Thursday 26 January 2012

The Research Task - By Anna Sewell

The Dark Knight - Directed by Christopher Nolan 2008



Camera work

-This sequence begins with an establishing shot of the city, slowly tracking in on one sky scraper. This builds an association that the film is going to be fast moving and action filmed because that is city life. Also, that the following scene will be inside this building.
 -It then cuts to a very slow track in of an unidentifiable man holding a mask. This builds questions to who this man is.
-In the car, a shallow depth of field is used between two characters. The man in the foreground is in perfect focus and the man in the background, blurred. This is to draw attention to only the one character.
-Later on in this sequence, at the very start of the bank robbery a tracking device is used to follow the running characters. A steadicam is used for this camera movement.

Editing

-This sequence at first in filmed in long takes. As the film progresses the takes become quicker. A connotation of the calmness and control of their current situation in the sequence.
-Parrallel editing is used in this clip between a series of characters doing different things. Those zip-wiring across the buildings, the men on the alarm and those in the car scene. It shows that they are all linked together, ordered by the same boss if you like.

Mise en scene

-This sequence is set over 3 settings a sky scraper, a city and inside of a car and the most crucial the bank which connotes wealth. The antagonists are wearing masks which conceal their identity which builds question in the audiences mind.
-The bank heist is filmed in broad daylight which suggests the antagonists are reckless.

Sound

-Non-diegetic sound is used in this sequence to emphasise the sound from the shooting of the guns.
-In every dialogue scene the masked characters are talking about the Joker and the money they hope to have gained by the end of this heist. Everyone watching will be questioning as to who is the Joker? and why is he so important?
-The music is fast paced, frequent beated and full of tension!!


Inception - Directed by Christopher Nolan 2010



Camerawork


-A big close up is used to show the man's face after waking up on the beach. His facial expressions are clearly shown aswell as a little of the ocean which he is lying in. This is confusing to the audience and it's purpose is to make us curious as to why he is lying there.
-An establishing shot is then used to inform us of the setting, which is China.
-A low angle is used between the man and a military Chinese soldier holding a gun. This is almost a point of view shot as we are meant to feel inferior to the 'superior' soldier.
-A close up of a very old Chinese man is used to show his facial expression on the current situation. Being the start of the film there is no way to tell who he is, and why Cobb has been put in front of him. But, from these actions we can tell he is a very important person.

Editing

-Lots of long takes, conveying calmness. As opposed to short takes, which fasten the pace and attitude.
-As he awakes, we hear happy screaming from the two children playing on the beach. This is put into slow motion which represents peace, but could also represent a hallucination he is having or a dream.

Mise en scene

-This short sequence promotes wealth through the security of the soldiers, the soldiers uniform and the props. Also, the exceptionally well-kept chinese mansion with expensive-looking furnishings.
-The quality of the light has a sepia tone to it which is commonly used for in the past scenes, which as you later discover is a very crucial point to the film - when the spinning top is spinning, they're in the dream world, if it falls over they are in  the real world.
-A plot point is used between the very old man, the spinning top and Cobb, which builds an association between the two characters and the object.


Sound

-This sequence begins with breaking waves on a shore, an over-bearing/ violent soundtrack is used here which is very dramatic and conveys power.
-Little dialogue is used which creates suspense and leaves mystery as we don't know who the characters are or what they're like.


Sorority Row - Directed by Stewart Hendler 2009



Camera work

-The production company credit logo is the first thing to appear on screen. They have overlayed tree branches to the logo which is a match on action for the next scene which is a tracking shot down a tree.
-An establishing shot is used next, which informs us as the audience of the setting which is an american mansion. A house-party is taking place.
-A slow-tracking in shot is used which tracks in on the back of the house. A screaming girl runs out of the door which leads us to believe something bad has just happened, when really, a boy from the party has simply taken her shirt. This puts us in suspense until we are told what has actually happened.
-At the prank scene, the characters faces are filmed at a close-up. It's a supposedly a serious scene, so to be able to see the facial expressions clearly is important.
-At the accidental murder scene the characters are filmed at a point of view. As though someone is watching them and seen what's just occured. This adds to the tension of the scene and brings another element of suspense. Who could possibly be there?


Editing

-I could've put this note in the camera work section, but I haven't because usually in this this stoneage we add slow motion effects post-production in editing.  Slow motion is used during the wild party scene, a dramatic effect used to show the control and duration of the party.
-As the sequence gets more serious, the takes are shorter and quicker. Commonly used in crazed, uncontrollable scenes.
-Cross-cutting editing is used. The main characters are dotted around the house, and tracking shots follow them until they eventually all meet in one of the girls bedrooms for shots and their sorority chant.

