Attached below is my Elliptical Montage
Attached here is also my Elliptical Montage Inquiry, Action and Reflection Page
Author: annabelfenn
Return Of The Jedi Diagetic Sound Analysis
Below is my diegetic sound analysis of the final confrontation in ‘Return of The Jedi(1983)Marquand’
-This is important as it helps us understand the different Foley sound features and introduces us to the space genre.
| Context – What’s Happening?
This is the final confrontation between the hero (Luke) and the villains (Darth Vader & The Emperor). The two villains are intent on winning a victory for the evil ‘Dark Side’ by showing Luke that to triumph he has to use his rage & hate. |
Overall Tone / Mood
The overall tone and mood is sinister and powerful, there is lot of anger and frustration & corruption -Threat -Jeopardy -Challenge -Epiphany -Hope |
Star Wars & Genre & Narrative
It is the combination across 3 films and is the biggest challenge for Luke as he is trying to avoid temptation of turning to the dark SPACE OPERA- a sub-genre of sci-fi which focuses on melodrama and battles etc. There is a simplistic fairy-tale narrative here |
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| Topics / Focus | Key examples from the text | What meaning (impact) is made? | Significance for Genre or Narrative | ||
| Diagetic | Dialogue / Vocal
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“You underestimate the power of the dark side.”
“I will not fight you.” “I will never turn to the dark side” “I feel the good in you father” “Let the hate flow through you.” Palpetines voice |
It creates suspense, emphasizes the dark sides evil
Shows Luke’s morality Shows that the dark side are unsuccessful There is a politeness from Luke emphasizing his morality Demonstrates the manipulation of the emperor It is like a snake in the grass- his delivery is monstrous |
It is simplistic, it has the morality of a fairy tale | |
Ambient Sound
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-Vader’s breathing
-The light-sabers touching back and forth (with scraping together) Luke’s grunts with his light-saber when he snaps NOOO Zzz with the light-sabers (electronic hiss) Darth Vader’s footsteps |
Helps create a presence when he is near or there. It creates suspense. When he is not fighting it’s metallic
The light-sabers make the fight seem more powerful, it demonstrates Luke and Vader’s anger. They are static. – It emphasizes the fact Luke is in danger Shows his frustration towards his father, makes the audience see the darker side toward Luke, he is tempted. Vader’s footsteps demonstrate the approaching threat |
The light-sabers demonstrate a sense of chivalry which is part of the genre of space opera. |
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Expositionary Documentary And News Report Analysis
“Expository documentaries set up a specific point of view or argument about a subject and often feature “voice of God” style voice-over. For expository documentaries, the cinematographer is responsible for collecting footage that supports and strengthens the spoken argument or explanation in the film, including stock footage, archival footage, b-roll, or re-enactments of historical events.” –
Masterclass (2021). Film Documentary Guide: 6 Types of Documentaries. [online] Masterclass. Available at: Film Documentary Guide: 6 Types of Documentaries [Accessed 30 Oct. 2023].
Class Case Study:
How smugglers lure in buyers for illegal routes from Pakistan to Europe – BBC Newsnight.
www.youtube.com. (n.d.). How smugglers lure in buyers for illegal routes from Pakistan to Europe – BBC Newsnight. [online] Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N_KqKYTsbgc [Accessed 9 Nov. 2023].
- The documentary cuts between an omniscient voice over which adds engages the audience further in the story through the tone and mood and it also reflects on what the audience can see, further explaining and retelling the issues that Saeed faced on his journey.
- There are interviews conducted with Saeed, allowing him to convey his experiences to the audience personally. The interviews also allow for the documentary to gather more in depth information in order to better understand the severity of the situation. The way in which the interview is set up makes it feel more personal.
- Re-enactments are shown when Saeed is discussing how him and others were held hostage by the Libyan mafia. The re-enactments help to bring the scene closer to reality.
- Grainy footage is shown of Saeed and others on the boat. This draws intrigue as the audience can see the conditions of their travel on an overcrowded boat full of people searching for a better life.
- It makes use of aerial shots. This acts as an establishing shot and creates scale.
- Conventional features of an Expositionary Documentary
- Voice-over, addresses the audience directly
- The voice-over may either be a ‘voice of God’ commentator (heard but not seen); or ‘voice of authority’ (seen and heard – usually an expert in the relevant field)
- Images are used to illustrate (or sometimes counterpoint) the voice over.
- Editing is used for continuity, to link together images that support the argument put forward in the voice over.
- A variety of footage, interviews, stills, archive material is assembled to support the argument or elucidate the voice over.
- Attempts to persuade the audience of a particular point of view, often by appealing to logic and the idea of a common-sense response
www.youtube.com. (n.d.). BBC 100 women: List of inspiring and influential women revealed – BBC News. [online] Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=peK_KX5XvHU [Accessed 23 Nov. 2023].
What expositional features does this news report have?
