Film & TV Language index DECEMBER

1) Film poster analysis
2) Mise-en-scene blog tasks
3) Star persona: video feedback and learner response
4) Lighting blog tasks
5) Sound blog tasks

6) Sound: parallel and contrapuntal video feedback and learner response
7) Cinematography blog tasks
8) Cinematography video task and learner response
9) Cinematography additional clip analysis
10) Editing video task and learner response
11) Editing blog task - 750 word analysis

Editing video feedback and learner response

1) Type up your feedback/comments from your teacher.
WWW:

• Close up at start
• "My Story" Title and sound in sync
• High angle shots on stairs
• Use of slo mo
• Use of dissolves
• Tilt up at start
• Shot reverse shot
• Match on action (doors)

EBI:

• Too many titles
• Slo mo over-used
• Use more shot reverse shots
• Attention to detail (Clothing in bed)

2) Type up your feedback from fellow students.
WWW:

• Loved the story and the shots
• Audio went very well with the scene
• Really good editing
• Excellent camera work
• Match on action and shot/verse shot done correctly
• Everything was amazing
• Acing was on point
• The audio went well with the scenes
• The tracking shot was perfect
• Really good story line
• Good parallel soundtrack
• Professional credits
• Good cinematography

EBI:

• Plot got a little confusing in the middle however, made sense in the end
• In some shots, the framing could've been better

3) Now reflect on your video. Did you meet the brief and successfully include the three key editing aspects we have learned? I feel like I have successfully met the brief and I have been able to use the three key editing aspects professionally in my video.

4) What were the strengths and weaknesses of your final film? Write a detailed analysis picking out specific shots, edits and any other aspect of film language you think is relevant. One strength of my video was the tracking shot in the beginning, it was very steady and clear. One weakness in my video is that the slo-mo was over used when I was trying to push the door to keep it closed.

5) Learner response: what aspect of editing did you find most difficult? What have you learned from this process that will help you when you start the actual coursework later this year? In this task, I didn't film enough shots and therefore I had quite a few gaps in the video that needed filling up.

Cinematography: final blog tasks

1) Using your printed booklet (an electronic copy is available in the folder above) watch any of the clips you haven't seen in class for Cinematography. Complete the tasks in the booklet in full paragraphs for each clip.



Lawrence of Arabia: 

Discuss how the long shots create tension and suspense.

There is a man who is riding the horse from a far distance. He is coming at a extremely high speed. Because of the use of the long shot its hard for the audience to distinguish whether he is a protagonist or antagonist. The use of props allow us to identify that the person on the horse is a antagonist. As the antagonist arrives, he shoots the person that ran to pick up the gun when he saw the antagonist on the horse coming. This reinforces that he is the antagonist. The use of the long shot creates suspense and tension because the audience has no idea why the person is coming, what is he going to do etc.

Who are the audience encouraged to identify with?

The audience are encouraged to identify with Lawrence when the beginning is a medium close-up which is focused on Lawrence.

Watch the following extract from Citizen Kane (1940), directed by Orson Welles.

1.Discuss the various shots and camera movements and their effects.

Throughout the extract a range of various shots from medium shots to extreme close ups. The use of extreme close ups allow the audience to build a connection with the characters.

2. How does the cinematography work with other aspects of film langauge>

The use of lighting illustrates how horrific and dangerous the settings within the extract are and furthermore the use of low-key lighting connoted danger and violence.

Watch the following extract from Three Colours: Blue(1993), directed by Krzysztof Kieslowski

How does the use of close-up shots enhance our understanding of the narrative?

The use of close up shots allow the audience to build an emotional connection with the characters in the extract, more because the audience can clearly view the characters facial expressions as well as they can make clear eye contact with the character, making them understand the narrative much better.

Watch the following extract from Moulin Roughe (2001), directed by Baz Luhrmann

1. Comment on how various shots and camera movements help to introduce the story.

The range of camera shots enable the characters to be introduced to the audience  so the audience can establish who are the protagonists and who are the antagonists and also introducing the narrative and where it is taking place (setting).

2. How does the cinematography work with other aspects of film language

There is a wide range of camera movements from close-ups to long-shots and the use of lighting is very effective so the audience can establish which location they are at and the audience might be familiar with the location.

Editing: Blog Task

In the first 30 seconds of the Heat trailer, there is a range of shots being used such as a close-up to show what the actor may be thinking. In this case it seems as if he is looking for someone. Although we haven't made connections with the characters yet, the shots that are being used allows us to think whether the character is a protagonist or antagonist. In this situation, the men that are suspiciously walking are seen as the antagonist as they may be up to something that they shouldn't be doing.
As the video continues, they are establishing shots which allow the audience to know where the characters are. There are also the use of over-the-shoulder shots when the police officers are walking around which may connote that the police officers are being watched and might be in danger. As the police officers start getting attacked, the pace of editing starts increasing which creates suspense for the audience.  When the characters were putting their balaclavas on there was a medium shot. The use of the medium shot allows us to figure out what is about to happen. It is really effective because it shows that a robbery is about to take place. As the video goes on, there is excellent use of parallel sounds when there are shots being fired, the sound effect of the gun is perfectly on beat. The use of props in the video such as using guns is outstanding because it makes the clip seem as if it is real life and is currently happening. The clip also subverts stereotypes because the people that are robbing the bank are in suits. Usually people that are in suits are seen as hardworking men and at the beginning of the clip the audience might have been a bit confused because they might have thought that the men are working in the bank however, they are actually robbing the bank.

Media Production: Editing

Story board:

Shot list: 

Shot No.	Shot	Filmed?
1	Close-Up of phone	Yes
2	Close-up of phone panning back	Yes
3	Medium-shot of LB Speaking to Hida	Yes
4	Medium shot of Hida speaking to LB	Yes
5	Medium tracking shot of LB walking towards Hida	Yes
6	OTS Shot of LB walking towards Hida	Yes
7	OTS shot of Hida speaking to LB	Yes
8	OTS Shot of LB speaking to Hida	Yes
9	180 degree shot of Hida and LB speaking	Yes
10	Close-up of Hida’s phone	Yes
11	Long shot of location	Yes
12	Medium tracking shot of me walking	Yes
13	Close-up of me looking left	Yes
14	Long shot of me entering house and being followed	Yes
15	Medium close up of me entering the house	Yes
16	Long shot to medium shot of me running up the stairs	Yes
17	Close up of mother and father in bed	Yes
18	Medium shot of me trying to keep door closed	Yes
19	Medium close up of parents waking up to try help me close the door	Yes

Script:

                          SCRIPT

HIDA: (Calls Longwood boss)

LONGWOOD BOSS: (Picks up the call)

LONGWOOD BOSS: “YO”

HIDA: “Yo I need you to do me a favour”

HIDA: “Come behind the flats ASAP”

LONGWOOD BOSS: “Say nothing (X2) I’m 2 minutes away”

LONGWOOD BOSS: “What’s the rush? Why did you need me in such a hurry”

HIDA: “I need you to do something for me”

HIDA: “I need you to take him out”

LONGWOOD BOSS: “Consider the job done”