Sequence Identification

This video from washingtonpost.com of a group performing the "Thriller" dance at Freedom Plaza begins with a sequence of straightforward shots that close in on the group and narrow it from faceless crowd to nameless people to real person, with more detailed tight shots later on.

It begins with a wide shot of the group (:02) that uses the angle of the buildings leading off down the street to the Capitol to bring your eye to the focal point-- the dancers. The shot places the group at the left side of the screen, though, which brings emphasis to the setting and gives a clear view of the Capitol. It's an artsy wide shot that I thought suited the subject, giving a sense not only of what they were doing but where they were.

The medium shot that comes next (:06) does less to invite the viewer. It's exactly the same shot but more focused, with the same emphasis on the Capitol that appeared before. At this point, I wanted to get more of a sense of these people, not of their surroundings. It seemed kind of redundant to essentially zoom in from the same spot. While I realize that's a technique in itself, I didn't think it was particularly illuminating in this video. It just kind of dragged.

The success of the video lies in the series of tight shots that follow, which portray the people, their purpose, and the dance moves. It begins with an interview with one woman (:11), transitions smoothly to an off-center close-up of a few dancers from the shoulders up (:17), goes into another interview (:22), and finishes with a really tight shot of the dancers' feet (:24). I think the flow of this series of shots not only explains what exactly is going on, but gives the impression of getting to know these people, from zoning in on a body part to hearing a childhood anecdote from another. And each of the shots of the group is broken up nicely by a brief but interesting interview.