Comedy film openings analysis- the first 2 minutes

Comedy film openings analysis- the first 2 minutes

I felt it was a useful excise to analyse some comedies before deciding the sub-genre of the film I'm going to produce.

Mr. Bean: The Ultimate Disaster Movie (1996)

Genre/plot

Slapstick comedy – that focuses on the main character’s inability to perform easy and everyday tasks thus resulting in chaos. The film relies extensively on body language, gestures and facial expressions as the main character does not often speak therefore embedding the film with a universal appeal.

Representation

The opening of this film almost immediately captures the main character’s childish personality. This is effectively achieved through the actors over exaggerated portrayal of the protagonist which is overwhelmingly emphasized to the point where it could even be considered a caricature. The highly bizarre and illogical mind state of Mr. Bean is further illustrated when to attempts to solve his problem of not having a cup to make his coffee by just placing the ingredients directly into his mouth - clearly comical.

The film’s opening embodies a powerful contrast between the protagonist and his employers. His employers are presented as upper class alienating entities whereas Mr. Bean is portrayed as a man child- masterfully conveying that the protagonist is unique and different from society.

Mis-en-scene

The film begins with a close up after which Mr Bean is seen in his messy kitchen where the table is cluttered with various jars which helps denote the protagonist’s unorganized lifestyle.

Whereas the mis-en-scene communicated in the scenes with Mr. Bean’s employers is tidy and bisness- like denoting their superior status and dominance. The dominance of Mr. Bean’s employers is further denoted in the distinctions between costumes.

Although Mr. Bean’s employers have smarter suites it could be argued that their suits lack charisma and individuality- they are sheep.

Lighting

The lighting used for the protagonist is brighter and more cheerful therefore instantly establishing Mr. Bean as a likeable character. I also believe the use of lighting is reflective of the protagonist’s positive nature.

In sharp contrast the lighting used for Mr. Bean’s employers is darker and creates a boring atmosphere thus capturing their boring personalities.

Sound

Diegetic – Mr. Bean is the only character that does not speak dialogue but instead uses non-existent noises (hm) to express himself. Various sounds are also made by objects.

Non-diegestic- the film begins with a score which perfectly conveys the mood and personality of the protagonist. It is fast paced and therefore complementary of the chaotic nature of this film.

Titles

The simplicity of the titles which are displayed in block capitals connote Mr. Bean’s child-like mind. The fact that these titles are large means they cannot be ignored- mirroring the protagonist. It is also notable that these titles are printed in red which is seen as a traditional color for horror films thus connoting that the main character does not the traditional way of doing things also as innocent as he first appears.

Nothing to Lose (1997)

Genre/plot

Character driven situation comedy - Nick Beam is an advertising executive who thinks his life is going very well until he returns home from work and discovers that his wife is apparently having an affair with his boss leaving him the edge of a nervous breakdown.-things only escalate when carjacker tries to rob him...

Representation

At first the atmosphere is tense as the film begins with a close up of the protagonist having a serious discussion with his wife however this is later revealed to be a joke. This aids to establish the protagonist and his wife as a fun loving happy couple-calm before the storm...

Mis-en-scene

Initially not much is revealed as the film opens with tight shots involving dialogue. Later it is revealed the characters are in their bedroom creating a sense of intimacy. It is also worth noting that when the protagonist’s wife is speaking the audience can see orange flowers in the background thus connoting her femininity. Similarly the protagonist has a craved duck in the background of his shot which signifies his masculinity as carving and woodwork is stereotypically a masculine activity.

The couple’s bedroom is presented as a typical bedroom symbolizing they are everyday people.

Lighting

The opening has neutral lighting with the protagonist’s wife having brighter lighting which effortlessly conveys her beauty and feminism.

Sound

Diegetic- dialogue

Non-diegetic- a song plays after the audience’s realization that the serious conversation was actually a joke thus creating a fun and positive atmosphere.

