Index

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) Editing video task and learner response
11) Editing blog task - 750 word analysis

Editing Video LR

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

www:

-framing, face hidden, enigma

-match on action 

-POV/hand held over the shoulder

-Humour

-Cinematography, steady pan, canted camera

-inventive use of props

ebi:

-add music

2) Type up your feedback from fellow students.

www:

-good cutting 

-editing skills and camera movements

-humorous and good match on action

-really creative 

-Variety of shots

-AMAZING

-great selection of shots 

-hilarious plot

-good cinematography 

-good use of frame

-Humour

-different effect 

-blood

ebi:

-more blood

-Add more editing (what does that mean?) 

-Add music

-more of a narrative

-add soundtrack 

-It's too good 

-Add music

-make the room with the dog brighter

-better, more clear dialogue 

-make narrative more clear

3) Now reflect on your video. Did you meet the brief and successfully include the three key editing aspects we have learned?

I met the brief as I have filmed and edited "a character opening a door, crossing a room and sitting down in a chair opposite another character, with whom she/he then exchanges a couple of lines of dialogue." as well as match on action and the 180 rule. 

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.

I think the overall visual editing is as smooth as I could get it. However, the conversation sounds clunky and unprofessional to me, I hope to get better at sound editing.
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?

Definitely absolutely sound. I hate how hard I find it.

Video Analysis

This clip is from an early episode of British Sitcom "Peep Show", originally aired on Channel 4, now available to stream on Netflix.

The beginning of this clip is shown from POV outside a door, encouraging us to relate to Mark Corrigan (main character) as well as his trouble with walking past youths. This is a very common problem that relates to a lot of people. The sudden interruption of the door introduces a second character through fast pace, seamless editing between the door opening and Mark on the floor, showing both shot/ reverse shot of Toni. Most notably, the package he holds up is also in the shot of him looking up, creating continuity. We also get her POV. As a point, the entire series is filmed in POV. There are cuts between the larger picture of what the character sees and slightly more zoomed in shots, possibly symbolizing the character is focusing or is experiencing some sort of notable emotion. The zoom can also mean something pivotal to the episode is occurring. Such a zoom is used when Mark invites Toni over.

An additional quirk of the programme is being able to hear the inner thoughts of a character, meaning the monologue is usually played over a clip of what they're thinking about or doing. Gradually as the conversation is going worse, the camera cuts closer from a medium closeup into a closeup to communicate the embarrassment of what Mark is saying (making the face of the character more prominent, giving it more precedence in the sequence) When he's doing well with Toni (making fun of Jeremy's tapes) We are rewarded with long-medium shots from POV as they laugh together. At this moment the audience get relief from the second hand embarrassment. However, this is short lived as the introduction of yet another character (Jeremy), the creator of the tapes, builds up the tension once more. The very short intro he has while his own self-important thoughts play in the background lead up very quickly to closeups of Toni and Mark enjoying themselves, mirroring the earlier closeups and causing more cringe at how horrible it would be to be Jeremy in that moment. Following this, there is a lot of camera movement, causing distortion and panic, adding to the comedy of the scene as the realistic reactions are what make the show.

There is a quick establishing shot to communicate passage of time and closeup of a sauce Mark is cooking. The sauce also is zoomed in at some points while he thinks about what he did to Jez. There's a lot of jerky, quick camera movement from Mark to show desperation to appeal to Jez throughout this sequence yet Jez's perspective is slower and more controlled, showing how calmly he's ignoring Mark.The cut to a closeup of Jeremy's cool face chewing adds more tension. The 180 degree line is used during the last conversation. It feels claustrophobic as the shot is largely the characters in frame. On the whole, the clip's use of camera angles, zooms, and cuts, are very stylistic to the show. It offers a unique glimpse into the minds of the characters.

The pace of the editing is quite regular to begin with (only 23 cuts in the first minute) to keep movement and visual interest while not going too quick and perhaps losing some of the slow burns a few lines have. The sequence also has a kind of cyclical structure to it with there being a conversation at the table that got Mark into trouble and there being a conversation at the end where Mark has to deal with the consequences. The real charm of Peep Show is absurdist situations rooted in reality.

Cinematography blog tasks

1) Write an analysis of the cinematography in the opening sequence. Highlight your use of media language and try to cover camera shots, angles and movement using the terminology we have learned in lessons.



There is lots of Camera movement throughout the sequence, signifying the busy and constantly moving state of New York where the movie is set. There are a lot of medium shots of the main character too, encouraging us to identify with her. The pans of the buildings also give the audience setting, connoting glassy, effective and rich surroundings.There is constant moving, even when indoors, meaning the area she's entered is fast pace and work filled. The only point where they pause from movement is a shot reverse shot of them talking, drawing a line between the mindset of the two characters.

3) Find and analyse three film or TV stills. Embed the images in your blog and analyse the camera shot/angle and what they communicate to the audience.  




