On the Brink (The Verge) Tension and Suspense-A Moment of Insight

On the Brink (The Verge) Tension and Suspense-A Moment of Insight

According to the dictionary, tension is defined as a “state of suspense, a balance between and interplay of opposing elements or tendencies.” From this tension and state of suspense, I wish to elevate my film essay to the brink, the verge of the moment. There will be both a before and after the moment. Before the moment, the suspense before the brink will be heightened and the tension stretched to its limits. From the moment before a soccer ball is hit into a goal to the moment before the basketball shoots through the hoop, I will be using a variety of sport scenes to explore objectively what tension encompasses. Likewise, there will be before shot before the soccer ball is hit and an after shot when the soccer ball hits the net. In this case, the tension is the interplay between two opposing players or teams. In addition, I will include a special segment featuring the tension between Duke and Carolina in the arena of basketball.
I shall approach the filming of tension through using cinematic techniques such as zoom in, zoom out, slow motion, and fast motion. Editing is another imperative component to my film essay. During the editing portion, I will be using flashback, jump-cuts, some looping, a ditch tilt, and possibly some montage. In addition, there will be close-ups and inter titles. I will also be including a certain amount of found footage from the internet to include in my film essay. The preceding cinematic techniques are not all inclusive and may include multiple photographs from my camera. Utilizing all these cinematic techniques, my film will seek to explore the juxtaposition of tension among two opposing elements to the point that a moment of insight will be illuminated.

-Michael