DIRECTING UNIT: EDGAR WRIGHT DIRECTIONAL STYLE

I've already, briefly, discussed Edgar's directional style in my directing presentation. But going into much more detail with this style he has. Edgar Wright is know for his love and choice of close ups in the majority of his films. These quick, close up action like sequences have all been seen before, mostly with things like loading a gun or weapon. It's a very common technique used to build up tension before a big fight or murder. A few examples are below:

Sherlock Holmes, A Game of Shadows - 2011

From 1:35-1:50 you see the soldiers' loading up 'Little Hansel', the use of the close ups and high speed cuts helps build up this tension, making you wonder how bad this gun is, which you then see with the huge explosion. This is also the part where you want excitement and thrill, this is just before the big bang... Literally!!

Suicide Squad - 2016

This scene from the suicide squad, we see Dead Shot's skill with guns, notice how we get small close up shots when he's loading and getting ready to fire. The speed of the cuts helps make the scene really exciting rather than just a wide shot of him

This technique is classic, especially in action films. Edgar Wright uses this technique in so many of his films but for more than just action scenes. Edgar likes to bring that excitement and almost thrill into the most simple and boring actions and movement such as getting ready, doing paperwork, etc. and this is done through most of his films. Although he does it more through the comedy films that he writes. As you can see in the clips below:

These clips are taken from each movie that Edgar Wright has directed, Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz, Scott Pilgrim and The Worlds End. Although, this technique isn't used in Spaced or Asylum, Edgar keeps this technique for his films and focuses more on the comedy impact of dialogue from the characters in Spaced and much more of a steadicam look for Asylum back in 1996.

Edgar talked in an interview saying that the close up montages where actually more of a parody or joke to the action sequences you get in action films and would be done with very mundane actions like getting ready, starting the car, etc. and this would lead up to the actual action scene. It was a build up to the actual action which helped with the comedy of the film.
However, he found that this technique helped to really get in on the action and actually make these mundane scenes really interesting and a much better way to make transactions between scenes.
Edgar did experiment with the classic cross dissolve transition between scenes in his 1996 BBC Series 'Asylum' which would give a nice transition between the scenes and changes but he found that it wasn't really 'his cup of tea' as he got the style from his music videos which he made for the band 'The Bluetones'. But when making Hot Fuzz and Scott Pilgrim he found that this technique, mixed with the steadicam work seen throughout his films, really made an impact on the viewing of the film. Taking boring scenes like paperwork and signing for packages and making them exciting and engaging for the audience.

From this as well, Edgar has a style of genre which is comedy. Edgar is a comedy Writer and Director. His work that involves comedy is:
- Asylum
- Spaced
- Shaun of the Dead
- Hot Fuzz
- Scott Pilgrim vs. The World
- The Worlds End
- Ant-Man (Screenplay)

Even his first film 'A Fist full of Fingers' was comedy as well. This is what he is known for, his scripts bring humorous and then being brought to life to the funny characters that come through the acting of his actors and Edgar's unique style with the close up work.

For me, this is Edgar Wright most noticeable direction styles for his works.

(Photos from google.co.uk)