♪ ♪
How does a director strike a balance
between intrigue and information?
How can a threat be humanized
without losing its sense of danger?
This is something director Denis Villeneuve
has been tackling in his movies
with great success.
Today we're breaking down a scene from "Arrival".
A perfect example of how simple directorial choices
can add up to an awe-inspiring experience.
We've imported the original storyboards
into StudioBinder
to illustrate Villeneuve's visualization process.
Let's suit up.
It's time for an introduction.
"- Now that's a proper introduction."
♪ Director's Playbook Intro ♪
If you want more videos on
how to communicate with your audience,
subscribe and enable notifications
to stay connected.
Alien ships appear around the globe.
"- The most plausible theory is
that they chose places on Earth
with the lowest incidence of lightning strikes."
And Dr. Banks is a linguist
brought in by the military
to attempt communication.
"- Priority one: what do they want and where are they from?"
There's not much dialogue in this scene,
so the real story had to be told visually.
To lure us in and pique our curiosity.
Let's see how he does it.
It's important for the director
to crystalize the goal of the scene.
In this case, the goal is twofold.
First, to imbue the aliens with enough familiarity
so that communication is a viable option.
Second,
to maintain a mysterious aura
and sense of intrigue around them.
This is made immediately apparent
through the design of the room.
With its zoo-like observation window
that keeps the aliens in full view,
but at a distance.
"- So, what happens now?
- They arrive."
♪ ♪
One strategy Villeneuve uses to keep us intrigue
yet unnerved by the aliens
is to withhold information.
The fog keeps them shrouded.
Villeneuve's camera never finds itself
on the other side of the glass.
In this way, we've always a little uncomfortable
and unsure about their purpose.
This is a story with a decidedly human point of view.
Consider this close-up.
An insert of Louise's hand
against the glass with the alien in the background.
By placing a hand in the foreground
and the heptapod in the background
Villeneuve's essentially turns us
into a side-by-side comparison.
The unique design of the Heptapod
blends many disparate characteristics.
One of the most striking physiological components
are its knuckle like limbs.
This contrast serves to make the heptapod feel more familiar.
But something we cannot ever be fully comfortable with.
And in this single shot accomplishes
the scene's goals perfectly
imbuing both familiarity
and mystery.
"- Louis.
Do you want to introduce yourself?
- Uh, yeah."
High angle shots are often used
to make characters look weak or afraid.
Villeneuve uses a high angle shot
looking down on Louis Banks
to achieve a very different purpose.
To show us that Louis is looking up
to the aliens in awe and wonder.
The glow from the light
and her reverend expression
tells us so much.
This shot is paired
with a visually compelling POV
of Louis looking at the anchoring.
The use of a POV
reinforces an important theme of perspective
that is integral to "Arrival".
The film depicts many perspectives
about the aliens.
Most of which are hostile.
But it's Louise's perspective that will save us.
What better way to convey this theme
then by showing their first attempt to communication
from her literal point of view.
"- Ian."
Now that a connection has been made between guests and hosts
Villeneuve gives us this shot.
Louise and Ian share the screen with the hepta pods,
but notice the uneven composition.
The heptapods are large dark figures
surrounded by light.
The humans are small bright figures
surrounded by darkness.
Villeneuve doesn't want the audience
to ever feel fully comfortable around the aliens,
but he wants them just comfortable enough
to attempt peaceful communication.
"- I think those are their names."
It's a tightrope between endearing and alarming
that Villeneuve walks for the entire film.
Directing with this level of finesse
requires preparation and consideration.
Don't underestimate the value of storyboards
and shot lists.
Villeneuve didn't.
Start designing your own close encounter
with StudioBinder.
Which of the Denis Villeneuve scenes knocked your socks off?
Let us know in the comments.
"- You look lonely."
Your next lesson begins
as you subscribe and turn on the notifications.
With teachers like Villeneuve
we have plenty to learn.
♪ ♪