Tittles

At this point in the movie the title has not yet appeared in the movie however when they do they are printed in a green sans serif font. I believe the curliness of the font indicates the crazy nature of the events in this film whereas I feel the choice of the colour green is quite ominous and perfectly symbolizes the confusion of the protagonist.

Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994)

Genre/plot

Romantic comedy - The film follows the adventures of a group of friends through the eyes of Charles, an Englishman who is smitten by Carrie, an attractive American whom Charles repeatedly meets at weddings and at a funeral.

Representation

One by one each of the character is introduced, giving the audience a brief glimpse into their personalities. In this glimpse it is undeniably evident that the main protagonist is different from the other characters in the film. This is highlighted by the fact that he is still asleep whilst the others are up and enthusiastically getting ready.

Mis -en- scene

The mis-en-scene is effectively used as a device to establish class and character differences, for example Carrie has expensive furniture and a luxurious house thus denoting her higher social status and her regimented regime. Whereas the other character’s accommodations are more modest and chaotic which is denoted through cluttered surroundings that include clothes scattered about etc.

Lighting

The lighting is very consistent perhaps suggesting that although they are from different walks of life they are not all that different and their lives will intertwine.

Sound

Diegetic- dialogue, the protagonist’s alarm is ringing, eggs sizzling, etc.

Non- diegetic- A romantic song plays throughout the opening sequence. I feel this song helps to create a romantic atmosphere that is desired for a wedding.

Titles

The film opens with the title which is designed like an invitation thus preparing the audience for the events they will witness. In my opinion the flowers present in the title are symbolic as they could refer both to a wedding and a funeral therefore creating a sense of confusion. This is further enforced by the use of a partial wreath on the invitation.

Graph 11 - what feature would you most criticise about a romantic comedy ?

I believe all of the above options are valid criticisms of the romantic comedy sub-genre , however I strongly agree with the most selected point of criticism that predictability(70%) is a critical issue in this type of film. As a result I am planning to counteract this by inverting the gender roles present in my film thus giving a new twist to what many perceive as a genre which has been over explored to the point of exhaustion .

Graph 10 - what mis en scene do you expect to see in the film's opening ?

Although photos(45%) are the most popular option, the remaining 55% are similarly dispersed thus implying that the rest of the other options are all equally effective mis en scene elements for a romantic comedy. However, I may have to limit the amount of mis en scene elements in order to avoid continuity difficulties.

Graph 9 -what type of lighting do you feel is appropriate?

Although 60% of the people questioned preferred the use of neutral lighting, I have dismissed this as it can be bland due to its non charismatic nature. I will instead try to experiment with different coloured light in a similar manner to my score in order to reflect the personalities of my characters.

Graph 8 - what type of score would you like to see used in a romantic comedy ?

As the graph demonstrates a slow instrumental (5%) is the the least preferred option. Both the classic love song (35%) and the modern love song (40%) are subject to copyright issues therefore I will disregard these. I have decided to use the score in a sophisticated manner as a device to highlight the differing personalities of my two main protagonists.

Graph 7 - Would you prefer an atomospheric or dialogue driven opening ?

After, reviewing the graph's results, I have decided to infuse atmospheric (75%) elements with comic dialogue(25%) in order to enhance the appeal of my opening.

Graph 6 - which one of the following openings would you prefer ?

As the graph highlights the most preferred option was a scene that cut between the two protagonists in order to comically illustrate their differing personalities (55%). The second most popular option was a telephone conversation between the protagonists (20%). I will try to fuse both of these scenarios into my film opening as a way to optimise the appeal of the opening of my romantic comedy.

Only 10% of the people questioned preferred the meeting of the in laws option. I have concerns regarding this option as I feel it is overdone and therefore predictable as well as requiring more actors which could pose further complications. The option of a flash back (15%) was appealing but I predicted problems due to the complex nature of my vision for this scenario.

Graph 5 - Which age group would you like to see in this film?

Although the most selected option was the 20-30 age group(60%), I may have to resort to using the second most popular option of 16-20 year olds (30%) due to limitation restricting my choice of actors.

