As discussed in class today, I'd like you to write about the use of all five technical codes - camera, sound, effects, editing and mise-en-scene - in the second half of the extract. Remember, write in the present tense and try to convey a sense of the extract as it happens. By doing this you will force yourself to write about all five codes at once because the camera only makes sense when discussed in conjunction with sound etc.
It doesn't matter if you repeat detail mentioned by earlier posts. What I'm interested in looking at is how you structure your response. Can you post by next Monday night - 17th December.
21 comments:
The use of special effects creates a sense on reality and in the case of the movie, it makes the characters look vunerable and scared in the situation. When the water is sweeping over the buildings, SFX is used to create a sense of awe and the audience can somehow relate to the male character who is trying to save his female companion. The use of non-diagetic sound encoparates(is that how u spell it) the idea of pani as the loud thundding noise increases when the climax of the scene happens. umm.... the flashing of the screen at the end is used to symbolise the aftermath of this natural disaster and the birds eye view shot lets the audience engage in more in what is happening. ok thats all 4 now i wrote this without lookin at ma notes so ill cum bak nd fix it up im really tired now i got more media wrk 2 do so peace!!!!!!!!!
Fatima,
Notes would be handy. If a jobs worth doing, it's worth doing properly. On your second attempt, try to be more technical. You need to be more specific about the techniques used and the effect on the audience.
This orchestral music stops to reveal the digetic sound of a radio broadcast. A close up shot is used and the radio takes up the whole frame. There is depth of field used so that the audience focuses on the radio to alert them to the fact that the radio is transmitting important information. The camera then pans out to a mid shot of the bus driver, then to a close up of him hitting the radio because signal is distorted. There is then a close up of the bus driver to gage his reaction. The camera then switches to a point of view shot through the wing mirror of the bus. Through which we see the water about to reach the city and the deserted yellow cabs, that people are despretly climbing over in a bid to escape the water. In this shot there is the digetic sound of the high pressure water bursting through the city. The camera then cuts to another point of view shot of the bus driver to portray the panic felt by the people of New York. The camera then cuts to a tracking shot of the wave from the front coming directly towards the bus, it then cuts to a shot of the water coming round the corner and then it reaches the bus, the water covers the hole frame and makes the audience feel as though they are in the centre of the action. Because it gives the impression that the camera used to film the scene has been covered in water as well. This is done with an eye line match. The camera then cuts to an aerial shot of the city immersed in water however it looks more tame. There is then another shot of the yellow cabs with a distressed mother and daughter wanting to go back into the cab and collect their passports in the foreground. This is followed by a long shot of the destruction again to represent the idea that it would not be safe. There is then the rawaring sound of the wave getting nearer and destroying anything in its path. The connotation of this is the raw of a ravenousness beast. The camera then pans up to reveal the size and powerfulness of the wave and to create a sense of the enormity of the situation. When ever the water is in shot there is the use of a un even tempo in the music this represents the idea of uncertainty, because the audience don’t know what will happen next. At this point in the scene the arrival of the water is imminent, we see the guy run after his female friend who had gone to retrieve the passports this shows a relationship between the two characters. Also that she could potentially be in danger. When the water finally reaches the part of the city where the guy and his female friend are, the camera tracks the man from behind, running to escape the wall of water. It portrays the idea that the wave is specifically targeting him. We then see a long shot of New York City the camera then builds up the tension for the audience by tracking the people of New York running for cover into a large building from side on, which shows the people as vulnerable. This is because they are in an open space, there is also another shot of the wave bursting out. Next there is a shot reverse shot of the guy running into the building, he then turns round and there is a fast zoom in on his face, to help create the fast pase of the situation and the idea that a place that he though he would be safe in s actually just as vulnerable as he is. At the end of the scene there is a shot of the homeless person standing alone by the balcony just before the wave breaks through the windows shattering the glass. He is centre of the frame, this emphasises both his vulnerability as a homeless person and also the vulnerability of being the first object the water will encounter. Lastly there is an Arial shot of the wave that has drenched New York City a flash of lighting goes across the frame this helps to set the scene as the after math of the wave that charged through new York city, the music then cuts out .CGI is used to create the wall of water that drowns the city. CGI is also used inside the building when the water breaks through the windows bringing with it a car. You can tell that those are compute generated images because you would not be able to recreate those shots without CGI, because it takes things that you wouldn’t normally see in every day life, and brings them into the context of this film so they appear to be part of reality. This is an example of generic verisimilitude.
