Production techniques in American History X
Slow motion
Directors using the editing technique of slow motion to slow down the images that the audience sees on the
screen. The director chooses to do this for three reasons:
Reason the director uses
slow motion
Signifies to the audience
that this is an important
moment in the plot.
Example from the film and what it shows
Lets the audience
explore fully what they
can see in more detail eg
facial expressions
Make the audience think
about what they have
seen and what their
opinion of what is
happening on the screen
is.
In the sequence “I go back to that night again and again” the images we see are those from __________ ‘s
point of view. He was traumatized by what he saw and goes over and over them, again and again. That is one
reason why the director has slowed it down. We are looking at Danny’s memories of this pivotal moment in
his life, when he was separated from his role model and hero, Derek.
Using the structure below write a paragraph that answers the question “Describe a production technique used
in your film and say how it was effective.” Use your own paper if you need to.
T ____________________________________________________________________________________
E ____________________________________________________________________________________
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X ____________________________________________________________________________________
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A ____________________________________________________________________________________
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S ____________________________________________________________________________________