The Grand Budapest Hotel

The medium shot encourages us to relate to the characters, whilst the dead-on camera angle is very stylistic of Wes Anderson. The shot is very centred. Additionally, the blue/pink colour scheme of the characters and the combination of the blue ribbons and pink parcels possibly means they complete each other.





Death Becomes Her

This is also a medium close up with a dead-on angle. This could possibly symbolise the horror of what's just happened, giving the audience a good clear look at how ruined she is by the pond and stomach hole, giving an unsettling and eerie atmosphere.



The Shining

This combines an over the shoulder shot and a long shot with uncanny symmetry. The corridors are elongated by this, sort of distorting the actual distance between the twins and Danny.

Editing video

1) Discuss what your preliminary exercise will involve – make notes on location, sequence of events, who will act etc.

Belle, Jenny

at school in classroom

phone call, walk to door, in class, sit, talk, kill

2) Write a short script for the preliminary exercise. Remember, scripts outline movement and shots as well as dialogue. The BBC Writer's Room is a brilliant resource for tips and examples of TV scriptwriting. Here's a genuine TV script example from Luther to check you are formatting your script correctly.

                                                             Belle (on phone)

Hello

yes

Give a dog a bone.

(Int. classroom)

                                                                               Belle

Trust me, this is a real bad guy.

                                                                              Jenny 

What do you want me to do about it?

                                                                             Belle

KILL HIM.

                                                                             Jenny

Say no more.

3) Write a shot list of every possible shot (and a few extra) you will need for this preliminary exercise. An example shot list is here.

medium close up of phone call

long shot of walking

close up on handle

medium long shot of door opening

close up of jenny turning

over the shoulder of walking to Jenny

close up on slam 

over the shoulder talking

medium of Jenny shooting

Long shot of dog body

Cinematography video LR

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

www: 

-tilt/pan

-smooth camera movement

-use of close up

-pov of dog

-shot/ reverse shot

-editing

ebi:

-a bit short

-export quality

-100 word explanation 

-some sound?

2) Type up your feedback from fellow students.

www:

-good pan

-narrative was well used

-shot/reverse shot

-good use of range of shots

-good close ups

-good use of camera movements

-shots build tension

ebi:

-longer

-music

-pretty trash tbh

-bit weird

-more lighting

3) Now reflect on your work and write your own summary of the comments and feedback you have received. Write three WWWs and three EBIs.

www:

-good camera movement

-range of shots

-editing made sense

ebi;

-there was some sound to cause interest 

-I made it longer, perhaps more establishing shots and more tension

-Used slightly more lighting 

4) Learner response: think about what you learned about cinematography making the video and also watching others. What will you do differently when you start the coursework in the summer? What tips or tricks have you learned from others that you can use next time? Are there any specific aspects of camerawork that you need to revise or practice?

Through this task I learned how to effectively use shot/ reverse shot while building tension and aim to be more experimental with it in the future (In a similar fashion to Peep Show perhaps). In my next video I need to add more bulk and narrative and follow the brief closer.

Cinematography video

In this video, I tried building slow burning tension through my dog sleeping then suddenly disappearing. I recorded a minute of silence in my room in hopes of the sound being grainier and breezy? but it didn't quite work out. I took inspiration from the movie "funny games" in which there is no music in the background which created a deeply unsettling experience.

Sound Video LR

1) Type up your feedback from your teacher.

-good editing, use of contrapuntal and parallel sound.
2) Type up your feedback from fellow students.

(a lot of them were the same) 

www:

- Sound fits the contrapuntal type, good use of parallel and contrapuntal sound

ebi:

- could use more sounds, sociopath?, better editing 
3) Now reflect on your work and write your own comments. Add three WWWs and three EBIs underneath the rest of your feedback. 

www: 

- very contrapuntal 

ebi:

- better song

- more visuals

- followed brief better

4) Learner response: compare your own video against your evaluation of the top three videos in the class. Whose did you think was best and why? How could you have improved your own video?

- Fadima

very strong match between visuals and music, brilliant editing. I could have spent more time on the editing of the clips to better match the music.

- Belle 

Editing matches the visuals too, clear dichotomy between parallel and contrapuntal.

- Soumeya

Good nostalgia, funny editing, clear political message.

5) Finally, what have you learned about the importance of sound to film and TV through this week's work?

The use of sound in film and TV is incredibly important to create mood and atmosphere in a scene. If the wrong song or score is chosen, the results are either humorous or jarring to watch.

Sound Video

I took clips from Scott Pilgrim and Marley and me and attempted to make parallel and contrapuntal sound bridges. The music choice, in my opinion, wasn't entirely right for either of them. However, the song parallels the hype of a quirky fight scene which I tried to convey. 

Sound analysis

2) Find a film clip on YouTube that uses sound in an interesting way. Analyse the use of sound, making sure you use the key language we have learned about sound in film:

• Diegetic and non-diegetic sound
• Parallel and contrapuntal sound
• Sound bridges

Remember to discuss/analyse all the different types of sound present in the clip:

• Music
• Dialogue
• Voiceover
• Sound effects

There is use of diagetic and non-diagetic sound in this clip. Since it's a song, the sound bridges over all the shots. The up-beat music starts off as parallel to the cooking show. This quickly changes when darker underlying themes are hinted at through visuals of old men at windows and money slipping under doors. There is dialogue that comes from the salt shakers and fig. After the dialogue, the music becomes more contapuntal. 

