BLK Homework 4: Film Clip Continuity

For this task I have chosen to analyse a clip from the Sci-Fi Action film Looper, which has just recently hit the cinemas.

• The clip begins mid-conversation between two characters. The transition between the 1st and 2nd shot creates a match on action - just as Bruce Willis turns to reach for his drink, it cuts to the next shot and we can now see his hand reaching for the mug. Shot 2 also acts as an Establishing Shot as the framing is wider which lets us see more of the setting. In the first shot it isn't clear where the conversation is taking place yet, but as the camera zooms out we can notice various objects such as the mugs on the table, the ketchup bottle and salt container in the background which suggest to us that they are in a diner. 

• The 180 Degree Rule is also followed throughout the clip so as to not disorientate the audience. The camera flips back and forth between the characters, but never crosses to the other side of the table. During the conversation we get a sense of space, and although we cannot always see both characters in the frame we can mentally 'place' them in the scene. Another feature that can be seen is the Shot Reverse Shot, which lets us see how the two characters are communicating during the conversation. 

• The clip uses straight cuts, which is effective as they set the pace of the scene. During the conversation the cuts are quite slow and rhythmic. On the other hand, as soon as Joe reaches for his gun near the end of the clip, the cut to the next shot comes very quickly to emphasise Willis' fast kick reaction and speed up the pace. Overall the clip uses continuity techniques effectively to create a smooth flow of actions between shots and make it easy for the audience to understand what's going on. 

BLK Homework 3: Continuity Clips

Our task was to film an 'accident' as part of our continuity project. Here is the clip that our group (1B) created:




What worked?

Overall, our idea was established quite well in this clip. We get a sense of urgency as Arianna begins to run, and that was the effect we were trying to create. Despite our original first shot being cut off, the opening shot is still good because we get a sense of what is about to happen from the start. Shot 2 is particularly effective due to the pan as she is running. The tilt at the end acts as a slow reveal which I think was also done very successfully.

What didn't work?

There are several continuity errors, for example there is a Jump Cut from shot 1 to shot 2 and her actions don't seem to flow. Between shot 2 and 3 there is no match on action again, as she changes position. We also broke the '30 degree rule' - the camera should generally be at least 30 degrees from its position in a previous shot. Finally shot 4 could be made more effective by having her run into the frame rather than filming her already there.


Overall our clip could be improved, however from this project we did learn that it is best to film the actor in one continuous motion rather than going back and forth for individual shots.

BLK Homework 2: Film Clip Analysis

This is a clip from the 2008 action thriller Wanted, featuring James McAvoy, Angelina Jolie and Morgan Freeman.

Film-Making Conventions

• Sound effects are used to create suspense and build up to the action scene. At 0:07, the walking man's footsteps blend into the sound of Wesley's heartbeat. At this point the audience know something is about to happen. Loud metallic gun shots and clicks also emphasise the action.
• The framing in this clip is very effective - as the gunfight begins, a POV  'shaky camera' effect is used to create a sense of chaos and panic as people run out of the grocery store screaming. The clip rapidly cuts between this and close ups of the characters to show their expressions. There is also a shot of a bullet travelling down the aisle in slow motion, cutting through shelves of food. This suggests that the store very quickly turns into a battle field.
• Several visual effects are also used, such as a blurred POV shot of an advert to show that Wesley's thoughts are distorted and he cannot focus. There is also a close up of the screen of the woman's high-tech weapon at 1:46, showing that she is in control and has been trained to kill. Finally at the end of the clip there is an explosion - a typical element of an action film. 

Cultural Codes

• The domestic and casual look of the grocery store is familiar to the audience, making everything seem normal at first. The mise en scene juxtaposes with the action that follows - there are adverts, posters and other branded props around the store that the camera occasionally focuses on. 
• The characters are dressed formally - Both Wesley wearing a shirt and tie and the woman protecting him in the white dress look as if they have just come from work. Again this creates a sense of normality, but the audience can guess that Wesley is unprepared for the shootout - whereas she is probably trying to maintain a low profile. This creates a contrast between the two characters. 
• People can be seen buying groceries and going about their everyday lives in the background, which the audience can relate to. However soon the gunfight starts and the calmness of the store is disrupted.  For example, the woman shoots out the corner mirrors and a bullet goes through the head of a man's image on a cereal box.

BLK Homework 1: Film Still + Evaluation

This is an image I have selected to write about from a collection of test shots we took with our group. The genre we chose for this shot was Horror. I think the shot represents the genre very well as it follows several horror conventions. The shot is a Medium Close-Up, Over the Shoulder shot (MCU OTS).

In order to create the ‘horror effect’, we thought carefully about the position of the character and how the light would illuminate his face. From studying still shots we knew that lighting, framing and mise-en-scene were important factors in creating a successful horror shot.

Body Language

The actor (me) is hiding behind a tree to create a sense of ‘creepiness’ and mystery. It creates enigma as the audience wonders – “who is he watching”? It is clear that the character is not a victim but a villain due to his expression looking ahead at someone and his body language, with his back to the tree so as to not be seen. To achieve this I was positioned behind the tree looking past the camera, which was placed to the side.

High Contrast Lighting & Use of Shadows

Another convention this shot follows is the use of lighting to induce suspense. In this shot there is high contrast between light and dark tones. Half of the character’s face is in shadow which suggests a ‘second personality’ or that he is hiding something. The lighting effect was much harder to achieve as we had to experiment with different positions and camera angles.

Camera Focus & Position

The camera’s focus is on the tree, which is also partly in shadow and its rough contrasted surface adds to the horror effect. This also helps make the character seem hidden as the tree takes up most of the shot. The position of the camera also creates dramatic irony as we, the audience, know that the villain is hiding there and watching someone, but the victim doesn’t and is likely to be in danger very soon.

Overall I think the shot was successful as it is very creepy and enigmatic. However if we were to retake this shot, I would consider a different location because the white windows in the background are slightly distracting. Despite this I think we have portrayed the theme and our intended effect quite well.