EVALUTION QUESTION 7 Desmond Dube

Cinematography

Cinematography is various types of camerawork techniques such as different types of camera shots and angles.

Using the correct techniques can help portray clues to characters and scenes or to draw focus. For example: high angled shots can present a character to be vulnerable or less dominant. Whereas, low angle shots make the character feel tall, very dominant and powerful.

Cinematography diagnosis

We have used various cinematography techniques within our final opening sequence to present characters or give clues to the audience using symbolic codes. An example of this we have used in our opening is close up shots, at the very beginning when the detective (Desmond) receives a phone call from an ‘Unknown’ number/person this technique I used to show the importance of his job but also how important he is as a character. This creates suspicion and mystery to the audience and relates to the conventions of our film.

Cinematography is very important as it can link towards the narrative of the film this means how the story is told and meaning is constructed to achieve the understanding of the audience.

The use of shots in our opening sequence is most appropriate to ‘Barthes theory’ because mystery is set at the beginning of the film creating the ‘Enigma code’.

Characters in the same scene should always have the left/right relationship to each other if the camera passes over the imagery axis connecting the 2 subjects, its called crossing the line. The new shot from the other side is known as the ‘Reverse angle’

Picture 1 shows the movement of the camera and how it gets from one side to the other. If the camera crosses the line it can cause confusion for the audience as it looks like they have swapped places

180 Degree Rule

180 Degree Rule – preliminary task

Our first attempt using the 180 degree rule was not very fluent and professional as it was the first time we had experimented the strategy. This is mainly because we were in a small room which made it hard to get the full effect

This lead in our camera shot being less steady and a little shaky, making our video look less professional and unfocused

in our final film we did not use the 180 degree rule because it was difficult to fit within our opening sequence. Also our film was a gangster thriller meaning there was quick and snappy shots.. Incorporating the 180 degree rule strategy is a long winded shot this would be time consuming.

However, if we were to improve out opening sequence adding this rule would create more tension between character relations.

180 Degree Rule Diagnosis

Match on action

Where the prospective of the camera changes during a scene and the scene continues to flow

Cut from one shot to another view that maintains the action and pace of the first shot. If a character begins a action In the first shot and completes it in the next shot a visual ‘bridge’ is created which distracts the viewer from noticing the cut or noticing any any slight continuity error between the shots

Match on action – Diagnosis

In our final opening sequence we managed to incorporate the match on action strategy at the very start of the film, this is when the Detective (Desmond) leaves the house going through the door this created a smooth continuing transition without any obvious or noticeable cuts. We were able to successfully present this strategy professionally.

Using final cut helped us edit and put the two shots together creating a smooth transition of the detective going through the door.

Shot reverse shot

this is when one character shown looking at another character (often off screen, and the other character shown looking back at the first character. Since the characters are shown facing opposite directions. The viewer assumes that they are looking at each other.

A simple and very effective illusion and also mean that only one actor/actress is used at a time.

in our opening sequence we were able to present the shot reverse shot technique.

This worked very well for our interrogation scene as we had the two members in the gang interrogating the product grower, using the shot reverse shot technique improved and enhanced this scene.

Using the final cut program helped us put the shots all together without any jumps between the transition and flow of the film.

Shot Reverse Shot – Diagnosis

Editing

Editing is the process of selecting and preparing written, visual, audible and film media used to convey information. He editing process can involve correction, condensation, organization and other modifications performed an intention of producing a consistent, correct, accurate complete work.

We have managed to improve our editing excessively, we have done this through testing and experimenting different editing features and filters using programs like ‘final cut’ so they we are able to add them to our final opening sequence to improve as a whole.

An example of these features could be the following titles and the effects of titles, fading effects, filters (Black and white) and other transitional effects. This features hugely improve the final product giving the ability to enhance focused areas.

