HOW IS THE REPRESENTATION OF CLASS AND STATUS CONSTRUCTED IN THIS CLIP FROM MERLIN?

By Ceára Thornton

Throughout this clip from Merlin there is a very obvious and stereotypical view on class and status. This seems to result in the higher class being more dominating and superior over the lower class.

From the very onset we see a long shot of Merlin in the castle. Due to this camera shot we see the surroundings he is in and can see that he straightaway looks nervous and at unease. This suggests to the audience that Merlin is out of his comfort zone here as he isn't used to this environment. This theme of Merlin being out of his comfort zone due to him being in a wealthier atmosphere is then carried on when there is a track of the room he enters. This suggests that Merlin finds this room very different to the one he is used to as it is decorated with a range of valuable items. This is added to by the non-digetic sounds and the low key lighting which gives an ominous feel to the scene, and really displays to the audience that Merlin is out of his comfort zone in this prosperous environment seeing as he is of lower class. Although, this feel changes when an eye line match is used to show how Merlin spots a spell book and a magical straw person. These items are made more poignant as there is depth of field used and shallow focus is used which draws the audience’s attention to the book and tells us that Merlin is interested in these things as they are seen to belong more in Merlin's lower class and common environment rather than this upper class castle room he finds himself in. Just as Merlin discovers these items more non-digetic music plays in the background and is coupled with parallel editing to show a woman who appears to have a connection to these items. It is obvious by the costumes shown that the woman is superior in terms of class as she is wearing a vibrant silk purple dress with a gold belt. The colours gold and purple are significant here as they’re usually the colours which represent royalty and wealth. Then if we look at Merlin’s clothes we see he is wearing light linen t-shirt and jacket, and a ragged scarf. Merlin’s t-shirt is red, which is quite poignant as red is associated with danger and as he is lower class he is stereotypically seen as more cheeky and up to no good. Ambient sound is used as we the audience and Merlin hear this woman in the purple dress open the door to enter the room. Pan and tilt camera movements are used here which shows Merlin panic and put the items back in their original places in frenzy due to hearing the door. From this we see that Merlin is inferior to the woman walking into the room and is frightened in case he is caught by someone because he is touching things that aren’t his, and things which belong to people who are superior and in charge of him.

            Later in the extract we hear the ambient sound of the town such as the sound of goats, people talking and working which shows the loud, brass commonness of the area and it is a huge contrast to the castle where it is quiet and refined, like the people who inhabit them. Therefore, this fit the clichéd view that lower class people are rude and common, whilst the higher class are sophisticated and mannerly. This idea is reinforced by the mid shot used to show Merlin walking through the town. As he continues to walk a tracking movement is used and the mid shot turns into a wide shot. I believe this is used because it shows how Merlin is now comfortable and secure in his own environment in comparison to how he was in the castle, as well as showing off the filth and grime the lower class people live in. The high key lighting used draws up a contrast between the town and the castle room. To me this insinuates that the lower class people have nothing to hide and what you see is what you get with them, whilst the higher class have secrets and things they would prefer was hidden from others as it could taint the power they have over people.

