Research: First Case Study

First Case Study: Dexter Opening Sequence
 

(Dexter directed by Michael C. Hall – TV Show 2006 – Present)

Synopsis of Dexter:

Dexter Morgan is the protagonist of this programme, a likeable, self-effacing Miami police forensic expert specializing in blood-splatter analysis. However, he has a dual personality as he is secretly a serial killer during the night. Dexter’s homicidal tendencies were adopted by his police officer father, Harry (James Remar) who encouraged his son to channel his violent impulses in a positive manner, and also pounded a strict moral code into the boy.

Consequently, Dexter grew to vow to “take out the trash” and continue “honing his craft” by murdering other serial killers and similar delinquents who had been able to surpass the jurisdiction. Remarkably, Dexter managed to emerge a sympathetic figure via inner monologues where he explains the motives of his actions. This facet led the audience to not suspect of him being a killer: not his adoptive sister, Debra (Jennifer Carpenter), a Miami cop; nor his emotionally scarred girlfriend, Rita (Julie Benz), nor his police superior Lt. LaGuerta (Lauren Velez). Only his colleague Sergeant Doakes (Erik King) recognised that there was something strange about the personable Dexter.

Summary of the opening sequence:

This shows the morning routine of Dexter. We see him completing a series of normal tasks; waking up, shaving, eating, getting dressed and so on. All of this take place in a liner sequence and alludes to the true nature of the protagonist, that of him being a serial killer. The director hints to the thematic of the killer as the tasks are portrayed in a way that gore is ever-present.

How are the themes, groups and characters represented?

1.      Themes:

In terms of themes the main thematic seen in this extract is that of gore and killing. This is represented by the minute actions that symbolise the tasks he undertakes when killing individuals. Examples of this are Dexter shaving (hints to him cutting his victim’s neck), cooking (the way he prepares the bacon alludes to the way he treats the parts of his victims’ bodies et al. They are all interlinks as the sinister behaviour presented foreshadows what he does in his secret life: cutting, slicing, strangling and smothering.

2.      Characters:

Dexter is the sole character of this sequence which is not a surprise as the show is entirely about him. It is shown through his perspective only and the director may attempt to already create a juxtaposed characterisation of the protagonist – is he good or not.

Camera Techniques:

1.      Micro shots:

Throughout this extract there is a predominance of micro shots used. This vaguely allows the audience to gain a small understanding of the detail of the storyline, which then produces a sense of intrigue that the director purposely achieves. The implementation of such an abundant number of micro shots connotes a sense of rapidness but yet efficient working ethos by the part of Dexter. He is able to communicate his precise actions via a small picture of the occurrences. This is then expanded by the bigger picture of the storyline which is revealed in the different episodes.

2.      Close-ups:

There is a great amount of close-ups in this section which illustrates the closeness the audience is not only with the protagonist but on the actions he do too. This foreshadows how the audience will undertake seeing these actions being carried out not only in Dexter’s daily life but in his hidden, night life. Moreover, the use of micro-shots mediate the protagonist’s secret life as it is only the audience and Dexter the ones who know how he really is like which contrasts with the mid-shot at the end of the extract as that is the face he presents to the outside world.

Editing:

-         The editing in this extract is in time with the pace of the soundtrack that accompanies this piece. There is a normal cutting rate between the shots however there is a tendency of changing pace of events such as that of the juice of the pomegranate squirting out. More specifically, the sound editing seems the most important as the exaggerated sounds of the actions makes the scene quite quirky in a way that the audience is overwhelmed by how the actions are taking in such a powerful approach.

Mise-en-Scene: Location, lightning, costume, Props and Make-up

1.      Location: the entire sequence is located in his house apart from the ending shot where he goes out of his house to work.

2.      Lighting: the lighting is ever-changing throughout depending on the shots. However, as a whole the light is quite dim which connotes the secrecy of his life is hidden. It is obscure, ominous and suspicious. This contrasts with the ending shot again as it is when the character places his “mask” of being a good Samaritan to the world.

3.      Costume: there is hardly any costumed shots but we do see that Dexter’s dresses as any other civilian. He is portrayed as an individual within the “norm” which reinforces how nobody is ever suspicious of his secret night life.

4.      Props: There are many heavily emphatic props which convey the thematic meaning of the TV programme. The knife, shoe laces, blood et al. these are extremely relevant to the episodes as they relate not only to his daily normal routine but his serial killer life. Therefore, the props are the key to reveal the great motif of the entire show: his dual identity. For this reason, choosing props will be a major task within our short film as it must convey our cinematographic meaning.

5.      Make-up: In terms of make-up, there seems not be any. If there is it is not apparent and personally is not needed as it does not seem relevant to the greater thematic or purpose of the opening sequence. 4

Sound – dialogue, ambient sound track, music or other:

Throughout there is a soundtrack with no dialogue used, this consistence soundtrack piece adds to the mystery of the protagonist’s life. This is because the actual soundtrack is both benign but yet strange just like the character the director has created. The consistency of the soundtrack also gives cohesion to the opening sequence and prevents it from becoming boring.