Manipulation expert and bestseller author Dr. G. Simon (In Sheep’s Clothing: Understanding and Dealing with Manipulative People) identifies 19 manipulation techniques. These are: lying, lying by omission, denial, rationalization, minimization, diversion, evasion, covert intimidation, guilt trip, shaming, seduction, playing the victim role, vilifying the victim, playing the servant role, seduction, projecting the blame, feigning innocence, feigning confusion, and brandishing anger.

Such are often used in persuasion, sales, advertising, media, fraud, police interrogation, mobbing, bullying, relational and sexual abuse, emotional blackmailing, brainwashing, mind control, propaganda, psychopathic thought processes, subliminal stimuli, and so on.

Being able to identify and put a name to these psychological manipulation techniques helps an involved individual to address the issue.  This can be important since such acts are often subtle in nature.  That makes it hard for the involved to explain what is truly going on and gives the manipulator leeway to make the involved's statements implausible and can leave the involved with a feeling of helplessness.  The best protection strategies are to know the warning signs, enforce boundaries and limits, and have an exit strategy. 

In the film an auditioning actress gets caught in a net of psychological manipulation by the director.  We hereby tried to include  at least an example of each manipulation technique since they are usually used in connection with each other.  Often the recipient of psychological manipulation becomes later a manipulator her-/himself as a way to regain power. 

The camera has the Point of View of the manipulator.  At the same time, the film makes the audience endure the feelings of the manipulated person - confusion and inner turbulence.  The manipulator continuously circles the actress like prey.  The manipulated actress realizes what is happening but since all attempts to defend herself fail, she ends up using the same manipulation techniques on the manipulator as a last resort to break free, thereby becoming a manipulator herself.  Thus the camera stops circling and is now circled itself by the actress.   This emphasizes the converging boundaries between manipulator and the recipient.