For this blog post I decide analyze the ‘Rail road crossing scene’ of Duel (1971)

Match On Action:

As the truck pushes David’s car toward the tracks the editing cuts to wide shots of the truck, car, and train, and close ups of the car being

shoved forward. These cuts match the action to create a intense sense of movement, emphasizing the danger.

Parallel action/ Crosscutting:

The scene cuts between the different threats: the truck pushing David’s car and the speeding train approaching. This use of crosscutting make for a more tense coverage of David’s situation.

Cut in:

There are Cut-in shots to show specific details, such as the trucks front bumper pushing David’s car, the Train  speeding past, or David’s hands gripping the steering wheel.

For this assignment we were not supposed to use music but because of the process that I decided to film I felt like I needed to add just a little bit at the end to give the viewer a clear idea of what was being made in the video.

manuel, brent, jaxon

A visual representation of procrastination until the very last minute.

For this assignment, I decided to use the series finale of Better Call Saul. When reading about this assignment, I knew I wanted to choose Better Call Saul, but deciding on which scene to use was very difficult because of the many brilliantly filmed scenes in the series. In the end, I chose the final scene because it not only wrapped up this masterpiece of a series but also left me very content. If this series is known for anything, it’s the amazing storytelling and cinematography.

This final scene might not seem like much, but there is a bit to it. With Jimmy now in prison, he and Kim share one last quiet moment. This final scene is really carried by the way it is filmed, as there isn’t much dialogue between Jimmy and Kim. For example, the long shot (full body) frame is such a great shot because of how reminiscent it is of their early days as pro bono lawyers sharing a cigarette.

The last frame I picked (medium, waist up) was also a really good callback. In Season 5, Episode 10, Jimmy and Kim are talking about ruining Howard’s career as a lawyer. During this conversation, it almost seems like Jimmy is trying to discourage Kim from criminal behavior, but at this point in the series, Kim seems very serious about going through with these actions. The scene ends with Jimmy asking if she’s serious, and Kim answers with the finger guns.

The thing about Better Call Saul that I love so much is these very simple things that one might disregard but then end up being very significant. In this case, Kim’s finger guns signify her entry into criminal activity, while Jimmy’s use signifies his exit.

  Medium (waist up)

Long shot (full body)

Long shot (full body)

Medium long (knees up)

Low shot/ Zoom Medium close (chest up)

Extreme long shot

Extreme long shot/ High

Medium (waist up)