Before Is After

   A pair of brown trousers billow and drift across a blue sky. Suddenly, an old Winnebago hurtles down a dirt road in the New-Mexico desert, trailing plumes of dust and scattering volleys of gravel. The driver, a man wearing only a gas-mask and his underpants, struggles to control the wallowing vehicle, as his respirator becomes obscured with the condensation caused by his rapid breathing. In the passenger seat, a younger man sits unconscious, also wearing a mask. As the large motorhome careens side to side across the arid desert road, we see two lifeless bodies sliding across the vinyl floor inside the vehicle, amidst spilled chemicals and an improvised chemistry lab. As the driver's mask fully steams up, he loses control of the vehicle, and veers wildly into a ditch.

   In his bizarre state of undress, we see the man stumble out into the desert sun, after bursting open the vehicle door. Yanking off his respirator and throwing it aside, he then dons a green shirt which had been clinging to the wing mirror, having been hung there previously. In the distance the faint wail of sirens can be heard, gradually becoming louder. Filling his lungs with air and holding his breath, the man climbs back inside, returning quickly with a camcorder, a wallet and a gun. Composing himself, the man then looks into the camera and records an ad hoc farewell to his wife and son. As the insistent cry of the sirens grow louder and louder, and the tangible force of authority comes closer, he then places the camcorder on the ground, next to his wallet. The man then steps out on to the road, facing the direction of the sirens howl, and draws the pistol, taking aim at his impending doom. He stands waiting, gun in hand as the tension builds.

   So it is, that we are introduced to Vince Gilligan's Breaking Bad, and the character of Walter Hartwell White. This is the opening scene from the pilot episode. The first time viewer knows nothing of the character on screen, nor how he ended up in this situation. We, the observers are thrown straight into the action, with no explanation of the events leading up to this scene. With a sense of mystery created, the audience desires to know more and willingly become involved in the story, in the hope of finding out what happens next, and perhaps more importantly, what came before.

   In film, television and writing this type of opening scene is classed as 'In Medias Res'. This term for the narrative technique is taken from Latin and means 'in the midst of things'. When a story employs this approach in its structure, the tale is told from a point in the middle or later, rather than the beginning. In most cases we are often thrust into a scene of intense drama or conflict, rather than allowed the more classical character introduction and gradual exposition. Incrementally, the backstory is unveiled to the viewer with the use of flashbacks, which serve to bring us up to speed with the plot and it's history.

   The opening introduction to Breaking Bad perfectly defines 'In Medias Res'. Having been introduced to Walter in such surreal and dramatic circumstances, we are later clued-in to the 'whys and wherefores' of his predicament, as we witness preceding events through 'flashbacks'. As the audience, we can enjoy the dramatic irony as we watch the story unfold, knowing full well what Walter does not. Having caught up on itself, the story then continues along a more conventional and chronological path, carrying both Walter and his audience in the same direction.

   When it comes to film and television, I am quite fond of the above technique, as it can inject a rush of adrenaline and excitement, thereby grabbing my attention from the start. It's a narrative device which I have been aware of for quite some time, and I like to naively refer to it as 'Before is After'. When used well, a sense of interest is imparted to the viewer, compelling him or her to be drawn into the story and become intrigued to learn more.

Some links relating to the subject:

In Medias Res 

Examples of In Medias Res 

How We Got Here 

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