Editing Task

750 word analysis

In this film sequence there are a lot of fast paced editing used to show different scenes and how quickly things are happening. It also builds excitement for the audience. Throughout the scene there are a lot of cuts to show different action codes in the film. At one point you see it cut to a close up of the arrow which has enigma codes of whether someone will get hit or not and action codes that someone is going to get hurt by it. Quickly after that it cuts to Loki the antagonist in the movie who catches the arrow and for a moment the audience thinks are left in suspense then it explodes. This juxtaposition helps the audience put two and two together and makes them realise that the antagonists is targeting him.

The quick editing is used to give the audience a sense of the atmosphere and to highlight the fact that this is an action movie. Also it shows the atmosphere of the scene and the fact that there are a lot of things happening at the same time hence there are many cuts in order to show how hectic the situation is.

This scene lacks other kids of transitions like dissolve and fade outs. This is because those transitions are conventionally used in heavily narrative based films where there is hardly any action and everything is slow paced. Usually these films are conveyed in montages because the movie is slow paced it gives the audience the opportunity to pace things together without missing certain information. However, in action movies it’s usually conveyed through continuity editing with a linear narrative, since everything is fast paced, it’s easier for the audience to understand that what happens in one shot is because of what happened in the shot before.

In this extract a lot of the cuts are followed by extreme close ups, close ups and medium shots. This creates a sense of realism in the audience as they can see the details of each scene and the threats in the film. Also, there a close ups on the characters face and on their facial expression helping the audience identify with them – An example would be when it cuts to a close up of Romanoff who is the female antagonist in the film, you can see her looking determined and focused on trying to stop the threat, which identifies with the audience as they would also want to see the antagonists succeed in their mission.

This extract has a lot of quick cuts between conversations and when the antagonists are making rapid decisions. This is done to emphasise the pace of the film and keeps the audience on edge as it doesn’t give them the opportunity to take what they said before the camera cuts to a different shots. This highlights the fact that to the audience the characters are more advanced and increases the excitement that is built up. However, when there are scenes with action codes it’s not as quick to cut to the next shot as they want the audience to take in the action and enjoy the experience.

Media Awards Task

Top 3 year 12 videos

• Exposure

• La Sombre

• TicTacToe

Explanation

The first video i chose was Exposure. This is because there was a really good use of cinematography techniques such as the use of extreme close up on the characters eyes. This could have been used to help the audience identify and connect with the character and it also lets us see the detailed expressions of the eyes. There was another extreme close up on the metropolitan police sign which cold suggest that it has to do with something dangerous. The lighting adds to the dangerous mysterious effect of the video as there is a use of low key lighting used to create the dark shadow effect. The lack of filler lights used contributes to this effect as it would normally be used to soften shadows. All of this could be used to raise en igma codes within the audience. Especially when the main character agrees to take the assignment - What assignment could he be talking about? The gun suggest that there could be action codes where there may be a shoot out between someone or some sort of violence. The video consists of straight cuts and dissolves to transition from one image to the other. The video is shown as a montage as it doesn't completely have a linear narrative. It goes back and forth between the conversation however as the man is explaining what he is meant to do, it shows images of the future of him following the instructions.


The next video i chose was La Sombre i found the idea of this film quite interesting and unique. The lighting at first was highkey lighting, as it was in a natural setting and there were no harsh shadows however when it got to them being in what looked like a night club. the lighting was lowkey as there were lots of shadows however, there was also a use of red top lighting which made the character look glamorous with a red tint. What i found interesting was the use of contrapuntal sounds when the character was in the cab. From the phone call it seemed like he was set of to do something dangerous but the non-diegetic soundtrack added on top seemed to upbeat. The mise-en-scene in this video was used quite well as the costume that the man was wearing was a red suit, the red colour could suggest blood and danger. The setting was all done in places that may have been familiar to the audience which would contribute to identification in the sense that it is all happening around us.


Lastly i chose TicTacToe. This video uses parallel sound to match the images to the music which adds to the tension that is slowly being built up and the enigma codes being raised within the audience - will she get caught? how will she hide the body? The lighting adds to mise-en-scene of the video as there is a use of under lighting and slight back lighting to create a silhouette feel from the character which could have been used to emphasise that she has done something wrong and wants to hide something whether it be her identity or the body. The editing style uses a lot of straight cuts but also some fade out to cut on beat with the music. The continuity editing shows that this is a linear narrative and what happens next is because of what was shown in the previous scene which makes it easier for the audience as it doesnt require them to piece together the information since it is not non-linear.