Editing - Diagnosis

For our opening sequence we have manage to used editing features to enhance our final product. Editing features used within our opening are the use of filters for example we have incorporated the ‘black and white’ filter at the beginning of he film and as we get through it changes back to normal. Also we have managed to use titles as the film is running, the effect we used for titles is almost like it is being typed up which matches the genre. Another feature we were able to use was the use of sound effects this is able to create the ‘Enigma code’ to the audience.

All of the obvious effects we have used makes it more interesting to watch as it creates a certain mood and atmosphere which sets the rest of the movie

Mise-En- Scene

Mise-en-scene encompasses recognizable attributes of a film such as setting and actors, it includes costumes, make-up, props and all the natural and artificial details that characterize the area filmed.

In other words mise-en-scene describes the stuff shown in the frame and the way it is shown and arranged for example, positioning, lighting, acting, costume, expression, settings and props.

As an experienced film audience we are able to read these hidden signals and add these to our understanding of what will happen in the film

Mise-En- Scene

In our opening sequence we were able to use mise-en-scene to improve certain scenes an example of this could be for our interrogation scene this was set in a cellar to create the rundown atmosphere this also matched our genre.

Costume – dressing each character with the correct attire to match there role played an important significance to our final product. For example, the detective wore a suit this was to show the relation with is type of job however we were able to portray status and power of the character. On the other hand our two Asian gang members wore casual dark clothing to emphasise that they are part of a gang. Social status and ethnicity were portrayed through this.

Lighting and colour – high and low lighting as well as single and source lighting helped created mood, emotion and power within our opening sequence. We were mostly able to use this element in our interrogation scene for example, the use of the single light torch created suspense relating back to our genre.

Titles

Titles are important because they give the audience the main idea of the topic written.

Titles are also a quick way of drawing attention to the audience without reading or knowing to much information about the film.

Also the way titles are presented can give the audience an idea of what type of genre it fits in. For example the picture below shows the film matches a thriller or horror genre.

Titles

Examples of real media real media and opening sequence

Titles

Analysis of various types of titles and opening sequences of different types of movies has given me a better understanding of titles as a whole. Such as effects within titles this means the colour, font and illusions. These effects give ideas to the audience of what type of film it could be or hidden signals to what could happen.

In our opening sequence we included titles. The effects we used match our chosen genre. Giving the audience a slight clue of what could happen. Titles also create a mood and atmosphere to the audience.

Overall as a whole, from the beginning of our filming I have learnt a huge amount of techniques, features and ideas to create emphasis on the film and audience. I have learnt techniques such as shot reverse shot, match on action and 180 degree rule and why they are important to use if able to. I have also learnt information on genre an example of this is symbolic codes which show props, make-up and emotions and technical codes which show sound, editing and camera angles, as well as conventions showing the overall themes.

Using the camera and filming has helped me gain knowledge and understanding on types of camera shots and angles this is important to the audience because it is a way we react to what is shown on screen. For example, - Close up shot – puts us very close to someone or something

and is often used to show expression on someone’s face and what they are thinking also the importance of certain props.

- Mid-shot - this is used to shows us the top half of someone's body, whilst still showing enough for the audience to feel as if they were looking at the whole subject. This is most appropriate when the subject is speaking without much emotion or intense concentration.

Conclusion

Long shot – this type of shot is often used to show us where the action is action is taking place. It can be called an establishing shot, this is usually the first of first few shots in a sequence, it must be very efficient in portraying the context.

High and low angle shots are when the camera is placed above or below the character – a low angle shot taken almost underneath a person makes them seem large and powerful and we, the audience can feel threatened by this appearance. A high angle shot is when the camera looks down on someone making them look very small, less important and vulnerable.

I have also learnt camera movement this adds to our involvement in the action for example, a tracking shot is where the camera follows the action, moving along tracks laid for that purpose, a crane shot is where the camera mounted on a crane moves around above ground level.

Being able to understand the following shots and angles has helped me and the team to incorporate them into our final opening sequence, this also has effect on the conventions of our film.