Cinematic Inspiration #3

So we've seen a clip that demonstrates tension:

Opening of TOUCH OF EVIL

And we've seen a clip that highlights character:

Lee J. Cobb's monologue from 12 ANGRY MEN

Today, we put them both together, and take a look at how character and suspense work hand-in-hand. Let's have a look at this absolutely fantastic scene between screen greats Laurence Olivier and Dustin Hoffman. Is it safe?

(Note: the sound cuts out at the end, but still, you can see the power of this scene.)


Marathon Man

Cinematic Inspiration #2

Character is the base of any good story. Writers do it with descriptions and actions and dialog. Actors do it the same way minus the paper and ink (or computer screen and keyboard).

I give to you this afternoon one of the great monologues in film (and stage) history.

Lee J. Cobb in 12 Angry Men:

Cinematic Inspiration #1

Let's look at building suspense. You tease your audience, you pull them along letting them know something is going to happen, you put your protagonist(s) in harms way...will they get caught in the action?...will they survive?...the anticipation...the tension...then finally the moment arrives...

Sure, hundreds, if not thousands, of people know how to build suspense...but it takes a real master to do it in a new and bold way...and in one take...

From 1958, the classic opening scene to TOUCH OF EVIL by master director Orson Welles:





More on TOUCH OF EVIL here