Now you see me: Visual, Technical, Audio Codes

Now you see me: Film

This is the first few minutes of Now You See Me. This clip basically introduces each character and shows you what they can do. The film is based on these four magicians who come together and pull off the biggest illusion of all time. They have their own show, and the film just shows you what type of magician they are and how magic works. The film is original as there is nothing like it. The genre is a crime fiction/ mystery/ thriller. The film is in so many different categories as it has the crime ( the robbing of the bank ), the mystery ( magic ) and the thriller ( it keeps you on edge and has suspense though out )

The film uses many visual codes such as the costumes they wear. The first few minutes as I said shows all the characters, the first magician you see as an audience J. Daniel Atlas which could be the main magician through out the film. He is performing in the streets which reflects on what he is wearing, the scene is also at night which then links into the costume he wears. The character is wearing a black coat. This shows no personality of what he's like as a person and it also shows he wants to blend in with the crowd and not stand out. The shot is constantly just focusing on his head and shoulders so the audience cant see the rest of his costume which shows he is mysterious and shifty. As a magician I imagine you want to be seen as that but right from the start you guess that.
The next magician the audience gets introduced to is Merritt McKinney. The setting of this scene is completely different not just the location but also the time of day. The character is wearing a hat and a shirt but also a blazer which could then show he wants to be seen and not blend in. The setting is a resort lobby location which is generally busy or it could be set in a shopping centre, never the less it is still a busy and crowded location. Which shows he wants to be known unlike the first magician. As the scene continues it shows what he specialises in. The film shows what all the magicians specialise in as they are introduced. Anyway I also think his costume is that he wants to blend in but not so much as the other character.
The third character that is introduced is Jack Wilder. The setting for this is a tourist attraction, on a boat. He obviously isn't well known unlike the other three as they had an audience and participants. He had to engage his audience with money. By doing this his facial expressions may show he is confident but his body expression shows other wise as his trick doesn't plan out like he wanted but the illusion of it did. This instantly shows the audience what type of character he is. Also his clothing shows he is a shifty and sneaky character, he wears a leather jacket and this is usually resembled to a rebel of some sort
The final character is Henley Reeves. Her setting is attraction which instantly shows she is well known and people always come and watch her perform. Her costume is a black jump suit which shows off her figure which then could show she is a flirty character because her outfit is revealing. Her body language is very open and her facial expressions are presenter like. As the clip goes on she shows what she can do as a magician. She does an old trick which is being locked in a chamber which she needs to get out from. Not only does she keep the audience on their seat by being stuck but she shows an illusion of her at the back of the crowd which shows her talent.

The technical codes the film uses in the first four minutes is that with the first character as I said they use close up through out. But not only does this shot focus on the characters expression it also takes the audience eyes off what is going on in the background. The mise en scene of the shot of the first character is in a busy city and by having the buildings in the background shows that he is a street performer. This then shows he doesn't have a lot of success.  The trick that he does involves the audience because as he is explaining it with the crowd he is also explaining it to the audience. I know this because he makes direct eye contact through out the trick, so the audience cant look else where.
The second character as I said is showing his talent in a busy location but it doesn't instantly show this. The scene starts with a close up of his board saying what he does and his name. The photo of him used is a young photo which shows he been trying to get into the industry a while. As well as the first scene it uses a range of shots but the main shot that is used is a close-up. When he interrogates his audience there is an extreme close up used which then points out the weakness of some of the words he says.
The third character uses mainly mid shots which then includes the background which then shows the audience where he is. The only close up the director uses is when the trick is being shown which takes the audience eyes of what is happen else where.
Finally the last character uses long shots through out so you can get the whole of the tank in. If the director used as mid shot the audience would get the impression that the trick is fake and lose interest. 
The editing of these scene to scene is quick so the audience doesn't lose interest. The scene goes from character to  character which is effect and the audience gets to know what each magician is like.


The audio codes that are used in the first scene is diegetic and non diegetic sound. The diegetic sound that is being used is him speaking and the crowd responding but over the top of that  there is a non diegetic sound being played. The soft music that is being played gives the scene as mysterious feel. This will give the audience a sense of what the scene Is like before anything has happened. As the trick is being planned out the music gets louder. 
The first character has music like I said, the rest have either very subtle non diegetic sound such as the weather being played over the top, to show what the setting is like and where the location is. The second character uses the weather as a non diegetic sound. The third character uses a voice over as he walks up the stairs his speech has already started which then means this is a voice over. This is effective because even though it is focused on him walking up the stairs another part of the scene has started which keep the audience engaged and entertained. The last part of the scene has music played as the scene comes to a close. Which then leads on the next scene. This then leads the editing of scene to scene smoother.

As I have said the genre of this film is a mystery, crime and a thriller. I believe it is a mystery and it is a soft thriller which keeps you engaged through out.