0:00intro title card
The scene opens with a static title card against a deep crimson red background. In the center, a prominent golden-yellow rectangle with a darker gold outline features the word 'ROW•K' in a bold, sans-serif font. Above this central logo, in the upper left corner, the text 'DEAD MAN'S WIRE' is displayed in a smaller, golden-yellow sans-serif font. In the upper right corner, the text 'NOW PLAYING' is stacked above 'IN THEATRES EVERYWHERE', also in golden-yellow sans-serif font. The overall lighting is even, highlighting the vibrant red background and the metallic sheen of the gold text and logo. The mood is professional and cinematic, setting a clear brand identity.
0:01man in suit talking
A medium close-up shot of a fair-skinned man in his late 20s to early 30s, viewed from the chest up. He is positioned slightly off-center to the right, looking towards an unseen person to his left with a serious and slightly intense expression. His mouth is slightly open as if speaking. The background is an out-of-focus interior office setting with large windows revealing a blurry city skyline, suggesting an urban environment. Natural light streams in from the windows, illuminating the subject from the front and slightly to the left, creating soft highlights on his face and suit. The color palette is cool with blues and grays, contrasted by the warm light.
0:02building exterior quote
An upward-angled, low-angle medium shot of a tall, modern office building with a cloudy sky in the background. The building's facade is dominated by a grid of small, dark rectangular windows set within a light-colored, possibly concrete or stone, structure. The camera focuses on the upper-middle section of the building, showing several floors. The lighting is overcast, creating a muted, slightly cool color palette of grays, whites, and light blues from the sky. Overlaid on the building, in the center, is a golden-yellow text quote: 'GUS VAN SANT'S BEST WORK TO DATE' followed by 'THE CONTENDING' below it in a smaller font. The 'DEAD MAN'S WIRE' title and 'NOW PLAYING' text remain in the upper corners.
0:03man on phone close up
An extreme close-up shot of a man's face, focusing on his eyes and nose, as he holds a light blue rotary phone handset to his ear. The man has short, dark brown hair and a prominent mustache. His expression is serious and intense, with his brows slightly furrowed and his gaze directed downwards, indicating deep concentration or concern. The lighting is dramatic, with a strong light source coming from the left, casting a shadow across the right side of his face and highlighting the contours of his features. The color palette is warm, with natural skin tones and the soft blue of the phone. The background is out of focus, suggesting an indoor setting. The subtitle 'Just apologize.' is visible at the bottom of the frame.
0:04older man on phone close up
An extreme close-up shot of an older man's face, focusing on his eyes, nose, and mouth, as he holds a vintage pink rotary phone handset to his ear. He wears thick-framed glasses. His expression is stern and resolute, with his mouth slightly open as if speaking or reacting strongly. The lighting is harsh, possibly from a single source, creating defined shadows and highlights on his textured skin. The color palette is warm with a focus on skin tones, the dark frames of his glasses, and the striking pink of the phone. The background is entirely out of focus and dark, keeping all attention on the man's face and the phone. The subtitle 'No Tony, no.' is visible at the bottom of the frame.
0:06reel to reel with ratings
A close-up, slightly overhead shot of a vintage reel-to-reel tape recorder, specifically focusing on the large, clear plastic take-up reel on the right side of the machine. The reel is spinning counter-clockwise, with magnetic tape visible. The metallic, textured surface of the tape recorder is visible around the reel, showing various knobs, buttons, and indicators like 'FFWD', 'REW', and 'PLAY'. Overlaid centrally on the spinning reel is a large golden-yellow '91%' with a smaller 'Rotten Tomatoes' logo and a red tomato icon below it. The text '*AS OF 12/18/2025' is below the logo. The 'DEAD MAN'S WIRE' title and 'NOW PLAYING' text remain in the upper corners. The lighting is even, highlighting the details of the machine and the overlaid graphics. The color palette is a mix of metallic grays, black, and the vibrant red and gold of the text overlays.