Graph 4 - Which one of the following do you believe is the most important element in a sucessful romantic comedy?

As illustrated by my graph, 45% of the people questioned would prefer the element of bad luck and therefore I have decided to incorporate this element into my film as I believe this is the most comical element to explore. It is notable that 30% would prefer the rival option and 20% the best friend option and I will try to incorporate the element of the best friend however, I may have to disregard this due to constraints regarding the film's duration.

Graph 3 - Where would you like the opening scene to take place ?

Although most of the people questioned (50%) would prefer the location of the opening to take place during a night out I may decide to set my opening scene at the protagonists home(25%) due to practical reasons. As the graph depicts (20%) would prefer a college campus as their location again this would pose practical difficulties triggered by the populated nature of this environment.

Graph 2 - What most draws you to a romantic comedy ?

As the graph demonstrates 50% of people questioned would watch a romantic comedy purely due to the inclusion of their favorite actor/actress. It is also notable that people would watch a romantic comedy for various other reasons such as its lighthearted nature (20%), romance (20%) and escapeism(10%).

Graph 1 - Would you watch a romantic comedy ?

As the graph shows the majority of people would watch a romantic comedy thus displaying its wide appeal.

Opposites attract (working title)

Opposites attract (working title)

(The film opens with a very tight shot on a bunch of flowers in a vase. The camera slowly zooms out to reveal an unidentifiable person asleep in their bed. This room adopts a feminine mise en scene which includes a diary which is annotated with a corny message, a romantic DVD, a smart elegant photo frame with both protagonists where boy is beaming a smile and the girl looks miserable. The score is a slow romantic instrumental. The alarm rings and the person immediately awakes thus revealing that this is the male protagonist’s bedroom as until now his face has remained hidden.

The film cuts to the female protagonist’s bedroom which is darkly lit, untidy and quite masculine. In contrast the score is a rock instrumental .The alarm is constantly ringing, the female protagonist grunts in annoyance and searches for the alarm clock without opening her eyes or lifting her head.

She manages to knock every item off the bedside table, which include a masculine action DVD and a tacky old photo frame with the same picture of the two protagonists, until she finds the alarm through the process of elimination which she tries in vain to turn off until that too is knocked off leaving her with no choice but to get out of bed. As the female protagonist is still only partly awake she steps on the photo and her anger is captured by her proceeding into a series of beeped swear words. A voice presumably father says “sweetheart I hear you’re up then”. The phone starts ringing the female protagonist grunts once again in annoyance as she desperately searches for the phone in her untidy room. Her epic search for the phone leads her to search in piles of clothes, empties her bag, and opens drawers, etcetera, but finds phone in a pizza box. Comedy through facial and gestures and the bizarre places of search.

It is revealed it is the male protagonist on the line who is now smartly dressed and smiling enthusiastically- Split screen showing both protagonists)

Female :( angry) what do you want?

Male :( annoying over enthusiastically) well who’s a grumpy Gus. Someone got out of the wrong side of the bed this morning.

Female :( impatiently) is there a point to this conversation.

Male: (calm and still cheerful) Do I need a reason to call my lovely fiancé. (Pause) Anyway the reason
I called is to remind you not to be late as mama and papa don’t like to be kept waiting. You haven’t forgotten have you?

Female: (obviously lying) No of course not (as she looks at her watch)

Male: see you later alligator.

Female :( forced cheerfulness) yeah see you later.

(Camera cuts to the female protagonist hanging up the phone)

Female: shit.

(The female then begins frantically searching for clothes)
(The camera then cuts to the male protagonist)

(The titles appear)

Comedy research

Comedy research

Comedy is a genre of film that is produced in order to evoke laughter from the audience due to its humorous nature. Comedy films fall into two main sub-groupings: the comedian-led film which is structured through gags and sketches and the comedic situation film with a more coherent narrative.

These two groups can sometimes overlap and indeed the pure comedy film of any kind is extremely difficult to find. Most so-called comedy films are in reality hybrids (comedy hyphenates) such as comedy-horror, action comedy, comedy-musical etc.