Cinematography

Task 4 - Citizen Kane (1940) - Orson Welles

The camera framing for this has a lot of longs shots at the beginning. In addition, to the editing where there is a large use of dissolve. This makes the audience confused as to what exactly is being shown on screen as there is sometimes and image dissolving into another but immediately after it dissolves into another image. Then it introduces a few close up shots and extreme close ups to show more detail and to somehow help the audience piece together what the scenes are trying to show

Task 5 - Moulin Rouge (2001) - Baz Luhrmann

At the beginning of the clip you can see a series of extreme close up and close up shots. Where you can see the characters emotion as he is typing. This could help build the identification process between the character and the audience as they also use a shot/reverse shot to alternate between the two types of shots, this helps the audience feel a sense of sympathy for the character. After that you see a range of fast paced edited medium close up and medium long shot to get a feel of the atmosphere and the surroundings, emphasising the livelihood of the setting.



Task 6 - A Touch of Evil (1958) - Orson Welles

The first shot of the opening is a close up of what seems to look like a man made bomb which is followed by diegetic sound of laughter of screen which indicates that something negative(the bomb) is going to disrupt the happy mood. The continuous switch from medium close up to medium long shot could emphasise the importance of the car because despite their being other details being shown on the screen, the car is on screen and can be seen majority of the time.



Extension Tasks

part 1

Lawrence of Arabia - A Touch of Evil

In LofA the cinematography style is different compared to what is seen in ATofE this is because it has a high use of shot/reverse shot which builds a sense of identification between the audience and the character as they are in the same position as them where in both situations there are enigma codes of who the man coming towards them is. Also it builds up tension by the use of extreme long shot a the beginning where you can barely see the man in black and slowly brings it in until we can see the man and it in a medium close up. however, in ATofE the camera framing varies quite quickly to emphasise that they do not have much time. so at one point it will be a long shot and then the next shot will be a medium shot nearer the car. The difference between the two is that in LofA there are quite a few jump cuts whereas in ATofE it seems to be done in one single take up until the end when the car goes offscreen and then explodes which it then cuts off so the audience can witness the explosion.

part 2

The shot that has been used here is an over the shoulder shot which is usually used to show a conversation between two people however here its been used quite differently in the sense that it is showing some sort of communication where he is signalling the dinosaur to come in his direction. The fact that it is also a medium shot/medium long shot allow us the viewers to see some of the action around the main characters and some of the                                                                                 setting.

This shot is a medium close up as you can still see some of the surroundings (the door) and its not just the frame of the face. This is significant because of the fact that it shows enough details of the characters face and expressions which emphasises how psychotic he is just by the way hi face isn't fully through the door and his eyes convey to the audience that he has a thirst for blood and murder. This is details that the audience is easily able to confirm with this shot.

This shot is a long shot as you can see a lot of the setting including the characters. I think that the shot was cleverly used to show how isolated they were since it makes the sea look vast and desolate and its just them two. The camera seems to be held at a slight high angle view which could be used to show how inferior and helpless they are in this situation. This show a use of deep focus which i believe is used to emphasise that they are alone and to                                                                             also show that no matter how clearly you                                                                         see, there isn't even the tiniest speculation                                                                       of anyone else further out into the                                                                                   distance.

The shot used in this still is medium long shot. I assume this because i can see the full body of the character however most of the background cannot be seen. The fact that this is a birds eye view of the characters could emphasise our identification with them as they looked confused at what they are seeing and the audience on the other hand are also confused since they don't know what is happening which increases the enigma                                                                             codes within the audience. 

Sound Tasks

Reservoir Dogs 1992

This clip uses contrapuntal sounds when cutting the mans ear off the music playing in the background is  upbeat which is very striking as the scene is showing brutal torture. It compliments the mans psychotic behaviour because he is enjoying the fact that he is causing someone else pain. There is no use of parallel sounds which could indicate that there isn't a sense of normality in their behaviour. The clip uses Diegetic sounds this is evident when the man in white turns up the radio and the music becomes louder, however you could argue that for that moment it turns into non-diegetic. however, when he steps out of the room the music stops which shows that it is still diegetic.  The sound bridge is evident as the camera pans into a medium close up of the man's face who is tied up and the music and the man doing the torturing can still be heard singing.

contrapuntal and parallel sounds video

Lighting

Film Noir


 


Lighting


The lighting used in film noir is low key lighting which creates harsh shadows and also in the first picture there is a use of back lighting which creates the effect of a silhouette which builds up mystery in the audiences mind. Also, this could cause enigma codes in the audiences mind because it makes them think about what could happen next. Also, there are the gun in the female characters hand suggest that there will be some kind of action set-pieces or dramatic scene that will occur.This makes it clear to the audience that there is a build up of tension and danger. There is also a use of top lighting, this makes the actors look more glamorous especially the female characters. In the second picture the smoke can be seen clearly which makes her look like she is in charge of whatever the situation is being shown. It lacks complete realism in a way because of the fact that it doesn't seem to look like there is any natural light coming in from anywhere which is usually created by using a filler lights.