TEA Extract Essay: Game of Thrones

This is the practice essay I did for the extract of Game of Thrones

Watching the Game of Thrones extract I gained the sense that the director was trying to build suspense throughout those scenes. I am a Game of Thrones fan and finished the Game of Thrones series so I had extensive knowledge of the lore in the show. Since I’ve watched the show I know that the product is drama, a long drawn thriller meant to put the audience on the edge of their seats wanting to see what happens next. Hence, the purpose of each scene is meant to further the story through suspenseful narrative. In this extract, the director aimed to build suspense through camera shots, movement, editing and sound to further the narrative. 

The first scene is an aerial shot of a ship moving across the ocean with diegetic sounds of birds and the waves crashing. This establishing shot sets our characters as somewhere far away, they’re traveling to a place that far away. The scene then cuts to a two shot of our protagonist with a determined look on their face as they approach their destination. The camera zooms into an eye-line of the two characters as the scene zooms outwards, and pans to reveal a giant statue set above them as they enter the harbor. The camera goes into a wide shot and further zooms out revealing how minature the boat is compared to the statue and the city. Supporting this feeling of grandeur is the score in the background invoking the sense anticipation for what’s about to come.

After the establishing scenes, we move to the two protagonists waiting inside the bank in which they have a meeting. The camera shows a medium two shot of the characters with Stannis Baretheon pacing around while sir Davos is standing still. The shot then jump cuts to a wide shot of the two men alone in the gigantic room. A shot reverse shot is seen in this moment of conversation between the two men as the camera shifts to show when each man is talking. Sir Davos is trying to by time by small talking but a reaction shot of Stannis’s piercing stare silences him.  During this time there is an observable lack of sound in the room, only diegetic noise; this is meant to heighten the anticipation of the scene. 

Suddenly in the midst of waiting, a group of bankers appear as a tracking shot follows them to their seats. Most of the shots from here on are made up of wide shots and medium close ups to show when one is talking. Cross cutting is often used in this scene between the protagonist and the bankers as both are awkwardly staring at each other while making conversation. The continual cross cutting and shot reverse shots is overlapped by Stannis’ failed attempt at convincing the council to fund his usurpation. It comes down to sort of ex machina where Sir Davos gives a persuasive speech to convince the council to think otherwise. Along with this filibuster, are quick camera cuts to the dialogue of Davos and the council, to close up of Stannis’ face staring at nothing with the backdrop of Davos and the council faded in the back. 

In general, the aim of the directors in these scenes, as I reiterate, is to lead the audience on a suspful trail towards confrontation where the protagonists have to find a solution for.