- It uses distant effects by including interviews from various women
- It uses extreme long shots dependent on the shot of the environment
- It includes voice overs
- The camera often zooms out to emphasize the change of environments in the report
- It also includes events in the present therefore making the audience feel as if they are there
- It is dramatic and emphasizes what is going on in society today
THIS IS ENGLAND CONTEXT POSTER
SKINHEADS
attached to this link is the PDF of my This Is England poster
Our teacher tasked us to create a poster on a main contextual theme from “This is England”. I chose to research and display my findings of the Skinhead culture. The culture plays a very important role in the film as the group of main characters are either all in a skinhead group or are associated with one.
By researching the context behind a film we are able to understand the references and creative actions the directors used to establish an interesting plot and deep characters. The research I did on the skinhead culture allows me to further understand how influential and intimidating the gangs were.
British Social Realism and This is England
British social realism is a style of cinema that presents the lives of normal people living in Britain. It is used to create a sense of verisimilitude, as a way of diverting away from the unrealistic and unattainable Hollywood blockbuster. It is also often set in a certain period/place.British Social Realism was highly prominent during the 1950’s and 1960’s and is still popular to this day.
British Social Realism is politically angry, this is demonstrated in This is England as it is directed towards Thatcher and uses Far Right Politics. In This is England Shaun is in search for a father figure in which he meets Woody and Combo.
British social realism also uses similar strategies to documentary film making and it has been influenced by the French New Wave (Italian Near Realism.) – This is evident when we see Shaun chucking the flag into the water, reference to 400 blows.
Combo is manipulative and is the stereotype towards your extremely angry man in this film genre
Hard truths are also demonstrated within this genre. This is emphasized by the treatment of Milky and the Asian and Jamaican immigrants
– Ska music is also played a lot.
EXAMPLES
This screenshot demonstrates the fact that This Is England
fits the genre as it shows them all demonstrating the stereotypes of the Working class genre.
This screenshot is a prime example of the anger towards Politics. Margret Thatcher is talked about a lot in the film and the act of graffiti on the church just demonstrates further aggression. This links This Is England towards the genre as it links back to the concept of the genre being very politically centered.
This screenshot demonstrates Rage and Anger, it also signifies the marginalization of people from Pakistan, linking it back to the British Social Realism Genre.
This screenshot represents the fact that the area in which This Is England is filmed in an impoverished area – This is emphasized by the setting behind Combo.
Demonstrates the style of documentary style filming as it is archive footage of the two of them.
This demonstrates examples of the racist attitude towards people during this time period, linking it closer toward the genre.
This helps demonstrate the significance of the Iconography in the film
This shot is at the end of the film and it is where he chucks the English Flag in the water. This is significant as it is influenced by the French New Wave (Italian Near Realism.)
British Social Realism & Genre Analysis
-British Social Realism is a cinema movement. It is often set in a certain period/place and aims to create verisimilitude. It includes real stories, real people and makes us an active audience, we recognize the setting and characters. We also focus on the immediate and central experience of the characters.
-British social realism also uses similar strategies to documentary film making and it has been influenced by the French New Wave (Italian Near Realism.)
It demonstrates the hard truth of everything- emphasized in This Is England by the treatment of Milky and the Asian and Jamaican immigrants.
-This genre however is pushing against Hollywood.
Source 3: Kes a British Social Realist Case Study
“Britain’s Richest gift to world cinema”- Richard Armstrong
British social realism has defined itself as a documentary style of film making that endeavors to depict reality and as genuine a way as possible.
Ken Loach “wanted people to recognize from the inside, their own lives reflected back.” – Tony Garnett
GENRE AND REPERTOIRE OF EVENTS
| Cinematic Feature | Description | Film Elements |
| Story | British Social Realist films attempt to, ‘Show us to ourselves.’ Tell us stories about real people
stories of the working class being severely unrepresented A reflection of mainstream Hollywood and going against that |
Narrative |
| Themes | It opens our eyes to the realities of society, demonstrates injustice and politics and subcultures. – Uses the stories of normal people and the social issues that they face.
Demonstrates the impact of ‘cruel’ policies on working class people |
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| Characters | An angry young man. – often centralized around a male character
Compassionate paternal maternal figures. A flawed / cruel bureaucratic figure or demagogue, leads the character astray. Other peripheral characters who represent other facets / victims of society. “Here were factory workers, office underlings, dissatisfied wives, pregnant girlfriends, runaways, the marginalized, poor and depressed.” Richard Armstrong (BFI Online) |
Representation |
| Setting | Work class Britain
focuses on the working class and expresses the deprivation in which they have faced. |
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| Mise-en-scene (Iconography) |
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Film Language |
| Production Techniques | They sometimes use non-professional actors to heighten the realism
-They were prolific films Improvised scripts Often use popular music of the time Lyrics are often significant; they juxtapose or emphasize the visuals. |
Man On Wire Present/Distant effect
Distant Effect for Narrative- Conventions that allow the audience to give them a sense of control, oversight and objectivity.
