I chose this extract to analyse as it is one of my all-time favourite film scenes! (this link shows just under a minute of it)
Cultural codes and Conventions: Will: - Dressed respectably and practically, tamed hair and facial hair; seems more law-abiding - He is a blacksmith; an honest, hardworking profession. The 'good guy' - White, well spoken; English, typical servant of the British Empire - Focused, sharp facial expressions connote his intention to capture or kill Jack
Jack: - Scruffy, unhygienic, dreadlocks; rebellious, not conforming to societal expectation - A pirate; dishonest profession, a criminal. The 'bad guy' - Tanned, British accent; an outcast who spends a lot of time outdoors - Drunk and swaying, but still acts and looks confident and menacing; he is a vicious, dangerous, but careless person - He attempts to run. He is not a pacifist but he is cowardly and greatly desires to evade capture; clearly expresses his attitude of freedom
Film-Making ConventionsGenre/Technical: - Dynamic camera movement intensifies action; sways, tilts, pans, tracking shots, a wide range of camera techniques with a variety of shot distances and framing. - Periodic costume and setting displays conventions of the adventure counterpart of 'action adventure' genre - Sounds of swords swinging and clashing signify action and conflict - Dangerous setting of a blacksmith, we associate with and see fires, furnace, weapons, equipment; an exciting and diverse place to be fighting, anchors the audience - 'Faceoff' scene, a convention in action films. They match up well testing and intimidating one another, dating back as far as old Western films, but far more intense and gripping because of the intelligent camera use
The shot I chose is an LS of Ella, however due to her body position it can be framed closer to the subject. It was taken in the school's basement, where there was a complete absense of natural light. We turned off the bright ceiling lights and lit the shot dimly but glaringly with two pag lights to pinpoint the subject, facing her from the sides to create shadow. One light was not enough to sufficiently illuminate the shot. The frame is tilted to create an eery, mysterious effect, in addition to the revealing of only half the subject's face and the solemn, staring, intense facial expression, which can be seen in enough detail but not extreme detail from the shot type used. Full focus is not used here to create a sligihtly blurred, ghostly effect on the subject, and a sepia-tone effect is used on the camera to bring a nostalgic feeling. The fact that she is withdrawn into the storage space among the boxes connotes fear and timidness, making her character compelling but illusive, with our intention of presenting her as a kind of tortured spirit from the past, justifying the effects we used.
In Hindsight:If we discovered the set sooner we would have been able to spend more time perfecting the shots we took there and experimenting camera techniques. With better planning we could work chronologically with some kind of system rather than shooting whatever came to mind without as much thought. Also, we would be enabled to take more shots of more subjects in more compositions in order to optimise the likelihood of great results. Other shots were constructed of good ideas but what we could see did not quite work out when translated to digital image. A sharper focus could be used with this shallow depth of field for a more impactful character, but this may be difficult with the very short foreground/background distance we shot at.
This still is of Russel Crowe in his role of Gladiator, I chose it as it is one of my favourite moments in one of my favourite films.
High-key natural lighting is used and his character is centralised in the shot, connoting that he is a figure of focus and importance.
Nothing is hidden or dimmed as bright sunlight lights this shot, making him seen definitely as heroic and not cowardly.
It is framed as an MLS, so we are aware of his attire, stance and physical condition as well as emotional through facial expression. He is a muscular warrior, likely serious in personality and typically military because of his short, practical hair cut.
You would guess that this is a still from before, during or after an action sequence, as he is equipped with armour and a shortsword. His expression and stance express confidence, dominance, and triumph. It seems as if he is taunting an opponent or adressing an audience.
Maximus is visible from all around; the stone, pillared structure behind him could be a place of spectation for this imposing figure in action - a colosseum or arena.
As all eyes are on him at this moment is it possible that this is scene of particular importance for his character.
