Bowling for

Columbine
Group B

Swarna Shrestha
Prakash Chandra Jimba
Apekshya Basnet
Tika Jung Lama
Storyline & Structure

Swarna Shrestha
Cast & Characters

Prakash Chandra Jimba

Cinematography

Apekshya Basnet
Sound and Editing

Tika Jung Lama

Sound Effects
 Moore uses an unusual but effective method of earning the viewer’s
attention. He uses soft spoken words that embed into the viewer's
morality and results in an astounded response.
 Moore is usually narrating, which he does effectively, but he
understands when he needs to step out and let the video speak for
itself.
 In a dramatic scene, Moore puts a heart beat sound that beats faster
as time progresses which elicits an anxious viewer.
Montage of Massacre
 Use of ‘real’ 911 phone calls.
 Hear as you go through empty school- powerful and haunting experience.
 CCTV footage
 Aftermath news footage

 Contrapuntal sound in Montage – “What a wonderful world”

 Helps spotlight the film maker’s message
 Happy Subject +Depressing images
 Gives an ironic message
 Transition
 The uses of non-diegetic sound
 Convey a mood and invoke a reaction
 What a wonderful world:
 Moore's Use of Music
 As we know from any good movie, music is essential for creating dramatic
tension and eliciting certain emotional responses. Whether it is a somber piano
backing as the images of the Columbine Massacre play out onscreen or the
cheerful satirical tune as Moore walks down the drive of opulent pro-gun
movie star. Each track in Bowling for Columbine is carefully positioned to
illicit a response from the audience at the people onscreen or the events they
are witnessing. All of which serves to emphasize how Moore views American
culture via his use of these carefully selected audio tracks.
Editing
 Quick cuts are often used to transition between scenes. These
cuts quickly transition into the next scene or setting. This
helps to move the story along quicker at some points than a
slow transition would. It is also used strategically for dramatic
effect. As a documentary, the film includes a number of
interviews. These quick cuts can then be used to highlight
sections of these interviews or leave out unwanted parts.
 Used to quickly convey much information, or to imply either
energy or chaos.
 Marilyn Manson Shot

 Medium shots used to establish the comfortable/ relaxed mood in

the room.
 Body language- Manson’s foot on Moore’s chair- familiar/ intimate
posture reflects that they share common views.
 Moore allows Manson to lead the conversation and illustrates his
empathy for Manson by affirming nods and abrupt questioning such
as those used with Heston int the final scenes.
Montage

 Use of montage to convey Moore undermining the views

of mass media and hyped blame culture.
 The increasing speed in which the sequence cuts between
one image/ interview / footage etc. conveys the increasing
hysteria of the American public and their need for a
scapegoat to help them rationalize their fears.
Voiceover Commentary
 Voiceover against image of innocent looking children suggests that
they have “turned into little monsters BUT who is to blame? The
key question that Moore then goes on to explore in this sequence.