SEARCHING FOR SUGARMAN MICRO DETAIL FLASHCARDS
What are elements of narrative in the trailer? – begins as a story of his life but then there is a
twist. Themes of racial divide, apartheid, mystery and discovery. Makes use of enigma codes.
What are elements of micro details in the trailer? – high contrast lighting, orange and black
colouring (heat and tension), fast paced editing, specific info that forces us to take an
investigative role.
What modes of documentary are evident in the trailer? – expository (explaining history of
Rodriguez), poetic (montages), performative (we are on the journey together with the
filmmaker)
Elements of mise-en-scene in SFS – shot of sunsets each time we are introduced to a new
song
Elements of performance in SFS – hear the director asking questions
Elements of sound in SFS – silence, dramatic music
What is the impact of silence? – to emphasise the importance
When is silence used? - when it’s revealed that he never recorded another song, when
Clarence starts getting defensive
When is dramatic music used? - at beginning of Segerman trying to find him, at realisation of
fraud
Elements of editing in South Africa sequence – montage editing
When is montage editing used in South Africa sequence? – found footage
Elements of cinematography in South Africa sequence - establishing shot
When are establishing shots used in South Africa sequence? – large landscapes with highly
saturated colouring
Elements of sound in South Africa sequence – change in music tone compared to Detroit
Elements of cinematography in Rodriguez’s interview – no cuts
What is the impact of lack of cuts in Rodriguez’s interview? – all the focus is on what he is
saying
Elements of sound in Rodriguez’s interview – no sound
What is the impact of lack of sound in Rodriguez’s interview? – all the focus is on what he is
saying
Elements of mise-en-scene in Rodriguez’s interview – wearing all black and blending in with
the room
Elements of mise-en-scene in Detroit sequence – bad weather in every clip of Detroit
Elements of sound in Detroit sequence – diegetic noise, looming music, silence
When is diegetic noise used in Detroit sequence? – storm and sirens
When is looming music used in Detroit sequence? – when music producer describes first
meeting him, as the guitar is getting louder
When is silence used in Detroit sequence? – when the bartender says he thought Rodriguez
was homeless
Elements of cinematography in Detroit sequence – colouring, establishing shot, change in
tone
How is colouring used in Detroit sequence? – dark, cool colouring when we are first introduced
and warmer colouring of a sunset when Rodriguez’s song starts playing
When are establishing shots used in Detroit sequence? - when we are first introduced, and
when the camera is following Rodriguez walking
When is there a change in tone used in Detroit sequence? - once we meet Rodriguez, Detroit
is shown in warmer tones
Elements of editing in Detroit sequence – transitions, L cuts
When are transitions used in Detroit sequence? – from the pieces of paper in the credit
sequence to the actual location, a photograph into a sketch, fades into black and into the
storms
When are L-cuts used in Detroit sequence? - establishing shots to bartender talking about
Rodriguez, when the music producer is describing it as a gritty place as a voice-over to found
footage
Elements of sound in Opening sequence – looming music
When is looming music used in Opening sequence? – mention of suicide
Elements of performance in Opening sequence – Segerman acting trusting
How does Segerman act trusting in Opening sequence? - singing along to song, gesturing and
talking to us
What are elements of narrative in the trailer? – begins as a story of his life but then there is a
twist. Themes of racial divide, apartheid, mystery and discovery. Makes use of enigma codes.
What are elements of micro details in the trailer? – high contrast lighting, orange and black
colouring (heat and tension), fast paced editing, specific info that forces us to take an
investigative role.
What modes of documentary are evident in the trailer? – expository (explaining history of
Rodriguez), poetic (montages), performative (we are on the journey together with the
filmmaker)
Elements of mise-en-scene in SFS – shot of sunsets each time we are introduced to a new
song
Elements of performance in SFS – hear the director asking questions
Elements of sound in SFS – silence, dramatic music
What is the impact of silence? – to emphasise the importance
When is silence used? - when it’s revealed that he never recorded another song, when
Clarence starts getting defensive
When is dramatic music used? - at beginning of Segerman trying to find him, at realisation of
fraud
Elements of editing in South Africa sequence – montage editing
When is montage editing used in South Africa sequence? – found footage
Elements of cinematography in South Africa sequence - establishing shot
When are establishing shots used in South Africa sequence? – large landscapes with highly
saturated colouring
Elements of sound in South Africa sequence – change in music tone compared to Detroit
Elements of cinematography in Rodriguez’s interview – no cuts
What is the impact of lack of cuts in Rodriguez’s interview? – all the focus is on what he is
saying
Elements of sound in Rodriguez’s interview – no sound
What is the impact of lack of sound in Rodriguez’s interview? – all the focus is on what he is
saying
Elements of mise-en-scene in Rodriguez’s interview – wearing all black and blending in with
the room
Elements of mise-en-scene in Detroit sequence – bad weather in every clip of Detroit
Elements of sound in Detroit sequence – diegetic noise, looming music, silence
When is diegetic noise used in Detroit sequence? – storm and sirens
When is looming music used in Detroit sequence? – when music producer describes first
meeting him, as the guitar is getting louder
When is silence used in Detroit sequence? – when the bartender says he thought Rodriguez
was homeless
Elements of cinematography in Detroit sequence – colouring, establishing shot, change in
tone
How is colouring used in Detroit sequence? – dark, cool colouring when we are first introduced
and warmer colouring of a sunset when Rodriguez’s song starts playing
When are establishing shots used in Detroit sequence? - when we are first introduced, and
when the camera is following Rodriguez walking
When is there a change in tone used in Detroit sequence? - once we meet Rodriguez, Detroit
is shown in warmer tones
Elements of editing in Detroit sequence – transitions, L cuts
When are transitions used in Detroit sequence? – from the pieces of paper in the credit
sequence to the actual location, a photograph into a sketch, fades into black and into the
storms
When are L-cuts used in Detroit sequence? - establishing shots to bartender talking about
Rodriguez, when the music producer is describing it as a gritty place as a voice-over to found
footage
Elements of sound in Opening sequence – looming music
When is looming music used in Opening sequence? – mention of suicide
Elements of performance in Opening sequence – Segerman acting trusting
How does Segerman act trusting in Opening sequence? - singing along to song, gesturing and
talking to us
