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Craft guide / 2 tracks

Controlling information in ensemble mysteries

Bryan Singer, Christopher McQuarrie, and the L.A. Confidential cast and crew show how casting, structure, performance, framing, sound, and editing let audiences follow a dense ensemble while preserving the surprise.

Reading order

Follow the production story.

  1. The Usual Suspects poster

    Part 1 of 2

    The Usual Suspects (1995)

    Bryan Singer / Christopher McQuarrie

    Director / 1h 45m / 421 segments

  2. L.A. Confidential poster

    Part 2 of 2

    L.A. Confidential (1997)

    Andrew Sarris / James Ellroy / Brian Helgeland / Michael Nathanson / Russell Crowe / Kevin Spacey / Guy Pearce / James Cromwell / Kim Basinger / Danny DeVito / David Strathairn / Jeannine Oppewall / Dante Spinotti / Ruth Myers

    Multi-voice / 2h 12m / 517 segments