Links+between+the+Beginning+and+Ending+Scenes.

Creative director **Christof** Costume, glasses beret show he is intelligent and creative Lighting – blue and white light behind him Mid shot of Christof looking directly at camera. Dialogue” We’ve become bored with watching actors give us phony emotions. …It isn’t always Shakespeare but it’s genuine. It’s a life” **Truman Burbank** Close up shot of Burbank leaning into mirror which has lines over it possibly to indicate that he is being filmed by a camera. This is a motif shot that is used more than once in the film to show his personal monologue and show him as a real person not fake actor! Dialogue: He is talking to himself about climbing a mountain and overcoming the challenge. This establishes one film theme – adventure is a characteristic that Burbank values. His love of adventure is often mentioned in the film. **Meryl** is a star in her own right. A mid shot of her with her hair down and sitting by a window, shows her in a typical interview position. Dialogue shows she is comfortable with her acting role in the film: “for me there is no difference between private and public life…My life is the Truman Show…” Marlon ( friend) still in his acting uniform – he sell sweets to stores? ** Opening ** Establishes the day 10,909 Setting of Seahaven first established in Truman’s neighbourhood with the neighbours greeting each other as they leave. Shots midshots of Truman and American Family outside front doors “And in case I don’t see you …” American Dream home shown – white picket fence. Characters exceptionally tidy attire and smiling faces. All seems ‘too good to be true” ( later on we learn it’s contrived.) The director wants to give the real viewer a chance to escape their mundane existences and take Seahaven as an example of a perfect world.
 * The beginning and ending of the film. **
 * ** Beginning ** || ** Ending and links ** ||
 * ** Prologue **

A high angle point of view shot that shows Truman //afraid of his neighbours dog establishes// the theme of Fear – which we later learn is a characteristic he has developed via his life’s experiences. ** Odd event ** The spotlight falls from the sky – indicating to us that the setting is fake – called **Sirius (**Brightest star in the night sky – the dog that followed Orion hunting) || **Christof** – Still wearing the same costume Lighting - shot of the sky blue and light in places behind the clouds (similar to opening) defines Christof as the Creator – (Shot is an allusion to religious paintings of renaissance period)Dialogue: “I am the creator of a television show that brings hope and joy and inspiration to millions.”

Shots of Truman walking on water are reminiscent of Jesus…

In valuing art above life, Christov has shown the media’s moral and ethical limitations. Thus Peter Weir is showing us, that we should be skeptical about TV and the intentions of producers.

Dialogue “In my world you had nothing to fear…” //Links back to the dog and fear that// Christof had manufactured for the actor throughout his life on the set.

The **characters** are similar in both scenes – Christof, Truman and Sylvia ( his true love); in contrast to Meryl, his uncommitted wife (fingers crossed in wedding photo), in the opening scene. End cut away to Sylvia – high angle CU of her teary eyed watching the Truman on TV. Later low angle as she descends stairs indicating that she is off to the studio to meet Truman

**Odd event** ; The Bow of the ship pierces the canvass of the sky backdrop. Opening oddity – Sirius falling from sky.

Both the beginning and ending **Truman** is happy Dialogue – ‘ And in case I don’t see you good afternoon, good evening and goodnight!”

Dialogue” you never had a camera in my head” links back to Truman looking in mirror – talking about challenges. ||