The main problem with comedy seems to be that it is very difficult to pin down and ultimately define. As well as the tension between the gag and the narrative there is a further set of categorisations which refer to the purposes of the comedy and its comedic nature.

Three distinct types

Slapstick is 'visual and vulgar'. It is in one sense primitive yet universal, relying on our almost instinctive reaction to characters subjected to danger, pain, etc. At the same time it requires great timing and all round performance skills. Slapstick comedy can be used as a highly sophisticated exploration of human behaviour when executed correctly.

Observational comedy is gentler and more subtle and presents everyday life as quirky with unusual behaviour in a realist context. One form that observational comedy is a parody mocking existing forms and traditions however one distinctive disadvantage is that this type of comedy may require the audience to have previous background knowledge in order to fully reach its potential.

Satire is comedy used to make political and social commentary. This type of comedy can have a limited appeal as it relies on an educated audience.

Key concepts

The secret of comedy is timing and performance as any joke can be ruined if it is executed poorly.

Representation

Comedy, like drama, depends on conflicts, in particular between weak and strong characters. Much comedy arises from the success of the weak in defeating the powerful. On the other hand, comedy is also a weapon against fear of the unknown so that the basis for comedy can incorporate racism, sexism, etc. Early cinema stars such as Chaplin were hugely popular in every territory across the world, but there are now assumptions that comedy doesn't travel and massively popular films from around the world rarely released in the UK. On the other hand this could be just a matter of language differences.

Audience

The main advantage of comedy is its appeals across all audience groups. However, there are distinct differences in audiences for certain types of comedy such as class or age differences. This is undeniably reflected in different television channels having audience profiles, e.g. both BBC one and two target safer family oriented sitcoms which are unlikely to offend its audience whereas BBC three produces more edgy, controversial and arguably more experimental comedy that may not be widely accepted.

In a "fish out of water" comedy, the main characters (or characters) find themselves in an unusual environment, which drives most of the humour. Typical situations of this genre include magically swapping gender roles and an individual’s struggle to fit into an unfamiliar environment.

A parody or spoof film is a comedy that satirizes other film genres or classic films. These films employ sarcasm, stereotyping, mockery of scenes from other films, and the obviousness of meaning in a character's actions.

Anarchic comedy (also known can wacky comedy) - the gags used in this type of comedy have no narrative context. The gags are often similar to slapstick but with less emphasis on physical violence and more emphasis on comic antics. This genre’s roots lie in the circus and general stage performance.

The black comedy film deals with normally taboo subjects, including, death, murder, suicide and war in a satirical manner.

The romantic comedy sub-genre typically involves the development of a relationship between a man and a woman. The stereotypical plot line follows the "boy-gets-girl", "boy-loses-girl", "boy gets girl back again" sequence. Naturally there are many insignificant variations to this plot, and much of the generally light-hearted comedy lies in the social interactions and sexual tensions between the pair.

Buddy movies rely heavily on mismatched characters where the humor stems from their differing personalities.

Mockumentaries employ the style of a documentary in order to present fictional and generally humorous events or characters. This sub-genre has been known to use exaggeration to a great extent.

Surreal comedy is a relatively new and very experimental sub-gene which typical combines elements of dark humour with elements of fantasy thus leading to very unusual and often disturbing situation.

possiable locations -Female proganist's bedroom

I once again choose my house as the location for the female protagonist's bedroom as this location is convenient and enables me more freedom and flexibility. Two possible locations were considered.

Location 1

I believe this bed effortlessly highlights the female protagonist's outgoing, dominant and overall contrasting personality through it's red bedding and black headboard which instantly capture the audience's eye. One flaw in this photo is that the bed seems too tidy meaning I will have to alter it as in my opening I plan to use juxtaposition as a device to illustrate the two protagonist's differing personalities- tidiness(male) vs messiness (female).

This photo was shot as an indicator of the floor space my actress will require in order to fully execute the humour that takes place in this area of the room.