It is here in the town the audience are first introduced to the character of Arthur. As soon as we see Arthur the audience are already made aware that he is not in his own environment. Key factors of this would be Arthur’s clothes, as he is well dressed and wearing chainmail armour, whilst everyone else around him in dressed in shabby clothes similar to Merlin’s. Straight away we see that Arthur fits the stereotypical visual look of a higher class person, as he is dressed to impress and therefore this means Merlin and those surrounding him fit the stereotypical view that lower class people do not have presentable clothes, which is why they wear such scruffy outfits. Also Arthur walks around town extremely confident even though it isn’t his atmosphere. We see that Arthur thinks of himself as being superior to others and the camera composition of the rule of thirds is used here as it shows Arthur exactly in the area where the audience’s eyes are drawn to, whilst if we contrast this to Merlin he is slightly out of the area, so even in terms of camera view, Merlin is seen as being inferior to Arthur due to his class. If we compare this to Merlin we can see that Arthur fits the cliché of a higher class person who is arrogant and full of themselves, thinking that everyone’s eyes are always on them, whilst Merlin kind of breaks the typical view of a lower class person as instead of being confident, loud and outspoken in the castle, he was shy and at unease.  Although this side of Merlin doesn’t last as we see he then jumps into this role of the loud bashful commoner and insults Arthur, “look I told you, you were an ass, I just didn’t realise you were a royal one” and “wow since when have you been training to be a prat.” From this the audience can see that now Merlin is in his own environment he feels like he has some sort of power and fits the stereotypical cheeky lad behaviour lower class men are seen to have. This is reinforced by the slang words he uses such as “ass” and “prat”, which would be seen to be more recognised and used by lower class citizens. Arthur retaliates by choosing to fight using his many weapons. The props used such as the swords and maces show just how normal these items are to Arthur and how being “trained since birth” in how to use them is just an average thing for him, whilst Merlin struggles to know how to even hold one. This shows the difference in the classes as the lower class people as represented as spending their lives working, whilst the higher class are taught things like fighting and using weaponry as they didn’t have to worry about money and going to work. From this we see Arthur has an unfair advantage in the fight that is about to take place, just like he has had the advantage on life simply because of which family he was born into.

As the fight begins non-digetic music starts to play. This music sounds like music you would hear in a battle, which makes us feel already that Arthur will inevitably win as he has been trained in battle since birth; therefore Merlin is inferior once more. There are strong beats that are played when cut-a-ways are used which shows Marlin get his mace stuck. This shows the audience the fear and panic Merlin feels and the inevitably that he is in trouble as he is physically inferior to Arthur even in his own surroundings. This is added to by the handheld camera, therefore adding to the panic Merlin feels and the rapid action taking place. The cut-a-ways not only show the panic and frenzy Merlin is in but it also gives the audience the opportunity to see Arthur in battle. From this we see Arthur is calm and collected which is why his scenes are less short and choppy in comparison to Merlin’s. When Arthur starts to swing his mace to hit Merlin his first throw is repeated three times from different angles. This insinuates that Arthur is significantly stronger and more in control than Merlin, who just barely jumps out of the way and a cut-a-way is shown to show the audience what Arthur hits. What Arthur hits is significant because it shows us that he doesn’t care because he has the money to pay for them, and the fact he hits gold coins, also shows the audience that Arthur sees money as something he can waste, while if that was Merlin or another lower class citizen there, they would gather up that money or at least try to avoid it as much as possible. What’s also significant about this is that no one shouts at Arthur for destroying the place, but we assume that if the roles were reversed and it was Merlin destroying the place, people would shout at him. I believe this is because Arthur is portrayed as their superior and the lower classes don’t want to get in his way, especially as he is armed with a mace. This demonstrating the stereotypical view that the lower class don’t usually speak out against their superiors because if you do, you will end up losing like Merlin is showing us. This is reinforced by the low key lighting in the scene as Arthur is shown as a menacing dark figure about to strike Merlin. Although this is then changed when an extreme close-up of Merlin’s eyes is shown, which is coupled with a visual effect as Merlin’s eye glows and an eye line match is used to show what Merlin has done. From here we see Merlin finally has power over Arthur as he is using his magical powers to defeat Arthur. This doesn’t fit the stereotypical view of the lower class being dominated by the higher class, which tells the audience that Merlin isn’t like the average lower class people he is associated with throughout and is different, which Arthur reinforces when he says, “there’s something about you Merlin.”

The extract finishes with Merlin and an old man in Merlin’s room. Here a shot/ reverse shot is used between the two characters to show they are of equal class and status, so neither of them are superior or inferior to the other. This is effective here because this old man is the only one to know that Merlin is able to use magic and so they are both completely equivalent to each other and there is no power struggle or one trying to outdo the other to make a point. Merlin says, “If I can’t use magic then what have I got? I’m just a no body!” This is very important here as just before we learn that magic is the only thing that sets him apart from the other lower class townspeople and is also the only other reason he almost won his fight against Arthur. So when he says, “If I can’t use magic I might as well die”, the audience literally believe this because without magic, Merlin was inferior to Arthur due to his class and status as Merlin wasn’t trained to fight, but due to magic making him more superior than the ordinary lower class people, he was able to stand a chance against Arthur and impose a power struggle. It is also this magic ability which could be why he fits the stereotypical cheeky loud lower class person because he knows he has magic to help him out of these situations.

