Tuesday, 20 September 2011

Preliminary Task.

We have been set a preliminary task with 3 requirements they are as follows:

1. Match on action (continuity editing)

2. Obey the 180° rule

3. Shot / Reverse shot (convention of dialogue)

Match on action means that the film should run smoothly and appear to not jump from different places for example you could open a door and cut followed by the other side of another door, this may be a completely different place but with a match on action you can trick the audience into believing that what is behind the second door is actually behind the first door. This can be used in many instances and on a basic level is means that every action should be followed by a relevant reaction.

For example in the following clip from Casino Royale it appears the whole sequence is set in one place, however each shot could have been filmed in different places, even different countries to get the desired effect. However a match on action and successful editing can trick the audience into believing that the whole scene is filmed in one place.

http://youtu.be/m5M5R2pcPJ0 


The 180° rule is about camera angles and how the scene is filmed, when filming the director should imagine that there is an imaginary line cutting across where the scene is filmed from, this line should not be crossed while filming this scene so as not to confuse and disorientate film audiences.



Finally the shot/reverse shot refers to when two or more characters are having a conversation it is the most typical way to shoot dialogue and it films one person from a certain angle before switching to do the opposite side but similar angle, zoom, focus and position for the other person while he talks before switching back to the previous shot.

Sunday, 18 September 2011

Camera movement research.

How is ethnicity represented in this scene through camera movement?

In our media studies lesson we have been given a homework to analyse a scene from spooks. Giving particular focus on camera movements and how these represent ehtnicity within the scene. The scene starts with a crane shot and although all characters are seen as silhouettes on screen, it is noticeable is all characters are in different positions on screen, none seem connected and this could be interpreted as signifying racial separation. The shot then changes to reveal a white female, a black male, and an Iraqi as well as a bodyguard who is also presumable Iraqi. The Iraqi without a balaclava is lecturing the two captives. A panning shot followed him accross the room where he is shown stood up compared to the two captives who are sat down. This immediately gives a feeling of importance to the Iraqi character as he is shown higher up than the two captives. A close up on a photo shortly followed by a tilt shot leading up from the table to the Iraqi reinforces this feeling of power and importance.