Atmosphere in Opus: Arriving at Moretti's Enclave
Revisit the arrival to Moretti's enclave in Opus to look closely at how Green establishes atmosphere.
Now that we've explored the Opening Sequence, Ariel's POV, and the allegorical possibilities of Opus, let's take a look at the arrival sequence.
Guiding Focus:
- What is the mood/tone surrounding Alfred Moretti's enclave?
- How does Green create the atmosphere? With sound? Editing? Cinematography? Mise en scene?
If Moretti is the "wizard of wiggle" - what does the Debutante bus look like in the extreme long shot as it travels through the desert mountainside?
What do you notice about the camera movement/motion as we turn off of the paved highway onto the dirt road? What do you notice about the sound?
Why do you think we cut to an extreme high angle / bird's eye shot before we return to the POV shot of the driver on the dirt road?
What sound effects sync up with the Debutante's arrival at the gate? What is the effect/impact of these sound effects?
Why do you think this chain link fence is secured with a padlock?
Describe the sound as the Debutante passes through the stone walls - what is the sound like? What does it make you think of? What mood does it create?
How does the camera movement change after these sound effects begin? What is the effect of the camera movement?
I've called out the 6 orange huts in the distance, and pointed out the 6 vessels. I didn't notice them on my first watch, but now that we see them - what do you think?
Do you think there's any significance to Ariel's' phone being yellow? Explain.