Gloria :]
The extract starts of with a wide focus onto the statue of Liberty where it is being drowned by the rising of water.This wide shot of the statue in new york establishes where the scene is and sugggesting that this is going to be the centre of action, it is well-known to the audience so therefore we are able to relate to it easily. At this point, alot of special effects and use of CGI is being used for the taste of realism on the water and storm, this makes the audince feel unsettled and it builds up tension showing how powerful the flood is.
We are then shown a scene where Laura (who is portayed as a protagonist) helps two foreigners out of the taxi car, where we then cut to the short scene of where the flood is getting worser and drawing closer to the city of Manhattan. At this point we can hear the combination of digetic sound where the water is suffocating the buildings and splashing against each other and also non-digetic sound of the *roaring* waves and the beating drums. This combination clashes together where makes the audience feel vualarable whilst looking at the damage the flood is doing to the city. The idea of this cut and editing is to portray that Laura is being put into a tight postion of where one point she is helping a mother and son trapped in a taxi and the next is the danger that is just around the corner, but however the characters do not know this but only the audience so it biulds up tension.
The use of CGI on the water is seemed very strong, it has a great effect on it as it makes the inhabitants seem so weak and powerless with the joint effect of sound (the roaring of the water) the *low* angle shots suggesting how controlled the water is.
Near to the end of the extract, where everyone is in the libary, the water comes smashing through the glasses as we see how powerful it is, revealing immediatly the conflict between the sea as a antagonist and the citizen who are the protagonist are running away from it. At the end of the extract, we gte a bird eye view of the libary showing the effect the flood has caused and how the libary is beign englufed by it all, portraying the libary in a very bad state. This use of shot, leaves the audience feeling very stunned by it all and it allows them to empahise with the characters (Simon and Laura in particular)
=] THE END.
We cut to a wide shot showing the flood is getting worse and making its way through the city, establishing the effect of the natural disaster. The diegetic sound of the waves crashing through the buildings is combined with dramatic non-diegetic orchestra music with string and brass to match the atmosphere and power of the waves.
There’s a use of continuity editing, showing people looking up or running away from the camera, and then cutting to the giant wave towering over them. This portrays the growing threat, as well as the use of camera movement, tracking the victims, closing in on them as they run away, or them running towards the camera, so we can see their reactions and get a sense of the panic amongst the city.
Then cutting to the girl helping the tourists to get their passports as they get to safety, shows her good nature and lack of awareness of the danger, so is shown as vulnerable to the audience, and the main character. There’s a shot of him from above which swoops down to in front of him as he runs forward, showing he is becoming a stronger character, more powerful in running to save her. A wide shot is used, with the wave in the background, towering over the girl in the foreground, who is unaware of the threat. Time is manipulated through editing, as the wave moves towards the characters, with everyone running into the library, in order to give them time to escape whilst creating tension as the audience know that the wave will soon catch up with them. There is a close up of the main character’s face, tracking him as he moves backwards through the turning doors, giving the effect of him entering safety. The interior of the library is strong and solid, looks suitable to protect the characters, yet when the water hits, its breaks the windows and floods in, portraying the immense power of water.
At the end of the extract, we are shown a wide bird’s eye view shot of the library being engulfed by water, showing the effect the flood has caused. This use of shot leaves the audience feeling astonished by the whole effect of the natural disaster on the city.
