Midnight Cowboy

Midnight Cowboy begins with a blank screen, with vertical lines. The Non-diegetic sound of galloping horses, gunshots and yelping cowboys echos and as the camera zooms out, the sound fades out and is replaced by the synchronous sound of the minuscule rusty swings and roundabout, which move in the wind. The mise-en-scene and sound are both used in these first few seconds in order to create an eerie atmosphere and to emphasise a feeling of loneliness to the audience.
As the shot continues to zoom out, the establishing shot is revealed - a drive in theatre and a lonely Texan landscape.
Non-diegetic sound begins, the sound of a man singing an echoed country song, emphasising isolation or desolation.
This long shot could perhaps mirror the slow nature of this environment, which is juxtaposed with Joe Buck's personality.

The following shot is a close-up of a large foot tapping in a shower, splashing water. The foot is in the centre of the screen, a rectangular bar of soap is to the left of his foot. This use of the rule of thirds creates an artistic shot, and it is an element of this film that I'd like to draw inspiration from and apply this to our film. Perhaps in our film, we could use the rule of thirds by placing one person in the 1st third and another person in the 3rd third of the screen, and leaving the 2nd third empty, which could reflect the emotional distance between the two characters.
As the sound of singing becomes louder, it is evident to the audience that the singer is in this room, thus becoming diegetic sound.
The man bends down and collects the soap in an efficient sweep. His fast paced body language suggests that he is an outwardly confident person. He begins to wash his shoulders with the soap and continues to sing, the close-up allows the audience to see that he is content and happy, as he has a smile on his face. Suggesting perhaps that he is content with his identity at present.

The shot then quickly cuts to the man who was in the shower, who is now out of the shower in his room, looking into a mirror, singing the same country song, allowing a feeling of continuity, which could reflect the idea that the man's life is easy at this point. The shot is a low angle over the shoulder shot, showing perhaps the man's power in his current social situation.
Non diegetic sound of a woman yelling 'where's Joe Buck?' doesn't seem to phase the character.

The next shot is of a chef in a kitchen, the mise-en-scene allows the audience to figure out easily the man's position in the workplace. A stack of dirty plates and cups frames both the left and right side of the screen and allows the amount of work that needs doing to be emphasised, as the shot is accompanied by a low angle, making the cups and plates to seem almost intimidating. The chef also yells 'Where's Joe Buck?'

The shot then quickly changes to a close-up of a man taking a black cowboy hat from a box alongside non-diegetic sound of a man yelling 'where's Joe Buck?'

The next shot is a close-up of Joe Buck's profile, who is putting on his hat, and looking in the mirror again.

Another shot is of a woman in the kitchen, who yells to Joe Buck, her face is bordered by dirty plates and cups, highlighting to the audience Joe's attitude to work.

The film then transitions quickly into another shot of Joe in his room. He is now wearing a green cowboy shirt.
There is a shot of Joe doing up his flies, using a close-up in order to exhibit Joe's actions very clearly. There is more non-diegetic sound of a woman asking where Joe Buck is.

This succession of short, fast paced, close-up shots make the audience feel uncomfortable and clearly emphasises Joe Buck's desire for a faced paced lifestyle, or his irrational nature.

The next shot of Joe, is when he is now fully dressed, with a suede jacket and a cigarette drooping in his mouth. He replies to the woman directing his dialogue into the camera, his eyes unflinching. This makes the audience feel discomfort, and emphasises Joe's intimidating nature directly to the audience. He then turns around very quickly, a panning shot mirrors his movement, reflecting his impatient nature.

Outside, there is a close-up shot of the top step, and the bottom of the door frame. This heightens anticipation, and the door is kicked open, and non-diegetic sound begins.
The camera pans with the cowboy boots down the stairs, and then pans slowly upwards, whilst zooming out. Emphasising the audience's emotional distance with the character. This panning reveals a long shot of Joe, who walks away from the building, with a zebra print suit-case in his hand. The constant panning in this shot is suggestive of a journey that Joe is about to embark upon.
Titles begin to appear on screen as the camera stops panning.
The pavement that Joe walks upon is just off centre of the screen, showing Joe's irregular situation. As Joe walks into the distance, the non-diegetic sound gradually increases in volume.
The 'Midnight Cowboy' title comes on screen, Joe's body is between the two words, emphasising his loneliness.

Cat Gough

This succession of short, fast paced, close-up shots make the audience feel uncomfortable and clearly emphasises Joe Buck's desire for a faced paced lifestyle, or his irrational nature.

The next shot of Joe, is when he is now fully dressed, with a suede jacket and a cigarette drooping in his mouth. He replies to the woman directing his dialogue into the camera, his eyes unflinching. This makes the audience feel discomfort, and emphasises Joe's intimidating nature directly to the audience. He then turns around very quickly, a panning shot mirrors his movement, reflecting his impatient nature.

Outside, there is a close-up shot of the top step, and the bottom of the door frame. This heightens anticipation, and the door is kicked open, and non-diegetic sound begins.
The camera pans with the cowboy boots down the stairs, and then pans slowly upwards, whilst zooming out. Emphasising the audience's emotional distance with the character. This panning reveals a long shot of Joe, who walks away from the building, with a zebra print suit-case in his hand. The constant panning in this shot is suggestive of a journey that Joe is about to embark upon.
Titles begin to appear on screen as the camera stops panning.
The pavement that Joe walks upon is just off centre of the screen, showing Joe's irregular situation. As Joe walks into the distance, the non-diegetic sound gradually increases in volume.
The 'Midnight Cowboy' title comes on screen, Joe's body is between the two words, emphasising his loneliness.

Cat Gough