One of the camera effects used within the film is the long-take. This is where the camera is focused on one thing for longer than nine seconds. The effect this creates is that it introduces the character and the scene. It focuses on a character and allows it to be developed and focuses on different situations. Also, it can make us feel closer to a character by concentrating on someone for a long period of time, enabling us to see and hear everything he does. The cameras give us a sustained look at Truman, although he is completely oblivious to this. One particular example of the long-take was the mirror scene. This was in the first few minutes of the film when Truman was talking to himself in the mirror. When one is talking to themselves in a mirror, this is a time that is completely personal, and when one thinks that there is no one around watching or listening to them. However, in the case of 'The Truman Show', Truman is never allowed a personal moment such as this, as when he thinks he is alone, he is not. This helps to incite sympathy as we are allowed to be present in such an intimate moment of Truman’s life when we feel we should not be. Also it may make us feel as if we are doing something immoral by participating in this programme when the main star does not even know he is famous. It helps to make us see that Truman is simply being victimised and that someone who is such a kind and loving person does not deserve such a cruel and twisted fate.
Another example of the long-take and its effects is when, near the very beginning, there were interviews with the characters of the show. This enabled to connect with the other characters of the show, so we could decide whether they were genuine or just actors. These interviews showed us how seriously they take the show and how it is a part of their lives. Laura Linney, the actress who plays Meryl (Truman's wife), even says during her interview, "The Truman Show is my life. It's a truly blessed life." This shows just how they feel about the show and how it is their whole life. In my opinion, this interview with Meryl did not show her being sincere but rather insincere. This is because she is mainly concerned of what peoples opinions of her are and so if she appears as a loving, genuine person who only has Truman’s best interests at heart, then the audiences perception of her will be a good one. This does make us pity Truman, as those who can see through her fake persona, will see how immoral it is for Truman to be married to someone yet not know anything about how hypocritical and artificial she really is. The long-takes can make us feel sorry for Truman because it gives us an insight into his true feelings. We may also even feel guilty which is connected to sympathy, because there are times when we may feel that Truman should be on his own, yet we continue to watch.
Another effect used within the film was continuity editing. This is editing that creates action that flows smoothly across shots and scenes without jarring or any visual inconsistencies. It also establishes a sense of story for the viewers. This can create sympathy for Truman by constantly showing his moods, meaning that we are never given a break from his life. If something goes wrong in his life, or his emotions are sad, then we are able to feel this with him, as continuity can give us a closer insight into his life. We may feel sorry for him because, as a close viewer, we only want happiness for him. We are given constant contact with Truman, as the programme is mainly shown set in familiar places rather than venturing into new sets. As continuity helps to give a sense of story, it helps us to remain interested in the programme and develop a deeper connection with Truman. The closer we feel to him, the more sympathy we feel. Another use of continuity is that it gives us an view into what Truman goes through on a day to day basis and what he experiences, building a relationship with the viewer.
A further aspect of continuity is the point of view shot which is also a part of editing. This enables us to feel as if we are Truman or are even in the scene. There are many examples of this within the opening scenes of the film. Firstly, there is the incident with the dog, when it bounced up onto Truman, and there was a point of view shot, enabling us to see what he was seeing. This made us feel scared as it felt as if the dog had bounced up onto us so we could feel Truman’s fear making us feel sorry for the position he was in. It also enabled us to see a close-up reaction of Truman during this event so we could relate to what he was feeling, in this case fear. The next example of the point of view shot was on the pier when the camera was looking at the boat in the water. This was angle from Truman's point of view showing his fear at recalling his dad drowning. We were able to look down at the boat as he was doing which made us feel sympathy towards Truman because, as we have become part of his life, we recall this event with him. The final example was with the smashed light. With another point of view shot, we could clearly see Truman's confusion at this event and it may have made us worried, as it was a signal towards things that Truman should never know. However, this could incite sympathy, as it is something that is being kept from him, and as he appears isolated and lonely, we feel sorry for him.
There is a wide range of diegetic sound and non-diegetic sound in the film. Christof, the creator of 'The Truman Show' (the programme) cleverly adds music to emphasise emotions. From the very beginning, there is diegetic sound with dialogue. Then it moves onto non-diegetic sound when there is music playing during the scene with Truman talking into the mirror. The music played when Truman is looking into the mirror was there to dramatise the scene and make it seem significant. Even during the interviews with the characters of the programme, the sound is a mixture of both diegetic and non-diegetic. The diegetic sound is normally always the dialogue. With the interviews, the non-diegetic sound is the music being played in the background but the actors cannot hear. This music makes what the characters are saying seem authentic and genuine because it is soft, easy listening music. The effect it creates is that the characters are so close to Truman what they are feeling and how they act towards him is real which may not necessarily be true. In one scene, there is an unusual mix of the sounds as there is a piece of music played on the radio, which makes it diegetic sound as Truman is able to hear it, but then it becomes non-diegetic sound as it continues to play even though the radio is turned off. Once Truman reaches his office, this music stops. This can makes us feel sympathy for Truman as it makes us realise that even the music Truman hears is all controlled and this scene just emphasises how controlled his life is and how powerless it makes him.
