‘Prisoners’ - Clip Annotation.
Homework , Film Studies : ‘Prisoners’. (750 words).
The scene begins with low key lighting and heavy rain , which continues throughout the scene until the end , this may be classified as a typical convention of a ‘Thriller’ film as it may foreshadow darkness and bad things.
It also features a long shot of a car , the illumination is low and we can see a brightly lit building behind it.
This might represent that the building behind it is a safe place and the darkness of the outside world is dangerous, this plays on the theme of ‘opposites’, which horror and thriller movies may feature as an effective technique for suspense.
The mise – en – scene in the next clip helps the viewer understand an insight to the film and the motivation of the character.For example , we see a long shot of a man , sat in a brightly lit restaurant contrasting the darkness of outside , whilst diegetic sounds of thunder and rain can be heard.Pathetic Fallacy is used throughout the scene to hint at the mood and events yet to unfold, but telling the story through the weather instead.The director would have purposefully inputted this technique to make the reader form an independent meaning behind small details.
Overall , the scene radiates a bad energy and we may suspect a dark turn to come very soon, we can grasp this concept through the use of mise – en – scene and typical Crime film conventions.
As he sits , the camera zooms in , slowly , on him and a waiter , having a conversation , the shot then becomes a mid shot and we can see their facial expressions better.It is a two shot , commonly used to show the intimacy between two characters , in this clip the two characters are opposite each other , with a table distancing them, this shows that they are not intimate with other , however the male’s confident dialogue represents he is an important man in this film or the stage of the film.The angle of the camera is also facing the mans back , this in itself screams ‘suspense’ and the male in the scene ultimately gives off a mysterious aura, by hiding his face to begin with , and possibly his intentions.
This is also represented through the mise-en-scene of dark clothing , which ultimately adds to the illusion of mystery
The aesthetics of this scene are very ‘1950’s diner’, the atmosphere is quiet and the colours are white and red , this could be representing the theme of ‘opposites’ as it hints at both , danger and security.
The atmosphere is almost calm , and dialogue is soft and comfortable , this is very contrasting to the end of the clip when the diegetic sound of dialogue is loud and alarming.This may have been done for effect by the director to make the end clip more disturbing and loud to the viewer.
As the male receives a phone call ,off what seems to be a police officer , the camera goes back to a long shot , this could be to signal that the phone call is important and is shifting the storyline.
The themes included up until this part of the clip are :
*Mystery.
*Suspense.
*Danger.
As even though the clip seems calm , the conventions of Crime and Thriller films (such as low key lighting , rain) are very prominent and it is almost luring you in to a trap of suspense.
After leaving the restaurant , the man gets into his car in the dark night and the rain is prominently louder and harsher , the camera sits at a mid shot of the back of his car but also flicks between close ups and mid shots.
Non diegetic sound enters the scene as eerie music fades in , this is effective as it signals the pivotal moment of the scene and builds the suspense up for the viewer.
From this point to the end of the clip he colours are very cold , again the mise – en – scene helps build up a cinematic atmosphere.
We are introduced to a new character who is very mysterious , it is presented in a mid shot , almost backing away from him like he is a dangerous character who we should keep distance from.
The end scene is very chaotic , with loud dialogue , heavy rain and aggressive moments , this concludes the scene and links back to the foreshadow at the beginning and proves that our instincts were correct as the Male in the van is guilty of something.
The scene begins with low key lighting and heavy rain , which continues throughout the scene until the end , this may be classified as a typical convention of a ‘Thriller’ film as it may foreshadow darkness and bad things.
It also features a long shot of a car , the illumination is low and we can see a brightly lit building behind it.
This might represent that the building behind it is a safe place and the darkness of the outside world is dangerous, this plays on the theme of ‘opposites’, which horror and thriller movies may feature as an effective technique for suspense.
The mise – en – scene in the next clip helps the viewer understand an insight to the film and the motivation of the character.For example , we see a long shot of a man , sat in a brightly lit restaurant contrasting the darkness of outside , whilst diegetic sounds of thunder and rain can be heard.Pathetic Fallacy is used throughout the scene to hint at the mood and events yet to unfold, but telling the story through the weather instead.The director would have purposefully inputted this technique to make the reader form an independent meaning behind small details.
Overall , the scene radiates a bad energy and we may suspect a dark turn to come very soon, we can grasp this concept through the use of mise – en – scene and typical Crime film conventions.
As he sits , the camera zooms in , slowly , on him and a waiter , having a conversation , the shot then becomes a mid shot and we can see their facial expressions better.It is a two shot , commonly used to show the intimacy between two characters , in this clip the two characters are opposite each other , with a table distancing them, this shows that they are not intimate with other , however the male’s confident dialogue represents he is an important man in this film or the stage of the film.The angle of the camera is also facing the mans back , this in itself screams ‘suspense’ and the male in the scene ultimately gives off a mysterious aura, by hiding his face to begin with , and possibly his intentions.
This is also represented through the mise-en-scene of dark clothing , which ultimately adds to the illusion of mystery
The aesthetics of this scene are very ‘1950’s diner’, the atmosphere is quiet and the colours are white and red , this could be representing the theme of ‘opposites’ as it hints at both , danger and security.
The atmosphere is almost calm , and dialogue is soft and comfortable , this is very contrasting to the end of the clip when the diegetic sound of dialogue is loud and alarming.This may have been done for effect by the director to make the end clip more disturbing and loud to the viewer.
As the male receives a phone call ,off what seems to be a police officer , the camera goes back to a long shot , this could be to signal that the phone call is important and is shifting the storyline.
The themes included up until this part of the clip are :
*Mystery.
*Suspense.
*Danger.
As even though the clip seems calm , the conventions of Crime and Thriller films (such as low key lighting , rain) are very prominent and it is almost luring you in to a trap of suspense.
After leaving the restaurant , the man gets into his car in the dark night and the rain is prominently louder and harsher , the camera sits at a mid shot of the back of his car but also flicks between close ups and mid shots.
Non diegetic sound enters the scene as eerie music fades in , this is effective as it signals the pivotal moment of the scene and builds the suspense up for the viewer.
From this point to the end of the clip he colours are very cold , again the mise – en – scene helps build up a cinematic atmosphere.
We are introduced to a new character who is very mysterious , it is presented in a mid shot , almost backing away from him like he is a dangerous character who we should keep distance from.
The end scene is very chaotic , with loud dialogue , heavy rain and aggressive moments , this concludes the scene and links back to the foreshadow at the beginning and proves that our instincts were correct as the Male in the van is guilty of something.
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