My Semiotic Analaysis of a Divergent Film Still

This film still presents an establishing shot of the overall setting and what the audience will presume is taking place.

The main protagonist on the edge of this building is wearing grey whereas the majority of the people behind her are in black. The colour black is often associated with the idea of horror and death. The fact that all of them are in a safe position spectating the main characters ‘jump’ may symbolise that they are watching her jump to her ‘death’.

The grey dress and simple style of the main characters clothes tells us that this person is very selfless and innocent and that probably the act she is currently partaking in is something unfamiliar to her.  The grey dress communicates that this person is very plain and the concept of a plain person is often associated with unexcitement in their life’s, living a very basic and conservative lifestyle and this kind of image is what we get from the main character.

Children of men car scene analysis

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    At the start of this scene we are presented with a mid shot of the characters and as each character delivers their lines the camera therefore does a close up shot of each individual to divert the audience’s attention to what is being said. As each character is talking the camera then produces panning shots so that we, the audience get a smooth transition between the characters and no abrupt cutaways which could divert us from the flow of the shot.

    This whole scene is a one take shot meaning that there are no cuts at all so we are able to get a feel of the characters throughout and get a chance to feel more engaged throughout the scene. The lack of cuts makes it so that we the audience will feel fully immersed during the take and have a much more understanding of the car ride setting. The use of CGI within the take makes us unable to tell when there is a transition taking place and finally during the last moments of the scene the camera pans out when the characters exit the car breaking away from the ‘one take feel’ and transitions to a one still shot of the car exiting the scene at the end.

 

 

 



Notice how the camera diverts our attention to the two protagonists using a panning shot.





Camera shots every film fan needs to know (Plus some extras :D)

The originals:

Close up (CU)

“A photograph or movie picture taken very close to an object or person.”

(Breakfast at Tiffany's)

 

A Close up is used in order for us to see a character or object more clearly but to also focus on the details that would have otherwise would have been ignored in a more wider shot. It pulls the viewer into the protagonists personal space therefore understanding more of the characters personal emotions.

Medium shot (MS)

“In film, a medium shot, mid shot (MS), or waist shot is a camera angle shot from a medium distance.”

(Zodiac)






A medium shot is referred to as the 'all purpose' shot.  It lets the audience know if the characters movements and body languages throughout each scene. It helps convey the necessary sentiment the characters may be feeling in order to illustrate said film. Medium shots are also very useful for scenes involving discussion as we see all aspects of what is going on not just the emotional side but the somatic side.

Wide shot (WS)

“This shot is often used to show where the subject is located. It is often referred to as an ESTABLISHING SHOT because it establishes where the scene takes place”

(Gable)



As it's name suggests an establishing shot indicates where and sometimes what time period the film is taking place in. It is most likely the first shot of a film as it sets the scene.

Tracking shot (TS)

“A tracking shot is any shot where the camera moves alongside the object(s) it is recording.”

(Sceptre)

 
 

This shot is filmed usually by a camera on a dolly that moves on rails. The use of this type of shot is to maintain action between said object or character and the audience. It provides a sense of continuity and lets the viewers feel that they are part of the action.

Panning shot (PS)

“A shot where the camera moves continuously right to left or left to right.”

(Braveheart)

 

A panning shot has similar conventions to a tracking shot. It may not last as long but it is useful in the sense that we can follow the action instead of watching it running away from us as in the example above. If this shot wasn't a panning shot then we would have been left in sense of lost and confusion as to why the action has 'left us'.

5 other interesting shots:

Over-the-shoulder shot

“A shot where the camera is positioned behind one subject's shoulder, usually during a conversation.”

(The Godfather)

 



An OTSS is great in assisting conversations. It is much more frequently used in a talking setting then in not. But perhaps it's use when not being shown in conversational scenes would be able to produce the audience with a sort of point-of-view perception of the on going scene or maybe a sort of sneaky view of what's going on ahead and that people in front may not be aware of the characters over viewing the situation.

Top shot (TS)

“A shot looking directly down on a scene rather than at an angle.” (Also known as a Birds-Eye-View shot.)



(30 days of night)



This shot would usually give the viewers an impression of being a bird in a way, looking down on those bellow and presumably drawing a intimidating stigma to the person bellow if they're being shown in this way.

Arc shot

“A shot in which the subject is circled by the camera.”



 

This type of shot can come with many ambiguous meanings to it depending on the situation. It can give a sense of dizziness or presumably a way to create full attention of the subjects in the middle 'blocking out' anything around them.

Low angle shot (LAS)

“A shot looking up at a character or subject often making them look bigger in the frame.”

 (reservoir dogs 1992)

This shot would usually give a sense of an overpowering being looking down on us or the character we are perceiving from. It would tell us of the characters high position in society and portray an intimidating character.

Long shot

“A shot that depicts an entire character or object from head to foot.”

(Lawrence of Arabia)

It is much more like an establishing shot setting the scene. It can also  display a specific setting for And my personal favourite (also a bonus)example a house. 

Uninterrupted shot 

A long take is continuous shot in a motion picture with no cuts, photographed from a single camera. (Can also be referenced to as an ‘Uninterrupted shot’ [how I prefer to call it] )

(The Shinning)

This sort of take makes the viewer an 'active participant' to the ongoing scene. It is continuous and there are no frequent or abrupt cuts to draw the audience away from what's going on and so they can be immersed in the ongoing scene.




What I have learnt from this:
I have learnt that there are many more semantic meanings to the way in which we view film. The decision a director makes to film a scene a certain way will portray it in a much more meaningful way compared to if certain scenes weren't filmed differently at all. I hope to take this sort of view point of transmitting my feelings to my audiences when I work on further film projects and take into account how a certain scene may feel when shown in particular ways and how that would affect the audience.

Hello there, My name is Fiona Anokye and this is my AS Media Studies Blog. Welcome and I hope you enjoy my blog :).