The sequence opens with a wide shot of the statue of Liberty in New York. The statue of Liberty is flooding with the rising sea. Then it cuts to a wide shot of new york being flooded. We then have a close up of the radio transmitter. As we cut to this shot the non-diagetic sound fades away and the diagetic sound of the radio transmitter fades in. The camera then zooms out to see the bus driver and his tensed face. This creates panic in the audience because the radio transmitter is not working properly and then the bus driver is really worried. The shot cuts to a point of view shot of the side mirror which shows the water coming towards the bus. Then we cut to a close up of a male looking for his female friend when he sees her he shouts to her but she does not hear. she is helping a lady get out of the cab. the female goes back to the cab to get the other women's belongings as she goes to the cab she does not realise that the big wall of water is coming towards her. But her male friend sees this and we have a close up of his tensed face and then we have a wide shot of the other people running inside the mise en scene which is the library. Then we see the male running towards the camera and then we see him running to his friend. As this is going on we have close up shot of the female getting into the cab and trying to reach the women's bag. As the fenale gets the bag she gets out and her male friend reaches there worried and then telling her about the water. We have a close up of the two people and they are shocked and they both start running back to the building. When they are running back into the building the camera is at a low angle shot. The water is a CGI. As the Male goes inside, we have a mid shot of him as he stops at the stairs and turns back. In some ninoseconds the water breaks through the windows and the male runs up the stairs. As the water breaks through we see that the background behind the male us a CGI. The shot cuts to a close up of a man stopping on the way and looking back as well. Then the shot cuts to a point of view shot of a cab coming towards that man. This shot again cuts to a aerial view of New York and the water filling up New York. The sequence then ends at this point leaving suspense for the audience for them to figure out what happens to the victims. In this film the protagonista are the human kind and the antagonist is nature.
We cut to a wide shot showing the water engulfing the city of Manhattan and drawing towards the camera, which is accomplished by the use of CGI, as the water crashes against the skyscrapers. This is accompanied by the combination of diegetic and non- diegetic sound. The non-diegetic sound of brass and string instruments used in a staccato style indicates the unpredictable behaviour and power of the waves. In addition, the use of the diegetic sound of the waves crashing in, reiterates the feeling of the impending doom. It is further felt by the use of intercutting editing which goes back and forth to different characters reactions and actions as the water quickly draws near. This is further accomplished with the use of camera movement. For example, the use of close-ups allow us to see the different reactions to the looming water descending upon the city. This allows the audience to feel the same vulnerability that the characters are feeling. We cut to a mid shot of the female protagonist (Laura) who is helping a French mother and her child find their passports, with the imminent water behind her moving in quickly to which she is completely oblivious. The contrast in Laura’s size and the size of the water show her vulnerability and the dominant force of the water, our antagonist. The use of CGI creates the powerful, huge and threatening waves. This is accompanied by the diegetic sound of the waves crashing through the streets of Manhattan. Laura then gets alerted by Sam, our male protagonist, of the scale of the forthcoming water and they both run into the library. Camera movement allows the audience to go through the revolving library doors with the characters, which gives us the point of view of the antagonist who is unable to get into safety i.e. the library. This is amalgamated with the non-diegetic sound of fast beating drums, which replicates a heartbeat, which speeds up the pace of the action. Inside the library, a supposed place of safety, a mid shot of the windows is used to show the water bursting through which presents the sheer power of the water as it can break through the windows of a solid building. At the end of the extract, an extreme birds eye shot is used to demonstrate the scale of devastation the water has caused and the existing presence of the water. Here, the diegetic and non-diegetic sound slowly diminuendos. This leaves the audience feeling unnerved and shocked by what just happened and allows us to empathise with the characters.
Several Arial shots of the waves engulfing New York have previously created the audience’s awareness of the catastrophe and power of nature. There is a close up of a bus driver hitting his radio trying to get a signal; we hear the diegetic sound of the news report on the radio warning its listeners about the approaching tidal wave of devastation, which the audience has already seen. This use of dramatic irony only increases the audiences fear and their feeling of evitable tragedy. This then cuts to a point of view shot through the drivers windscreen showing people in the street scrambling over yellow taxis and cars, building on the audiences dread as the people in the street have seen the waves approaching yet the driver still hasn’t. This shot along with the enhanced screaming of the fleeing people also creates the sense that the waves are crashing towards them and they are helpless compared to the dominance of nature. Another close up of the driver that once again cuts to a point of view shot in his wing mirror revealing the waves crashing towards him that fully establishes the approaching danger. The use of continuity editing in this section works to create a continuous flow of action and of the approaching waves, generating the sense of ultimate disaster to the audience. The use of CGI in producing the waves makes them seem extremely realistic which contributes to the audiences apprehension because they believe they are real, this plus the diegetic sound of them crashing and gargling towards the bus makes them feel authentic.