0:06police car rear view
A medium rear shot of a vintage white police car. The camera is positioned directly behind the car, looking slightly upwards. The car has 'POLICE' written on the trunk in large, dark letters, and a license plate with 'AJ7E6 INDIANA'. Two red and blue emergency lights with chrome bases are mounted on the roof, partially obscured by the car's roofline, and one circular light in the center. In the background, there are blurred traffic lights with red signals, hinting at an urban street or intersection, and a tall, indistinct building. The sky is overcast. The overall color palette is muted with whites, grays, and the red of the lights. The subtitle 'The whole world is going to know the truth.' appears at the bottom.
0:07police cars street level
A dynamic medium shot from a slightly low angle, showing two vintage white police cars on what appears to be a city street. The lead police car, with its rear visible, is in the left background, slightly out of focus. Another police car is closer in the foreground on the right, with its front-right quarter and a side view of its roof-mounted red emergency lights clearly visible. The camera is positioned at ground level, looking slightly forward along the street. The background features blurry buildings and power lines against an overcast sky. The lighting is diffused and natural. The color palette is predominantly cool, with whites, grays, and blues, accented by the red emergency lights. The subtitle 'The whole world is going to know the truth.' is present.
0:09police car overhead drive
An overhead, slightly high-angle shot of a white police car driving along a wide, wet asphalt road. The car is moving from left to right across the frame. The road surface reflects the dull, overcast sky, indicating recent rain or wet conditions. The background shows blurred, indistinct urban elements like light poles and possibly buildings, emphasizing the solitude of the car on the road. The lighting is flat and diffused, contributing to a somewhat bleak or serious atmosphere. The color palette is dominated by grays and whites, with the car as the primary visual element. The subtitle 'The whole world is going to know the truth.' remains at the bottom.
0:10people watching tv
A medium shot from behind several individuals who are gathered in what appears to be a dimly lit, possibly institutional or public setting. Their backs are to the camera, as they face an old, small, CRT television screen mounted high on a wall in the upper center of the frame. The TV displays a grainy black and white image of a man's face, possibly the same man seen earlier, looking serious. The room is sparsely furnished, with dark walls and minimal details. Lighting is dim, with the television screen providing the primary light source on the faces of the viewers. The color palette is dark and subdued, with the bright light from the TV contrasting against the somber tones of the room and people's clothing. The subtitle 'He's a damn hero is what he is.' is shown at the bottom.
0:10hands holding camera
A close-up shot of two hands holding up a vintage instant camera against a dark, featureless background. The camera is being held up towards the viewer, with its flash unit visible at the top. A bright, blue-tinted flash illuminates the scene from the camera itself, creating a dramatic, high-contrast effect. The hands are prominent in the lower half of the frame, with the camera filling the upper half. The lighting is stark and direct from the flash, creating strong shadows and highlights on the hands and camera. The color palette is dark, with the bright blue flash providing a cool, intense focal point. The 'DEAD MAN'S WIRE' title and 'NOW PLAYING' text remain in the upper corners.
0:11man intense look close up
An extreme close-up shot of the man with the mustache from an earlier scene, looking directly at the camera with an intense, determined, and slightly defiant expression. His face fills most of the left side of the frame. He has dark hair and a prominent mustache. His right hand is visible in the lower-right corner, making a subtle gesture. In the blurry background, what appears to be a magazine or newspaper rack with text 'DISCOVERY' or 'HISTORY' is visible, suggesting a newsstand or public space. The lighting is soft but directed, highlighting his eyes and facial contours. The color palette is warm, with natural skin tones and muted background colors. The subtitle 'I'm just getting started.' appears at the bottom.
0:12final title cards
The scene reverts to a static title card against the same deep crimson red background as the opening. Initially, the text 'DEAD MAN'S WIRE' appears centrally in a bold, golden-yellow sans-serif font. This then transitions to a new set of text: 'GET TICKETS NOW' at the top, followed by 'WRITTEN BY' and 'AUSTIN KOLODNEY', then 'DIRECTED BY' and 'GUS VAN SANT', all in the same golden-yellow sans-serif font, stacked vertically. At the very bottom, smaller white text includes '@RowKPresents', an 'R' rating symbol, and copyright information. The lighting is even, maintaining the vibrant red background and the metallic gold text. The mood is final and informative, providing call-to-action and credit information.