The messy clothes on the ironing board present in this picture represents the various piles of clothes that will be dispersed throughout the room in order to connote the female protagonist's untidy nature further adding to the contrast between the two characters.




This picture once again connotes the female protagonist's unorganised lifestyle which I have overly emphasized by an extensive amount of Cd's that are scattered about. The Bruce Lee biography featured in this photo aids me in establishing the concept of gender inversion by portraying the female character as masculine.

In my opinion this blu-ray of the movie Kill Bill is a perfect mis en scene element as the main protagonist of that particular film is an independent, dominant and a more masculine woman therefore closely mirroring my female character.




I plan to place the female protagonist against this window during the phone conversation with the male protagonist. I believe the closed blinds denoted in this picture connote the female protagonist's private nature which is in direct contrast to the male protagonist's openness.

location 2

The bed featured in this picture effectively connotes the female protagonist's untidy and unorganised manner however the bedding in this picture would need to be changed as it is not reflective of the female character's colour full nature as it is too dull and lacking in personality.

The cluttered Cd's and the masculine content evident is this photo aid to establish my character in the desired manner.

The dark mahogany dressing table in this photo hints at dominance. The space underneath the dressing table could be used to place things in order to create clutter as this photo is too tidy. Although my character is not a stereo typical female it is still essential for the mis en scene to incorporate feminine items such as dressing table, mirrors, cosmetics, perfume bottles, etc.

The dark mahogany wardrobe with the mirror helps to represent both the masculine and feminine aspects of my character. This picture illustrates that there is adequate space for the shooting requirements of my film. The closed blind represents my character's inability to be open in her emotions. It is notable that the mirrors may cause problems whilst shooting therefore careful consideration may be needed or perhaps removing or covering the mirror in some may be an option.

I feel the lighting in this picture captures the dark and gloomy atmosphere that I want to create for the female protagonist's room . It also highlights the contrast in atmosphere with the male bedroom which is brightly lit and cheerful.

Evaluation

After careful consideration I have dismissed the first location as an option for my film opening due to the fact that this room is similar in its design and furnishings thus making it difficult to distinguish between the male and female bedrooms. Furthermore the lighting in this too bright therefore not reflective of the female protagonist. As a result I have decided that location 2 better fits the criteria for my film opening however I will need to ensure there is sufficient clutter occupying the room. This clutter will be carefully chosen to hint at my character's persona.

possible locations - male protagonist's bedroom

All of the following pictures are shots of my bedroom. I believe this is a good location as my opening scene takes place in a bedroom. Also the location is convenient for both me and my actors because it is close to our school meaning that travel would not be an issue. I also feel that shooting the film's opening in my own home offers me more freedom to manipulate my location to fit the scene.

I believe the light blue bedding connotes the male protagonist's calm and easy going nature. I chose this colour as it signified the male protagonist's lack of dominance in his relationship with the female protagonist. The amalgamation of the light wood furnishings further adds to the airiness of this room and helps to establish the male characters personality. The neatly organised shelves connote the male protagonists functional lifestyle and his attention to detail.

The following pictures also connote the male protagonist's tidy and structured lifestyle.

Whilst exploring the location I began to experiment with some basic mis en scene elements which I might incorporate or expand into the finial film opening.

The simplicity and silver and black colour of the alarm clock connotes that the protagonist is functional and being on time is important to this character.




in this picture i was exploring characterization. I feel that in my film opening I should include objects that hint to the character's hobbies however I'm not sure if a horse represents the character so for now the horse is s metaphor referring to male character's hobbies.


I believe this snow globe would make a very revealing mis en scene element as it hints to the child like enthusiasm that the male protagonist embodies.

I also explored general shots that I feel supported the script and therefore could be used in the final product.

This shot may be used during the phone conversation between the two protagonists as perfectly reflects the male characters openness and positive outlook through connotations to nature.

I decided to take this photo as a visually representative of the space in which my actor will be standing in.

evaluation

It is clearly evident that the location will need to cleared of any objects not consistent with the required portrayal of my character. I feel that the spacial dynamics and the lighting of this room fulfill the criteria for my film and therefore after careful consideration I believe that this location is the most suitable.

