Shotgun Ed

Daniel Gavidia

Kristen Nelson

Jamey Swarts-Kinsey

L.A. Confidential

"Shotgun Ed"

This scene stands out for multiple reasons. All the elements of visual design work to emphasize the color red, which appears as bullets are fired and characters start to die. Exley, his police partner, the automobiles parked outside, the walls inside the building, and the doors, all have dark or pale colors: black, gray, pale yellow, dark brown, and navy blue. Thus, the color red stands out immediately when it first appears. What is more, Exley's facial expression conveying violence, adrenaline, and fear, is also brought to the spotlight when some blood falls on his face (we are also reminded that he is not wearing his glasses). That being said, there are further visual elements that create the scene's particular atmosphere of tension: the props (guns, shotguns, and the bottle that triggers the shootout), special effects (mechanical, for the most part, all dealing with characters being killed), and make-up (blood, but most important, the sweat in the criminals' faces). All these visual elements give this scene a particular sense of surprise that makes it special even in the film's constant stream of plot twists and surprises. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_MLgnDZguM0