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Summary:
Clip 1: Opening sequence
The opening sequence establishes the setting, the main focus, visual style and the perspectives of some residents of Sydney.
The use of the camera tracking over the bridge from a moving car and the police cars reinforce the idea of the increasing focus on security and the reality of terrorist threats.
Questions
Captions:
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radio voice over: It seems that not a day that goes by without an announcement about increased spending on security ...
or something to do with terrorism but how is this impacting on our day to day lives?
Do Australians feel safer because of this increased focus on security?
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Summary:
Clip 2
The sequence opens with an extra long shot (ELS) to establish the crowded city street setting. It uses tight framing and unusual composition to express the opinions about the threat of terrorism.
Most of the crowd is out of focus to indicate a large, typical group of people going about their everyday business.
The sequence has four unidentified voice overs each talking about fear and the threat of terrorism.
Questions
A voice over says; 'It could be any Joe Blow in the street, you don't know who it is.'
What are the visuals linked to this statement about terrorists?
What effect is the director after?
Look at the framing of the shots during the voice overs:
man sitting on footpath, rows of cars and taxis, woman walking through the city.
The last 22 seconds of the clip has a no voice over and features a number of unusual camera shots.
Captions:
voice over: I mean what happened to our happy country, free country you know?
It's all too far away, its not here.
It's probably isn't an issue but I think there is a perception that it's an issue.
I think it's a cowardly act. It's not upfront in your face, it's cowardly.
That's the fear of terrorism because it could be any Joe Blow in the street; you don't know who it is.
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Summary:
Clip 3
The sequence focuses on the opinions about the fear and misunderstandings surrounding terrorism.
The voice over is a retelling of a conversation on a train about a muslim lady.
Captions:
voice over: We were on a train, me and my friend and there was this Muslim lady sitting in front of us and he was like 'I think we should get off the train' ...
and was like 'why' and he goes 'well, she might be a terrorist' and I was like 'are you kidding me'.
I mean just the whole perspective of it, just because it's a Muslim or - people just start pigeon holing.
Summary:
Clip 4
The moving camera is tracking a car journey over the Sydney Harbour Bridge. The camera tilts from the roadway up into the sky.
The voice over by an expert concludes with a statement about the future of western countries.
Captions:
voice over: And in retrospect I wonder whether historians will look at it and say this is where the West went terribly wrong and paid a heavy price.
Summary:
Clip 5 Closing sequence
This sequence has statements by three people previously identified in the film. The expert, the young girl and the woman.
The final sequence begins with a tight shot of the front of a suburban house late in the day, then cuts to a slow panorama of the city, the Opera House and a wide shot of the city at night.
Captions:
voice over: Having a basic sense of trust in others and in your community, that's really the key.
It's a lot better to feel safe than scared.
I think we just have to get on with life. You really do because you cannot live your life in fear.
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