Romantic comedy openings

Romantic comedy openings

Idea 1

Narrative
The protagonists are getting ready for an important event. Whilst preening themselves they share a telephone conversation which comically highlights their contrasting personalities.

Film titles- red/pink serif font denoting connotations of love, lust, passion and romance.

Sound

Diegetic- dialogue/ sound made by objects

Non-diegetic- score

I’m going to demonstrate my camera and editing skills by my masterful cutting needed to create the desired comic effect.

I will also employ the 180 degree rule, match on action and a variety of different shots.
Certificate-most likely a 12 however I will need to examine the word moderate in relation to sexual references and then make the final decision.

My opening will consist of two characters – the love interests/protagonists. I will require the permission of my actors.

I believe my narrative is clear concise and will hopefully establish an effective and a positive equilibrium- a period of time where the characters and setting are established before any conflict is introduced.

My characters will be represented through their costumes, vocabulary and other mis en scene components such as photographs, books and the state of their surroundings.
Skills requiring improvement- garage band

Idea 2

Narrative

A flashback like sequence depicting how the two protagonists first met. This opening uses an extensive amount of music and visual comedy in order to achieve the desired comic effect.
Possible locations- school, work place or outside environment.
I will require three actors- the two protagonists and a rival. Also I will require some extras in order to create a realistic atmosphere.

Classification- PG

My characters will be represented through their costumes, body language, facial expressions and the score which accompanies them.
I have not mentioned other components of this opening as they are similar to my first idea.

Evaluation

I feel the narrative is very interesting although I do believe this opening will be quite difficult to execute successfully as it uses a vast amount of music meaning I will need to be able to use garage band masterfully. I am currently unsure if this film opening is going to fully consist of music or if I should infuse some dialogue.


Idea 3

Narrative

The female protagonist takes the male protagonist to meet his future in laws. The whole opening details their journey to the in laws house which filled with confusion, anxiety and argument where the male protagonists is overly scrutinised by the female. The opening ends with the father opening the door where he is heard and not seen before the titles are revealed. This sequence allows an equilibrium to be established as well as hinting at the conflict.

Evaluation

This opening relies heavily on dialogue meaning in order to fully achieve the comic effect I have envisioned it will require a good degree of acting ability as execution is key.

Codes and conventions in a horror film

Codes and conventions present in slasher horror films

Technical codes

· Camera- more recently, jerky movements captured on a handheld camera.

· Editing- sharp/ rapid creating excitement

· Framing- extreme close ups of weapons and the killer making them seem powerful /dangerous.

· Lighting-dark and shadow infused creating an ominous atmosphere and mystery. Also colour of lighting might be used to create the desired atmosphere e.g red or blue light.

· Juxtaposition- calmness before the storm-dramatic change in atmosphere.

Symbolic Codes

· Objects-weapons e.g. knives, chainsaws and axes etc. A barricade to stop the killer from advancing.

· Setting-normally dark and isolated place but also in their normal environment which adds to the audience fear as it implies that nowhere is safe not even your own home.

· Costumes-The victims dressed in everyday clothes signifying that this situation can happen to anyone- these are normal people. The killer is often dressed in black denoting death, dominance, despair and evilness. Black also allows the killer to blend into the darkness o the night thus allowing them to move undetected. The killer often wears a mask hiding their identity adding to the audience’s curiosity.

· Colour- Black signifying death and evil. Red to denote danger.

· Music- Intense, up tempo, dramatic score is used. Unlike traditional horror films which use an orchestral score it’s sub genre of the slasher movie tend to use a commercial score which can incorporate gothic rock songs which aid the atmosphere and excitement of the film.

Written Codes

· Opening Title- Printed in a sans serif font which is coloured red indicating to the audience that this film is a horror film and therefore will contain blood and gore as donated by the colour red.