Throughout this sequence the camera is continuously cross cutting between the advancing waves and the people particularly the protagonist, creating sense of all action happening simultaneously. The audience then feels as if the waves are closing in rapidly which builds on their worry and empathy for the characters. This is reinforced by the uninterrupted forceful sound of drums and strings accompanied by the diegetic sound of waves that all work to intensify the action. There are a number of close ups of the protagonist that cross cut to a point of view shot of his friend in trouble and the waves rapidly drawing nearer. This makes the audience even more fearful for the characters as the editing makes time space seem shorter than it actually is thus increasing the treat. The power of the nature over the people is conveyed through a shot from above the wave as it gives the feeling that you are riding the wave and everyone beneath you is much smaller and vulnerable. In this shot the waves are riding towards a strong structured building that is in fact a famous library in New York which again underlines where its set but also makes it more realistic as this is somewhere that the audience can recognise. Once the waves are about to collide with the library there is a shot jus above but behind the people running for cover, which makes the audience feel as though the waves are almost on top of them. An extreme close up of the protagonist looking out of the sliding doors is used to convey his terror to the audience. This then cuts to a very powerful point of view shot of the waves almost coming out of the screen at the audience, this makes the audience feel as through there and this is their own point of view.
fiona
We cut to a wide shot of Manhattan being engulfed by the waves, this enables the audience to see the extent of the chaos being caused. There is a mixture of diegetic and non-diegetic music being played and together they further emphasise the power and upheaval nature is causing. Non-diegetic sounds of brass and string instruments used in staccato illustrates the domination of the waves. The diegetic sounds of the waves crashing against buildings combined with the screams from the people scrambling to safety makes the scene more realistic and therefore help to create an emotional connection between the audience and the characters as they imagine what they would do in this situation. This effect is also created through camera movement and editing for example the use of close ups allows us to see different reactions from different people allowing us to feel just as helpless as the characters. The intercutting editing which jumps back and forth from different characters reaction as the water draws closer, makes the audience feel panicked and as though they are there. As the young girl helps to get the tourists passport a wide shot is used with the wave colliding forward in the background, towering over the girl in the foreground, who is oblivious to the danger catching up with her. The use of CGI creates the huge, threatening waves and personifies it into a beast engulfing the city in rage. CGI makes the waves appear more realistic and therefore contributes to the audience’s anxiety. Laura is alerted by our male protagonist Sam, and they both run into the library. Time in manipulated through editing in order to give the characters time to escape this creates tension within the audience because they know that the waves are fast approaching and the characters need to escape immediately. The library is a famous one in New York which makes it more realistic as this is somewhere the audience can recognise and relate to. The interior of the library is strong and solid; however on impact with the water the windows break and the water come flooding in portraying the colossal power of the water and that no where is safe. At the end of the extract, a wide bird’s eye view shot of the library being completely conquered by the water, portrays its strength and dominance and how defeated the city now remains. The diegetic and non-diegetic sounds at this point slowly disintegrate; leaving the whole effect of the natural disaster to settle in the audience’s shocked and astonished state.
There is a close up of the bus driver tuning a radio, there is only diegetic sound so that the audience know that what is being said on the radio is important. We cut to a close up of him hitting the radio as the signal is being distorted, this increases the tension as the audience are becoming aware that something bad is going to happen. We then follow the the drivers eye to a point of view shot of the rear view mirror, we can now see that behind the bus people are climbing over classic yellow taxis, this allows the audience to relate to the scene as they can recognise the New York trademark. The audience are also on edge because they don't know what they are running away from. We then cut to another point of view shot through the windshield and the audience are reminded that the bus is in traffic so gives a sense of no escape. This cuts to another shot of the people climbing over the taxis however there is a huge wave of water which is a CGI behind them and the audience now know what the people are running from. There is orchestral music that increases tension and the sound of high pressure water, this warns the audience of the enormity of the wave. We cut to a shot of two women talking, the shot is long so the audience have a chance to understand what is happening, one woman doesn't speak english and is looking for her bag, the audence feel on edge again as we realise they are unaware of what is happening. This cuts to a shot of a man running to save the woman and we realise that the previous shot was a point of view shot, the shot is low angle so the man seems heroic. We then see the woman on the taxi and she sees the wave behind and becomes aware of what is happening, the audience feel that she may not escape but then the man comes into the shot and pulls her away. The camera follows the man into a building, they have to fight through a lot of people as the mis-en-scene is crowded. The man goes through the revolving door, there is a point of view shot and we look back at the revolving door and the woman didn't get in, then she disappears and the audience feel confused and empathise as she looks worried. It then cuts to a shot of the man running up the stairs, he is in a famous old building that is very strong, however the water breaks through the windows through CGI and floods the building, the situation seems more real because the audience can recognise it and feel uneasy as in reality the building is strong and so the danger of the wave seems more extreme.
