Sequence Identification

http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=4372243

I came across this video this summer when I was searching through ESPN's Outside the Lines section. It is a video that explains the heart and determination of two high school wrestlers, one blind and the other with no legs, through a season and ultimately a life-long friendship.

There are multiple moments in the video where the creator uses sequencing but I'll focus on just one part.

[1:20] The video transitions to a train track station. It is a wide shot, fast forwarded so that the viewer can see time elapse and clouds come in. Then it transitions to a tight shot of the tracks itself. Finally, the video goes to a medium shot of the tracks. These shots all set the mood of the video, but lack any kind of action which is important for sequence shots.

The video then shows the wrestler (2:30) explaining the situation. As he remembers what happens, the video goes back to sequencing at the train tracks. Instead this time there is action. It starts with a train coming from away (wide shot) and then zooms in (medium shot).

"I kind of just slipped and fell under." Right after the wrestler says this line, the video changes to a tight shot of just the track and its wheels. I think this is one of the more effective shots of the entire video, as it captures the point of the story with where it took place.

Finally, the video shows the train moving away from the camera. The sounds of the train quiet as the wrestler becomes silent. It is very powerful.