Evalution of creating a film score targeted at a specific genre

Evaluate your research

I believe my research was quite effective. I found using the search engine Google particularly helpful especially when searching for " key elements in a horror score". I then made key notes summarizing the instruments and the tempo of the score.

Use of garage band

Our main objective was to create a new score designed to accompany a self chosen genre. After careful consideration I decided to create a horror score. Initially I explored the programme in order to familiarise myself with it. I decided to choose a piano driven baseline which I feel fully captured the essence of a horror score as it created an eerie, thrilling and tense atmosphere which mirrored a heartbeat. The compoisition also included classical piano keys and string instruments.

Group Evaluation

I enjoyed working in a group as it was interesting to explore different views. My partner was very patient and helpful, as I was unable to see due to my vision impairement, which ultimately meant the task took longer as she had to read to me.

Self Evaluation

I made key notes from our research which benefitted the group. Also engaged in discussions regarding the score.

How to improve

I believe the key problem in our score was the decision to include piano keys which I feel destroyed the atmosphere of the piece. If I redid the piece I would replace the keys with an instrument that created more tention meaning the score would be more consistant.

Photography homework

Subject







My aim for this photo was to depict loneliness. I believe I have achieved this as in the photo the subject is alone and is facing away from us symbolising hopelessness. In my opium the amalgamation of the subject's shadow and the fact the photo is taken in black and white further embeds the extend of the subject's isolation thus creating sympathy.






I feel this photograph is made interesting due to the fact it was taken through wooden squares effectively creating a sense of confusion and uneasiness.

















Landscape



This photo is a tilted low angle shot which ultimately make the tree seem dominant thus overwhelming the audience. My aim was to present a trees struggle to survive. I decided to take this photo in black and white in order to highlight the difficulty and hardship this tree has to endure to survive. The irony is that the tree is presented as dominant in order to enforce its vulnerability. Nature v man!















This image is a low angled long shot which in my opinion perfectly illustrates both the beauty of nature and the uncertainty of nature. The contrast in light can be seen as an extended metaphor expressing the extremes of nature. The trees are looking upwards to the dominant sky which holds the key to their survival. The colour connotations further add to the sense of uncertainty and wonderment!

Tilted frame

Tilted frame is used to make the shot more interesting. the use of a Tilted frame can also be used to signify confusion or ominousness.

Low angle shot

A low angle shot is used to make a subject appear more powerful, dominant or superior. This shot is commonly used both for heroes and villains.

High angle shot

A high angle shot is used to make the subject seem powerless or vulnerable.

Walking room

A walking room gives the subject space in the direction the subject is walking giving the audience a good indication where the character is going.

Looking room

looking room gives the subject space in the direction they are looking in order to make the subject appear more natural. This shot might be to used to show a character's perspective during a convosation or in a interview.

Over the shoulder shot

A over the shoulder shot is used when to characters are having a conversation.

Two shot (mc)

A two shot is used to capture the emotional reactions between two subjects.

Very long shot

A Very long shot is less tight than a long shot. A very long shot is also known as an establishing shot as it can be used to set the scene. There is little detail visible in the shot, as it is meant to give a general impression rather than specific information.

Long shot

A long shot is less tight than a medium long shot.
In a long shot you see the subject in its entirety.

Medium long shot

A medium long shot is less tight than a medium shot This is a good shot to reveal the environment of the subject and to show interaction between multiple subjects.

Medium shot

A medium shot is roughly from the subject's wait to their head. A medium shot gives you an idea about the subject's body language and allows you to capture any activety involving the subject's hands.

close ups

Close ups are normally used as a cutaway from a more distant shot thus allowing you to capture more detail such as the emotions of a certain character. A close up can also be used as a device to distinguish or introduce main characters.

They are four different types of closeups...





An extreme close up is very tight and has a very specific focus such as the subject's eyes. An extreme close up can also be used to portray a character as powerful or threatening.




A big close up is less tight than an extreme close up and allows to capture more of the subject's head.

A close up is less tight than a big close close up and captures the whole of the subject's head.

A medium close up is less tight than a close up. A medium close up begins to give you a idea where the character is.