This is a film still from Hush (2009)...
http://www.imdb.com/media/rm3776743936/tt1093369
The still frame is a low angle shot of a man standing.This makes him look very superior. The medium shot used signifies the little information the audience knows about the man. The low key lighting makes it difficult for the audience to see the man, only a silhouette as is it back lighting. These dark colours connote evil which signifies the man is the villain. The combination of a medium shot and low key lighting makes the villain look very mysterious, which is an enigma code.
The villain is positioned at the side of the frame which signifies he is always around the corner lurking or spying. As the audience see this, they might identity with his victim as they feel his evil, dark presence.
The villain's costume is plain black clothes which again connotes evil or even death. This creates expectaions for the narrative as he might kill or attempt to kill.
Sunday, 6 December 2009
Friday, 4 December 2009
Fantastic Four Film Still Analysis
This is a still from Fantastic Four...
http://www.imdb.com/media/rm4079720448/tt0120667
In this still, the press are pressurising and interrogating the super hero group. As the audience are looking down on the group, we identify with the press because we want to find out what is going on, which creates enigma. This is signified through the use of a high angle shot.
The group are positioned in the centre of the frame which signifies the are very important to the people around them.
Props in the mise-en-scene such as the microphones and cameras connote a sense of chaos because they are coming from every direction.
High key lighing is used because it might signify the exposure of the group to the public; nothing is hidden in the dark.
Characters behind the group are in police and firemen costumes. Their costumes signify an event has occured such as a fire. As they are standing behind the superhero group, which could signify they are on their side, or they support what they have done. This suggests they might have helped put out a fire which is an action code.
http://www.imdb.com/media/rm4079720448/tt0120667
In this still, the press are pressurising and interrogating the super hero group. As the audience are looking down on the group, we identify with the press because we want to find out what is going on, which creates enigma. This is signified through the use of a high angle shot.
The group are positioned in the centre of the frame which signifies the are very important to the people around them.
Props in the mise-en-scene such as the microphones and cameras connote a sense of chaos because they are coming from every direction.
High key lighing is used because it might signify the exposure of the group to the public; nothing is hidden in the dark.
Characters behind the group are in police and firemen costumes. Their costumes signify an event has occured such as a fire. As they are standing behind the superhero group, which could signify they are on their side, or they support what they have done. This suggests they might have helped put out a fire which is an action code.
Kill Bill Vol.1 Film Still Analysis
This is the link to the film still from Kill Bill Vol.1...
http://www.imdb.com/media/rm3613038848/tt0266697
This still from Kill Bill Vol.1 is a low angle shot of two characters. This angle makes the nurse seem more superior to the character lying on the bed. Props in the mise-en-scene such as her eye patch and syringe connote a sinister character because an eye patch is iconographic for pirates who are usually seen as the villain. This is creates enigma for the audience, but also raises certain expectations for the film.
The villain is dressed as a nurse in white. The connotations of white are innocence and purity. However the eyepatch has red on it which connotes sinnister actions. As it is on the eyepatch, it could signify she his hiding her evilness visually; she wants to appear innocent but she isn't.
Due to the low angle shot, the audience are forced to identify with the character lying on the bed because we are positioned beside her. This could signify she is the protagonist. She is also out of focus, which draws the audience's attention to the woman standing. The out of focus could connote that the protagonist is not well or is unaware of what is about to happen. This is binary opposistion because the audience are aware of what she might do, but the protagonist doesn't.
High key lighting is used and could signify the exposure of the villain's actions to the audience.
http://www.imdb.com/media/rm3613038848/tt0266697
This still from Kill Bill Vol.1 is a low angle shot of two characters. This angle makes the nurse seem more superior to the character lying on the bed. Props in the mise-en-scene such as her eye patch and syringe connote a sinister character because an eye patch is iconographic for pirates who are usually seen as the villain. This is creates enigma for the audience, but also raises certain expectations for the film.