Mise en scene

-The sequence starts off in the dark, empty garden. A track of a spindly tree is used and tracks into a girl screaming. Inside of the party the house is warmly lit and happy.
-A cut to a lonely woman in a dark, dull, kitchen is next. This contrasts with the wild party scene next door.
-Flashing lights are used on dancing people, this distorts the moving image and gives off a spooky, thrilling effect.
-When one person are on their own dark and dull lighting is used, even if it's only a very short while. When there is two or more people together the lighting has a warm and happy glow to it. Until the accidental murder.
-In the car, the lighting is dark and lonely, even though they are all together...
-As they arrive at the dark, desolate area point of view shots from behind a cross and a chain and hook. Showing how dangerous this area is and could be a representation of death.





Sound
-The scene starts in the garden and we can hear the wind brustling the trees, crickets and a few birds. All of these have been put in post-production to emphasise the sounds including an eerie backing track.
-A few moments later we hear a smash and a screaming girl running out of the back door. This is diegetic - even though most of the sound effects have been added post-production it gives the effect of originality.
-Inside the crazy party scene supposedly diegetic music is playing loud. Which is under scrutiny because in the slow motioned scenes the music is slightly muffled giving off the effect of distortion - perfect for a thriller opening.
-Dialogue is sparingly used until the serious scenes - the prank and the accidental murder, which have to have a lot of dialogue to make sense.


Casino Royale - Directed by Martin Campbell 2006


Camera work

-This 3 minute  short sequence begins with an establishing shot of
an upmarket tower block, which informs us of the setting. 

-The man gets out of the car and a low angle is used to frame him in a close up. The low angle conveys superiority and makes us as the audience feel inferior to him, and from the music we can tell he is up to  no good so to see his facial expression is important.
-Another establishing shot is used inside the building. When the room is empty and he walks through the door. Informing us before he is in there, where the next settting will be. An ellipses is used from when he is walking on the platform to when he is walking through the door into the room. 
-A shallow depth of field is used in threatening gun scene. We as the audience can tell who is the subject and what he is holding. This leaves no mystery as we can see who the source of the threatening behaviour is.
Editing

 
-Along with the establishing shot the producers have included a caption. Informing us of the exact
location 'Prague
Czech Republic'
-The pace of the cuts are slow until any dramatic action scenes take place. With fast cuts we can see both the source and the victim aswell as the action. The producers could have used a two shot instead of flicking back and forth, but this way it is far more effective with the effect of panic and pace. The pace of the cuts is according to the pace of the film. 

Mise en scene

-The whole sequence is in mono, however, different exposures are used. In the memory of his, the exposure is bright, in the real world a darker, duller mono tone is used. This seperates the two so we don't get confused.
- Being the start of the film we have no idea who the characters are or what they've done. This  leaves the audience questioning  and gives an element of mystery as the killing of the alleged bad one is very near the beginning.

Sound


-The sound effects like the car door opening and closing, the lift going up and the walking across the platform are supposedly diegetic sounds. However, they are non-diegetic and have been emphasied in the editing suite for dramatic purposes.
-In film, whether we see the source of a gun fire or not is extremely crucial. It's purpose if we don't see it is to give mystery throughout the film until we see the culprit. In this case, however, we do see the source. Both times. This doesn't leave mystery, but instead leaves us as the audience asking why he did what he did.


Jaws - Steven Spielberg 1975


Camera work

-A tracking shot is used to follow Chrissie into the water. It's a side tracking shot, and filmed on a dolly which doesn't appear to be on tracks.
-When Chrissie is swimming in the water a point of view shot is used from the underneath of her under the water. Whenever anyone is swimming there is always a fear as to what is underneath of you. This is therefore an obvious shot to create a build up of fear and worry.  

Editing

-The cuts are long which builds suspense. Spielberg has left the music to do most of the work.

Mise en scene



-The lighting seems to be all natural at sunset. However, artifical lighting has most definately been used. There are 4 reasons why we use lighting, and the reasons in this case are to illuminate and set the mood. Which at first is happy and playful but turns solemn quickly.

Sound

-As the shark approaches the surface, two notes are alternately played. One of the most famous sound tracks in film. They rise in tempo building suspense with every note as we know what's about to happen.
-The screams of the Chrissie are supposedly diegetic screams, however, they have most likely edited them in post-production to emphasise the sound for dramatic purposes making them non-diegetic.

2 comments:

  1. Good Anna - you have some good analysis here. it is a shame that you have not taken the time to illustrtate many of the good points you make with some screengrabs. It would make a huge difference - yo should go back and insert these.

    You spell it DIEGETIC

    ReplyDelete
  2. added screen grabs and corrected the spelling of diegetic. thanks andrew!

    ReplyDelete