Style and Techniques- The Truman Show
Setting and Costume
Setting: The set design (the way that the setting is presented is an important technique
used by the director to develop ideas in the film. The two important settings in the film are
Seahaven, and the Moon Room (where Christof produces the show/controls Truman’s
world). There is a contrast between the ways the two settings are presented. Important
contrasting elements are colour, light, and other aspects of mise-en-scene (such as props,
layout/design etc.)
Seahaven is a very brightly lit environment. The architecture is very uniform, the houses are
all cottages which match in style and colour. They are all light bright colours, mostly
white/pastel colours. Seahaven is very much a ‘storybook’ setting and it appears to be a
constructed environment because it matches so perfectly. It is characterised by wide
streets, perfectly manicured yards/gardens, sunny weather and perfect order.
The Moon Room is a very dark environment. It is always presented to the viewer with low
key lighting. The colours used in the set are dark. The exceptions to this are bright lights on
control panels (which are generally red) and the light which emanates from the big screen
projecting the live feed of the show. The mise-en-scene of this setting reinforces the
technical purpose of the room. It is here we are able to see the significant amount of
technological input it required to ensure the show runs smoothly.
Costume: There is also significant contrast in costuming in the film, particularly between
the costumes used in the three worlds (Seahaven, the Moon Room and the real world). The
costumes used in Seahaven reflect the manicured world, are brightly coloured and loosely
based on 1940s/1950s fashion trends. This encourages American viewers in particular to
remember a more idealistic and conservative time in their history.
The production team are constantly dressed in dark colours in relatively non-descript styles
of clothing.
In the real world, viewers of the Truman show appear to wear clothes more similar to
fashion that was current at the time the film was made (1998). These characters appear in a
range of outfits which appear to reflect their age/lifestyle.
Activity:
1. Explain how set design and costume work together to help viewers to
understand the idea of reality vs unreality.
2. Explain how costume helps us to understand at least one character.
Lighting
There is a distinct contrast in the lighting that is used in the three different settings in the
film. Seahaven is generally very brightly lit. The real world (where we see characters
VIEWING the Truman Show) is generally lit in very natural lighting. The Moon Room is
generally very dark/ depicted in low key lighting. This difference in lighting influences the
way we perceive these settings.
Within Seahaven, there are scenes in which different lighting is used. Scenes which are set
at night employ low-key lighting, often with a blue/grey filter are typically used to show
moments when Truman is distressed or questioning something about his world. These
scenes demonstrate his emotional turbulence.
In darker scenes spotlighting is also used regularly. The use of this lighting reminds the
viewer that we are viewing a constructed reality, a SHOW, rather than a naturally occurring
moment.
Activity:
1. How does the different lighting used in the three settings help us to understand
themes in the film?
2. Explain how other lighting techniques use help us to understand character.
Camera Shots and Angles
Sets and costumes are not the only way in which we are made aware of a world we are
watching. Film style, particularly the use of camera angles, is an important indicator of
where the action is taking place. One of the conventions of film is that we never see the
camera. This works well in portraying the world of the production crew and television
audience of ‘The Truman Show’ as it gives us the feeling that we are watching a ‘real’ world.
Peter Weir wanted to convey the idea that Truman was being filmed under surveillance and
enable us, the cinema-going audience, to distinguish when we are observing the world of
Seahaven. To do this he used a variety of techniques:
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wide angle lenses
unusual camera angles (not used in dramatic filming). (eg. Extreme high angle shots
during the escape by sea scene)
shooting through oval or circular ‘masks’ (VIGNETTE shots) giving the impression
that these hidden cameras are built into various parts of the landscape
special ‘cameras’ hidden in more mobile and surprising places (in a ring which
Truman wears, another in his wife Meryl’s necklace and the ‘buoy cam’ bobbing
along the surface of the water ready to capture Truman should he venture offshore)
The idea of having hidden cameras for surveillance scattered around the town of Seahaven
influenced the way in which the town of Seaside was adapted to function as a film set.
Certain buildings had architectural features added so that the miniature hidden cameras
could shoot the story. The elegant piece of sculpture near the entrance of the insurance
building, where Truman works, was specially designed so that not only could it house a
camera, but also act as a sentry for the nerve centre of production for the ‘The Truman
Show’ television series.
You should also be considering a standard range of camera angles/shots when close
viewing also.
Activity:
1. Explain how Weir has used techniques to create a sense of surveillance in the
film.
2. How do these techniques help the viewers to understand the themes ‘the role of
the media’ and ‘reality vs. unreality’?
Sound Techniques
Dialogue: There are many aspects of dialogue that you could consider analysing. Like your
analysis of language in written text, you can consider the ways that characters use
language. Is it positive/negative, simple/complex, do they question? You should also look
for a range of clues in the dialogue that indicate that the Truman’s world is a constructed
reality. Dialogue is often used for aspects of the show such as product placement.
Ultimately you need to consider what characters are saying, who they are addressing and
what this shows us about the characters and ideas in the film.
Music/Soundtrack: Peter Weir has given the following quote about his selection of
soundtrack for the film.
“In the case of The Truman Show, since it is the story of a live television program, I was also
determining the music that the show's creator, Christof, would have chosen. The tracks that
seemed to be drawing the most out of the images for me (and presumably Christof) were those
of Philip Glass. Due to the round-the-clock nature of the show, I determined that Christof
would play either pre-recorded music (as a DJ might do) or, if events called for it, improvise
with one of the musicians who work in several shifts. The use of music in this film is as unusual
as the concept of the movie itself. Sometimes the music is Christof's choice, sometimes it's
mine!”
Music is used by Christof in the show to manipulate audience reaction to Truman and to
reflect the things happening in his life.
Activity:
1. Explain how the way music is manipulated in the film helps the viewer to
understand the themes ‘the role of the media’ and ‘reality vs. unreality’.
Sound Effects: There are a range of sound element aside from music and dialogue in the
film. When analysing sound effects it is important to consider where the sounds come
from? What does that tell us about what is happening? How do the sounds make us feel
(what is our natural/conventional reactions to the sound?) What does this help us to
understand?