Holly,
You write in great detail - almost too much as your piece is overly descriptive and focused on the storytelling effects rather than the emotional effect upon the audience. The following extract is closer to what you should be aiming for,"the water covers the hole frame and makes the audience feel as though they are in the centre of the action." This is also good, "There is then the rawaring sound of the wave getting nearer and destroying anything in its path. The connotation of this is the raw of a ravenousness beast," - though watch your spelling. You make good use of technical terms and certainly improve the balance of description and analysis in the 2nd half. Key advice - 1)be more concise (you have limited time in the exam) and 2) choose segments to comment on rather than the entire clip.
Gloria,
Good balance of description and analysis. I particularly like your comment on the effect of the sequencing of shots, "Laura is being put into a tight postion of where one point she is helping a mother and son trapped in a taxi and the next is the danger that is just around the corner, but however the characters do not know this but only the audience so it biulds up tension". You need to comment on the use of mise-en-scene more and take greater care with your spelling. You rightly focus on 3 or 4 key segments and place them in context. Well done
Eve,
Generally quite strong, with a excellent focus on editing that shows an understanding of the construction of reality within film. Your comments on the use of mise-en-scene are also spot on. Expression is careless at times. You could have made more of this part, "The interior of the library is strong and solid, looks suitable to protect the characters, yet when the water hits, its breaks the windows and floods in, portraying the immense power of water," by discussing how the movie acts as a roller-coaster, delivering the characters and audience to safety only to yank them back into danger,setting the adrenaline racing again.
Manpreet,
Lots of description and focus on camera shots. Your comment on the use of the sound with the radio is expressed well with a good use of technical vocab - non-diegetic fading to diegetic sound of the radio. You need balance your description with commentary on the emotional effect on the audience of what is shown. You also need to check your use of the terms mise-en-scene and CGI.
Crystan,
This is a really good use of sound detail, "The non-diegetic sound of brass and string instruments used in a staccato style indicates the unpredictable behaviour and power of the waves." You make the rest of your writing very effective by writing about the techniques working together to achieve an effect upon the audience. Couple of things - at one point you mention the use of camera movement but go on to give an example of a camera shot; movements are tilts, tracks, pans etc. not c/us etc. See my comment to Eve about the safety of the library.
Fiona,
Very well written with an excellent use of technical vocabulary. Your second paragraph is particularly effective as it manages to convey a sense of the scene happening without using as much minute detail as the first. You could make more of the cross cutting between the point of view of the water and the humans. This varies the position of the audience. You hint at it when you write, "as it gives the feeling that you are riding the wave" but could make this more explicit. As I mentioned to Eve, this is where action adventure puts the audience on a metaphorical roller-coaster, one minute in control and powerful and the next fearful and overwhelmed.
Amina,
Really strong, like Crystan and Fiona you manage to write about the various techniques working together to create an effect on the audience. You also use an appropriate amount of detail - just enough to create a sense of the scene unfolding and leave room for an explanation of the effect upon the audience.
Samaah,
Great work. Good balance of description and analysis. You could be more specific regarding the music - try to get away from using just "orchestral music". Are there any recognisable themes or motifs in the music?
Everyone,
First of all, apologies for the lateness in commenting. I've been without internet access since the start of the holidays. Overall, I'm very pleased by the quality of this work. It demonstrates careful viewing and note taking and an increasing confidence in using technical vocabulary. I'm particularly pleased that many of you are using your glossary to use more editing terms and matching them correctly to how they are used within the clip. Some of you still need to get the balance between description and analysis right. Remember, the director in an action adventure film is always trying to drag (and I use that word deliberately) the audience through a range of emotions and it is these that you have to discuss when analysing the effect upon the audience.
Hope you're enjoying the holidays and all your psychological thrillers.
Those of you who didn't post - we will talk!
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