- lots of voice overs which links to it being distant- omniscient narration
- there is the start of the interview which gives us the sense of distance and context- This is an L-CUT
- Use of archival footage in a split screen- PARALLEL NARRATIVE- his childhood vs the building of the Twin Towers
- Aerial shot of twin towers construction site- God’s eye view
- reenactments of scenes
- black and white- heavy vignette bleak lighting- (chiaroscuro lighting which is expressionistic)
Present effect for Narrative- Conventions of film language that enhance the audience’s sense of ‘being there’. A subjective experience.
- In the dentist scene we see close up and reaction shots
- With the shot of him and his wife we feel like we are with them and it cuts between the different prospectives (eye line match)
- Music- adds emotion and makes the audience feel present
BOTH
- the interview with his wife is both material into narrative in which we also witness both distant and present
blogs.grammar.sch.gg. (n.d.). Documentary Present / Distant – Film Studies (2023-25). [online] Available at: https://blogs.grammar.sch.gg/filmstudies2325/2023/11/15/documentary-present-distant/ [Accessed 16 Nov. 2023].
Genre and Narrative analysis of Shawshank
The central character Red being the narrator in the Shawshank Redemption is very significant. He gives things both from his point of view as Red, but also sometimes as an omniscient narrator, commenting on what is going on in situations. Throughout Red’s narration we see the different growth of the characters and we also learn more about the secondary characters such as Brooks. Although we see Andy’s development and also his escape, Red is the central character as we see him having the epiphany which demonstrates the theme throughout the film of hope. Narrative is very important as it is what creates the different themes and structure of a good movie.
-table of genre repertoire of events
| Generic Feature | Description | Link to other macro concepts |
| Story | Similar (predictable) plots and narrative structures, situations, conflicts and resolutions. | Narrative |
| Themes | Core ideas being explored, topics, subject matter, conflicts and underlying ideologies. | |
| Characters | Similar types of characters who have similar roles, personal qualities, motivations, goals, flaws and behaviours. | Representation |
| Setting | Geographical and historical, and how those times and places are represented. | |
| Mise-en-scene (Iconography) | A familiar stock of images the connotations of which have become fixed; including setting, costume, props, characters… | Film Language |
| Production Techniques | Stylistic or formal conventions of camerawork, lighting, sound-recording, use of colour, editing etc. |
| Generic Feature | Your analysis of Genre |
| Story | Someone who does not belong in prison is incarcerated
They try to retain their humanity and want to escape They also make friends with an unlikely group of criminals/ inmates They are either redeemed or escape the brutality of the institution |
| Themes | The ambition and need to escape
Cruelty Brutality Violence Loss of hope Rediscovery of humanity |
| Characters | The main protagonist (the person who doesn’t want to be there) – (the fish out of the water)
The guards The warden- the brutality/authorisation guards The prisoners The fixer/finder of things The vulnerable and weak character |
| Setting | Very bleak, forbidding scary place/institution
Industrialised |
| Mise-en-scene (Iconography) | Guns and whips- used to demonstrate extreme violence
Bars,uninformed prisoners and guards The regimented/ routine lifestyles Uniforms Use of crowd shots PANORAMIC trading – (black market) “ I understand you know how to get things.” |
| Production Techniques (Camera & Lighting) | Lowkey lighting. Use of frames within frames bars/ doors to communicate entrapments |
Movement For Meaning
Attached below is my Reel
Here is the Movement for meaning Inquiry,Action and Reflection Page
“Production Report- Observational Documentary”
In an observational mode documentary, the filmmaker watches what happens in the world around them without interfering. The filmmaker stays out of the way while real-life events and people unfold. Cinema Verité, which literally translates to “truthful cinema,” is another name for this kind of film-making
Staff (2023). Documentary: What is the Observational Mode? – So The Theory Goes. [online] Available at: https://www.sothetheorygoes.com/documentary-observational-mode/#:~:text=In%20an%20observational%20mode%20documentary.
People may use observational documentaries in order to shoot a project in which uses mise-en-scene (setting), framing and composition to communicate a sense of place. Some observational documentaries e.g.. Baraka help the audience understand the place and also perhaps helps the audience feel more emotion and empathy due to it being silenced. In Baraka this is demonstrated due to the fact that it conveys themes such as exploitation of workers, religion and also faith.
-My Observational Documentary
3 shots in which I am proud of are these ones
I am proud of the first shot as it demonstrates the realities of sixth form and it is also an over the shoulder shot, meaning that it creates a sense of voyeurism.
I am proud of the second shot as it is a wide shot which also ends up panning a little, this also shows the rush of getting back from lessons which was my aim for this specific part of the documentary.
My very last example which is of the pipes was meant to create a sense of abandonment. My aim for the beginning of the documentary was to make the school look abandoned and also run down, which I think I did very cleverly with the black fade transition to the inside of the sixth form centre.