A gritty alleyway in a bustling city is filled with vibrant, thought-provoking graffiti, including a provocative sticker of a man’s face. It’s nighttime but the tungsten lights from nearby shops and lampposts illuminate the area with a touch of warm, golden ambiance. From an overhead camera angle, a character is seen rushing hurriedly and out of focus towards a well-illuminated shopfront counter that harbors odd and obscure items. This adds ample depth to the mise-en-scene. Suddenly, a loud crash echos – a pranged car in the background, then, a silence that shrinks the whole space. The character at the counter is now the focus in medium shot – his concerned face reflecting the eerie quietness of the alley. The balance of the shot is suddenly upset, promising an unexpected counterterror-filled turn in the story.