The villain is dressed as a nurse in white. The connotations of white are innocence and purity. However the eyepatch has red on it which connotes sinnister actions. As it is on the eyepatch, it could signify she his hiding her evilness visually; she wants to appear innocent but she isn't.
Due to the low angle shot, the audience are forced to identify with the character lying on the bed because we are positioned beside her. This could signify she is the protagonist. She is also out of focus, which draws the audience's attention to the woman standing. The out of focus could connote that the protagonist is not well or is unaware of what is about to happen. This is binary opposistion because the audience are aware of what she might do, but the protagonist doesn't.
High key lighting is used and could signify the exposure of the villain's actions to the audience.
The Golden Compass Film still Analysis
Here is the link to the film still, a shot from The Golden Compass...
http://www.imdb.com/media/rm2604636160/tt0385752
This still is a high angle shot combined with a long shot. With this and her happy facial expression, it could signify that she is looking at something bigger than her. A long shot could connote the distance between the protagonist (the girl) and where the camera is, making her look even smaller. A high angle shot could signify a point of view shot because the audience are looking at the girl and she is looking back, maybe at a person or an animal.
The protagonist is in the middle of the frame which connotes she is an important character. The use of props such as her red coat make her stand out. Red connotes passion and love which could signify her passion or love for the person/animal she is looking up to.
http://www.imdb.com/media/rm2604636160/tt0385752
This still is a high angle shot combined with a long shot. With this and her happy facial expression, it could signify that she is looking at something bigger than her. A long shot could connote the distance between the protagonist (the girl) and where the camera is, making her look even smaller. A high angle shot could signify a point of view shot because the audience are looking at the girl and she is looking back, maybe at a person or an animal.
The protagonist is in the middle of the frame which connotes she is an important character. The use of props such as her red coat make her stand out. Red connotes passion and love which could signify her passion or love for the person/animal she is looking up to.
High key lighting is used to see the mise-en scene clearly. This might be because there is a distinctive time period that helps create the setting of the film.
Thursday, 3 December 2009
A Touch of Evil
Watch the opening of A Touch Of Evil (1958), directed by Orson Welles.
Discuss how the cinematography contributes to the telling of the story and the build up of suspense.
The opening sequence is one continuous shot on a crane (crane shot). However the cinematography changes throughout the shot.
A close up shot is used to focus on the activation of a bomb. This creates enigma straight away for the audience and creates expectations for the narrative. A tracking shot is then used to follow the character to the car which also creates enigma. The audience are almost forced to identify with this character as we join him on his journey, though we see he is the villain.
After the bomb is put in the car, the camera zooms out to an establishing shot to show the setting. It also uses a high angle shot which creates a CCTV effect- the audience are almost spying on the characters in the car, which could make us identify with the character who planted the bomb. This might disorientate the audience because we are seeing every thing as if we are joining the villain.
Throughout we lose the subject matter of the mise-en-scene (the car). The camera zooms out of the car or it goes out of view. This creates enigma and almost teases the audience because they know what is inside the car and they have expectations for what might happen, such as the car exploding.
Consider how the cinematography and the music and sound work together.
The use of sound bridge helpes move the plot forward. From the close up shot of the bomb, a female character laughing is herd from the distance, and the camera pans to the couple. This introduces the audience to important characters of the opening sequence.
When the bomb is being planted the non diegetic music is parallel because it fast paced with ticking and clicking sounds. This signifies the rush and excitement of the character planting the bomb and the sound of the bomb itself.
When the car starts the music is interrupted by a more relaxed style of music. This could signify that the couple in the car have no idea what is about to happen. It could also signify an interruption that might happen for the audience…an exploding bomb!
As the crane shot zooms out from the car diegetic sounds of the hustle and bustle of the town overpower the music in the car. This sound is parallel to the camera movement. It could signify that they want to draw attention away from the focus point, again to tease the audience, enigma codes.
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