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.