Another important use of music is with the flashback scene to when Truman lost his dad. At a particularly poignant moment, Truman lets go of his father's hand, and the music at this point represents the emotions felt. These are those of sorrow and heartache as this is what Truman is feeling. As the music is played, this can make us feel sympathy for Truman as we almost feel the pain he is feeling as he loses his dad. There is also, as previously, the element of feeling guilty that we are being entertained at the expense of someone's feelings. Lastly, the non-diegetic sound if often used when characters begin to act insincerely towards Truman. This symbolises that Truman is effectively losing control and the music frames the scene, establishing an edited and finished effect.
The film consists of many different layers and genres, the main three being documentary, soap and reality television. Different parts of the film come from the different genres leading us to ask the question what is actually real within the film. Beginning with the genre of documentaries, this is an aspect featured not in a great amount of detail in the film. Near the start, there are interviews with the actors in the programme, and a clip of Christof talking. These are all scenes which are within the documentary. Once the opening credits have finished rolling, we do not see any more documentary scenes within the opening sequences. This documentary style lets us see what the actors think about the whole concept, and particularly with Meryl makes us think that they are quite artificial and not actually concerned about Truman's best interests but rather their own. This makes us feel sympathy for him as it portrays him as being secluded, sheltered and oblivious to the real world around him, which everybody else knows about. The documentary genre makes him appear to be like an experiment or something to be studied. This adds to the feeling of Truman being isolated and rather like an animal in a zoo which people are free to see whenever they want regardless of the animal’s feelings and willingness.
The second genre the film contains is soaps. When occasionally, we see ordinary people watching the show, they make it appear like a soap that they can watch constantly. They follow it closely, and remain interested as the story develops further and further. Although it is supposed to be real, it is only to an extent, as Christof largely controls the events in Truman's life even with scripts and earpieces for the actors, making it have a soap-like quality. This incites sympathy as it makes us aware that we are watching the programme like a soap even though it contains real life. Truman is controlled in a way that makes him viewable rather than what he necessarily always wants, again making him seem like someone to be studied and watched for prolonged periods.
Within ‘The Truman Show’, the people are merely acting and things are exaggerated and dramatised to generate more viewers, which makes it appear like a soap. Also, the camera shots make it like a soap because there is constant zooming in on Truman so we can see his emotions and expressions, and this is a common feature on a soap. This can help incite sympathy for him as when we can clearly see that he is feeling sad we feel sorry for him and it makes him appear to be all alone even though he is being watched by millions of people.
Finally, the third genre the film contains is reality television. The film does bare a resemblance to modern day reality television shows such as ‘Big Brother’, ‘The Salon’ and many more. This is because as with those programmes this is controlled reality. Although everything Truman does is real, those around him are not. The creators of the programme have managed to have taken a normal, unknown baby into an adult worldwide star without him even realising it. Also, reality television shows, often feature a lot of continuity with many long-takes, and this is featured heavily in 'The Truman Show'. This can help to incite sympathy by making it seem wrong to have such a concept as ‘The Truman Show’, with someone having absolutely no idea that he is the star of his own show. It makes him seem so naïve and innocent that he believes that everything around him is real.
In conclusion, I think that Peter Weir is very successful in making us feel sympathy towards Truman. This is done by using a variety of techniques such as camera techniques and uses of sound. We are made to feel that Truman is some sort of helpless victim who is blissfully unaware of what effect he is actually having on people. By using sad music to help empathise with Truman as emotional times in the opening sequence, we feel sympathy and when point of view shots are used so we can feel what Truman is feeling, in many cases sadness. By the end of the opening sequences, we have already formed an opinion of Truman, and many viewers will be feeling sorry for him and wanting him to pursue his rebellious nature and break free from the programme. As we feel sympathy for him, it makes us want to continue to watch to see if his objective was established and whether having felt sorry for him, this will turn to happiness. Peter Weir manages to make the character Truman appear as helpless as possible and also as such a nice, kind and caring character meaning that we feel even more sorry for him as he has done nothing to deserve this unjust fate. The different shots and other techniques make us feel a close bond with Truman and once we feel a connection with him, we feel that he does not deserve what Christof is doing to him regardless of the entertainment value.
