Saving Private Ryan' both shocking and realistic, and say how effective you find it as an introduction to the film. Introduction Give some general background information to the film such as: the name of the director; when it was made; the names of the main stars/characters; what the film is about; the film's awards. You should also give some information about the overall style of the film. Some ideas you could mention are: how 'Saving Private Ryan' breaks some of the traditional conventions of the war film genre the effect of desaturated colour in the film the realistic nature of the battle scenes the use of handheld cameras during the battle scenes In addition, you could include one or two quotations from Steven Spielberg to help you explain your ideas. Main Part You are going to write about four scenes from the opening battle sequence, focusing particularly on the effects of the camerawork and soundtrack. The four scenes are: The transition from present day to the past in which setting and mood are established and main characters introduced The instant chaos as the soldiers arrive at Omaha beach The initial reactions of Captain Miller The end of the battle Use the notes you've made on the chart to help you write a detailed description and analysis of the four scenes. Conclusion End your assignment by explaining your own response to the film as a whole and to the opening battle sequence in particular. Use the following questions to help you: How well did the opening sequence prepare you for what followed? Did you find it realistic and shocking? In your opinion did Steven Spielberg succeed in putting "chaos up on the screen"? Do you think it's a good film? If so, why? If not, why not? 2003 www.teachit.co.uk 1114.doc Page 5 of 8
Appendix Saving Private Ryan 'Saving Private Ryan' was first released on September 11 th 1998, a joint production from Paramount and Dreamworks Pictures. It was directed by Steven Spielberg whose other famous films include: Jaws (1975) Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial (1982) Jurassic Park (1993) Schindler's List (1993) Artificial Intelligence: AI (1997) Minority Report (2002) to name but a few! 'Saving Private Ryan' lasts for two hours and fifty minutes. The opening battle sequence is twenty-four minutes long. The film won five Academy Awards (Oscars) including best director in 1999. Some of the leading actors in the film are Tom Hanks (Captain Miller), Tom Sizemore (Sergeant Horvath), Edward Burns (Private Reiben), Barry Pepper (Private Jackson), Jeremy Davies (Private Upham) and Matt Damon (Private Ryan). Quotations from Steven Spielberg about 'Saving Private Ryan': About the film in general: "The last thing I wanted to do in this picture was use the war simply as a springboard for action-adventure. I was looking for realism all the time." About the opening battle sequence: "I wanted to put chaos up on the screen. I wanted the audience to feel the same as those green recruits that were just off those Higgins boats and had never seen combat before. Ninety-five percent of them hadn't. It was complete chaos." About the use of handheld cameras and the lack of storyboarding: "I wanted to hit the sets much like a newsreel cameraman following soldiers into war." 2003 www.teachit.co.uk 1114.doc Page 6 of 8
Version B Saving Private Ryan Analyse the methods used to make the opening battle sequence of 'Saving Private Ryan' both shocking and realistic, and say how effective you find it as an introduction to the film. Introduction 'Saving Private Ryan' was made in... and was directed by.... It is about... Spielberg tries to make the film realistic by... (Write about the methods in the list below.) the effect of desaturated colour in the film the realistic nature of the battle scenes the use of handheld cameras Main Part You are going to write about four scenes from the opening battle sequence, focusing particularly on the effects of the camerawork and soundtrack. The four scenes are: The transition from present day to the past in which setting and mood are established and main characters introduced (The film begins with...) The instant chaos as the soldiers arrive at Omaha beach (When the soldiers first land on the beach...) The initial reactions of Captain Miller (Captain Miller's confusion is shown when...) The end of the battle (The battle sequence ends with...) Use the notes you've made on the chart to help you write a detailed description and analysis of the four scenes. 2003 www.teachit.co.uk 1114.doc Page 7 of 8
Saving Private Ryan Conclusion End your assignment by explaining your own response to the film as a whole and to the opening battle sequence in particular. Use the following questions to help you: How well did the opening sequence prepare you for what followed? (I think the opening sequence prepared the audience for what followed well because...) Did you find it realistic and shocking? (I did/didn't find the opening battle scenes realistic and shocking because...) Do you think it's a good film? If so, why? If not, why not? (I liked/did not like the film 'Saving Private Ryan' because...) 2003 www.teachit.co.uk 1114.doc Page 8 of 8