Last year's new drama "American Crime Story" will tell a big case every season. The first season is about the famous Simpson case in American judicial history.
Simpson (OJ Simpson) is the American football star, regarded as "American hero". In 1994, his ex-wife was found brutally murdered in his apartment, along with a male restaurant waiter. Simpson was later named as a suspect. Due to the identity of the parties, the case has received a lot of attention in the United States. At the same time, the trial of the case is also of great significance in the history of American justice. The event itself and the trial process are also climaxes of various reversals. It happened at the turn of the century, so it was called the case of the century.
The first season of "The Simpson case" (The People v. OJ Simpson) won the 74th Golden Globe Award for best miniseries/film and television. Actress Sarah Paulson won Best Actress in a Miniseries/TV Movie.
It is not easy to tell this story well. The Simpson case is familiar to the public. How can we capture the sense of suspense and tension? There are many complicated events in the trial process, how to choose? The case involves all parties involved, how to express each person's position and appeal? Simpson's guilt or innocence, and how and when does the narrative present both sides of the aisle?
Take episode 2 as an example, let's take a look at the combination of characters and shots. (Only spoilers for this episode, do not hinder the enjoyment of the whole show.)
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This episode is mainly about the "hunt of the century" by the police after Simpson tried to escape after the incident.
Character 1: Simpson
Let's take a look at the shaping of Simpson first. After the police found Simpson, he was so emotional that he was going to commit suicide with a gun to his head. Later, I called 911 and said I was going to see my mother (I was still a baby). Police cleared the road and sent nine police cars and helicopters to accompany them.
After the accident, he wanted to escape and commit suicide, which gave him a lot of suspicion.
Then he received a call from his friend Kardashian (described below), recalling their friendship and thanking a group of people. Here we see his fragility and friendship.
The police again tried to contact Simpson, who displayed the qualities of a celebrity. He apologized for making public officials work overtime on Friday.
All these performances confuse the people who eat melons, is it a murder? The pros and cons are interspersed here.
Johnnie Cochran (later an important figure in the Simpson Lawyers) went on a talk show to expose the dark history of the Los Angeles Police Department, who had mistakenly killed black people.
Black friends of the black lawyer Darden (described below) backed Simpson, arguing that he was framed because of his skin color. Darden said: Simpson lived a white life after becoming famous and never gave back to the black community.
Note this composition, which cuts Darden (left) and his friends.
This time we are even more confused, is he killed? The case is getting more complicated.
Character 2: Kardashian
Kardashian (Robert Kardashian, the actor of Ross in "Friends", see him in minutes) is Simpson's best friend. After seeing Simpson's suicide note, he thought he committed suicide. He sadly broke the news to the Simpson family, only to see Simpson's car being found on the highway on the live broadcast.
By the time Kardashian broke the news to the Simpson family, we already knew Simpson was alive. This plot seems unnecessary, and it makes perfect sense to remove it. But it was this episode that shaped Kardashian's image as a "concerned friend." It also makes it seem logical that he was the one who successfully persuaded Simpson to bring him to justice.
Due to the complex plot and many characters, the screenwriter put many character characterizations in the details. For example, when Kardashian and Shapiro (Robert Shapiro, later a key member of the Simpsons lawyers) held a press conference, his children were super excited to see it in front of the TV. Before hinting at this case, Kardashian was just an ordinary person without a name, and this case also changed his life.
For another example, Shapiro held a press conference in order to clear up the negative impact of the client's escape under his nose. The move seemed arrogant. This can be pointed out by anyone, but Johnny complained in the play, which paved the way for the later disagreement between the two.
Character 3: Darden
Black lawyer Christopher Darden later became the prosecution's lead lawyer. As a black man, standing on the opposite side of Simpson, his position is awkward, so he laid a foreshadowing here, showing his side that does not agree with Simpson.
Sterling K. Brown, who played Darden, was nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actor and was the lead actor in the hit drama "This Is Us" some time ago. He and the heroine Sarah Paulson have nothing to say about their acting skills, and the corners of their eyes and brows are full of drama.
In episode 7, the two gradually became ambiguous because of the shared war friendship. Darden invites Martha to a childhood friend's birthday party. Martha agreed. The atmosphere is very bubbly. At the end of the party, at the entrance of the Martha Hotel room, should we go in or say good night to each other? To flirt or not to flirt? Temptation and rejection are all written in his eyes.
Shots and Clips
When many characters in the play are talking, the director likes to use the rotating lens to express it. For example, Shapiro's wife told Shapiro that Simpson was still alive.
It gives the impression that the director is eager to give you an idea of what's going to happen next. Immediately after the conversation here, go to the TV screen.
After Simpson disappeared, the police got fake leads:
But the important dialogue shots are still cut in a regular manner. For example, when Kardashian handed Shapiro her suicide note.
In addition to this, the director likes to express strong emotions with fast-moving shots.
At the beginning, because of Simpson's escape, the attorney general and Shapiro had an angry call:
Finally, after Simpson was arrested, cut back to the prosecutors to watch the live broadcast:
At this time, for them, a battle that must be won begins.
Finally, a few words of nonsense. There are quite a few barrages that feel that the narrative pace is a bit slower. It does feel that way at first glance. We may be spoiled by the kind of blockbuster that one climax is stronger than the other, and we always feel that the hearty feeling is missing.
I think this part is limited by multiple characters and multiple perspectives . If you only write from the perspective of the prosecutor or only from the perspective of Kardashian, etc., it is easier to amplify a certain emotion and arrange emotional turns. This kind of multi-angle performance will not overemphasize a certain emotion.
But it is also this kind of multi-angle, and cleverly choosing different angles in different events, retaining the original flavor of the ups and downs of events, and delicately portraying various characters, but it makes people unforgettable.
The show can speak.
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