In my exploration of camera coverage I’ve decided to base my research on one of my favourite directors: Martin Scorsese. I specifically want to analyze the opening scene of Taxi Driver (1967). As background information, the narrative centralizes around a character that seems at odd with the external world around him. I am focusing specifically on the camera coverage within the opening scene of the film. Here we have an almost continual shot-reverse- shot of Travis

(Robert De Niro) as he observes the ominous streets of New York from the inside of his cab. The extreme close up of De Niro’s eyes creates an immense sense of what director Jean Epstein calls photogenie whereby the camera brings to life inanimate objects. The lingering shots on De Niro’s eyes become a metaphor for seeing the world through a lens of fear and alienation. The switch then, to a long POV shot of the street reveals it as though a deep menacing ocean of frightening characters where even the traffic lights adopt a horrific persona. There is very little actual variations in camera set up. The focus is on the two shots themselves. What I love about this coverage is its effectiveness despite its simplicity. As an audience we really get to experience the mental subjectivity of the character.

More research coming next week… 🙂