Lighting

1) Still image analysis

Look at the still images on slides 33-37 of the Film Language Powerpoint linked above. Copy the images into your blog and answer the following questions for each image:

1. Identify examples of high and low-key lighting.
2. Say which depict top, back or under lighting.
3. What effects are created by the lighting in each image?     

-lowkey
-side

-mysterious, cloaks face in shadow, femme fatale 

-lowkey
-top
-glamorous, highlights makeup, also creates lots of shadow, evil?



-highkey
-key, back
-Bright, exposed lighting around figure, face has shadow, evil intentions?

-lowkey
-side and back
-dangerous, lighting highlights key aspects of costume (badge, gun), highlights rain, ominous atmosphere, mysterious man, duplicitous?

-highkey
-side and back
-bright lighting to make her look exposed and strong shadow to add drama to the scene, highlights expression of horror

-lowkey

-side 

-secretive, striped light like from a film noir

-lowkey
-backlight
-strong silhouettes, highlight body language and posture, violent, unwelcoming. Someone on floor?

-lowkey
-side
-highlights face, look of distaste, strong shadows, secrecy?

-highkey
-top
-Symbolises a kind of god? Strong shadows connote sin?

-lowkey
-side
-vast majority is black, tense atmosphere, figure with side light, power, mysterious

-highkey

-side and front
-highlights face of man, woman's profile and the gun the man is holding. Very film noir.

2) Film noir research 

Research film noir - focusing on the genre’s distinctive lighting style. Make notes on the genre and particularly the use of lighting - bullet points are fine. 

-direct front and side writing 

-silhouettes 

-striped light from blinds

-strong aesthetic white and black contrast

3) Film noir YouTube clip analysis 

Finally, find a YouTube clip that fits the film noir genre and embed it under your research (the clip can be classic noir from the 1950s or something more recent - neo-noir). How does the clip's lighting fit the film noir genre?

The clip's lighting fits with the film noir genre as the characters' faces are cloaked in shadow by their hats and the overall atmosphere is dark and mysterious. Their shadows are dispersed by thick fog covering the set.

mise en scene

Isle Of Dogs

The duck tape on the rocket prop, paired with scratched off paint and rope, all carry across amateurism . The rocket is purposefully scruffy as a child is piloting it; meaning there is a possibility the child is on the lamb. This is key to the child's character as it hints to him being brave and purposeful. Perhaps he is on a quest of some sort. The dogs around him help even the shot on the top half (while also giving indication to him being on ground), and the white sky creates the feeling of a desolate landscape.



The mise en scene is used differently for these two separate genres as one is a horror thriller and the other is a comedic parody. IT Crowd is parodying Britain by using the set of a popular game show, creating comedic mockery at the dullness of it. Therefore the accurateness of the set is important to the scene as it allows  them to then distort the flow of the regular programme. This is completely different to the use of mise en scene in The Craft as the Beach setting looks a bit wild with the large boulders and rocks, creating a sense of danger. All the lead actresses are wearing dark, muted colours with long hems, giving a kind of clique-esque look. The line of dead sea creatures and the panic caused is a clear foreshadowing to darker things. The far away placement of Sara to the other characters could also symbolise her distance from what they've done. Suddenly, their actions carry a weight to her.

Star Persona LR

1) Type up your feedback from your teacher in full.

www: 
-Excellent subversion of gender roles (gender is a performance)
-excellent choice of soundtrack:matches image
-Excellent use of make up/ wig- attention to detail
-use of props
-solid, stable camerawork / editing: time lapse
-humour

ebi:
-abrupt ending
-setting + lighting
-type of shot

2) Type up the comments you received from other students in the class. You may wish to do this in bullet point and you do not need to repeat comments if more than one student wrote the same thing about your work.

www:
-transformation is well done

ebi:
-music could fade out
-perhaps slow down near end

3) Use the feedback you've been given to write your own self-assessment of your video using WWW (What Went Well) and EBI (Even Better If...)

www:
-good concept

ebi:
-smoother ending
-montage at end, showcase effect of make up

4) Now reflect on your own work in more detail. How did your star persona mood board planning help clarify and develop your ideas?

Seeing the various aspects of classic femme fatales gave us a checklist of things we needed to include in order to transform Manav. I planned what make up we'd need and small aspects that would really help sell the concept.

5) Thinking technically, how could you improve your work for future videos? (E.g. filming, editing, sound etc.)

To improve, I need to do smoother editing for the ending. Also, I should consider atmospheric lighting and setting.

6) Finally, what have you learned regarding the importance of mise-en-scene to character, narrative and the creation of star personas in film and television?

There is a lot to think about when creating a persona as everything on screen must be purposefully placed there to further a narrative. CLAMPS must be considered fully.