Therefore throughout this extract the class and status representation of different characters fit the stereotypical view of higher and lower class people, but also broke the clichés due to camera movements, shots, compositions, mise en scene, editing and sound.

Music Industry

The music industry or music business sells compositions, recordings and performances of music. Among the many individuals and organisations that operate within the industry are the musicians who compose and perform the music; the companies and professionals who create and sell recorded music (e.g., music publishers, producers, studios, engineers, record labels, retail and online music stores,performance rights organisations); those that present live music performances (booking agents, promoters, music venues, road crew); professionals who assist musicians with their careers (talent managers, business managers, entertainment lawyers); those who broadcast music (satellite and broadcast radio); journalists; educators; musical instrument manufacturers; as well as many others organisations.


For a long time the music industry has been affected by illegal downloads and pirate copies. This means that people are listening to the music of artists without paying to hear the songs, meaning the band or singer doesn't get the money from you listening to their song, and therefore the people involved in making the music don't get the money they should. I for one can say for a while I did download music without paying for it, but now I buy all my music from iTunes. The fact that most teenagers don't buy music is simply because they don't have the money to buy C.D's and singles. The invention of Youtube however, helps the artist now, as Youtube have been placing adverts on, which means the money from the adverts go to the artist, and under the video of the song, there is now a direct link to iTunes where you can download the song. 


Nowadays, music is a big part in people's lives, mainly teenagers, as it is very common when you go out that you will listen to music some point during your day. Whether, it's on the radio in the car, taxi or bus. Maybe on your iPod, phone, iPad or M.P.3 player when you're alone. At home on your computer or laptop as well. The fact is people will always listen to music. People listen to music to calm down, to relax etc. When I'm just in my room on the computer, or doing homework I tend to listen to music on my laptop or on my iPad, but when I go out I'll listen to music on my phone. I either listen to my music privately using my headphones or I'll blast it so all my friends or family can hear it. 


I personally store all my music on iTunes because I buy most of my music from them anyway and therefore it's handier. I always have everything copied to Windows Media Player also just in case anything ever goes wrong with iTunes. I always have my music organised in alphabetical order of artists. This doesn't apply for my C.D collection though. I organise my C.D's in order of which case cover is more aesthetically pleasing. Personally I prefer having Records to C.D's or downloads, although C.D's are a close second. Despite this, I have more downloads than C.D's or records because they are just easier to obtain and cheaper. 


When every I like an artist I always make sure to check them out on Youtube first and if I like their music I will go on iTunes and download some of their work, and if I'm fond of them I'll buy all their other work. I always check if my favourite artists have twitter or Youtube accounts so then I can follow them and check for updates, as in new song releases or tour dates. I also like reading up on the artists to see what they seem to be like personally as well, because I find if the artists are genuinely nice and funny, you like them more. I also prefer it when artists are being themselves. What would really discourage me to buy music from a band is when you can tell they're being fake, also when they seem like they've been put together to make money  and actually have no real interest in the music they make. What always encourages me to buy money from bands is when you can just tell the music is their life and they write all their own songs, because then you can hear everything just comes from the heart and personally it just makes everything sound so much better. 


A lot of my friends and family don't pay for the music they download, but when it comes to artists they love, they make an effort to pay for their albums and merchandise. I used to be like that as well, but recently I've just bought all my music, because I tend to only listen to artists I love anyway. Whenever I think of downloading music online illegally it never really scares me because you just think, sure everyone does it and no one actually cares, so it doesn't actually phase you when you download music, and it generally doesn't bother you after it. My parents know I buy all my music anyway, because they always shout at me for spending all my money for going out on music, so I'm always borrowing more money off of them.


The Music Industry is being affected by illegal downloads, but I think due to the amount of websites out there at the moment where you you can buy your music makes up for it. Although the sales of C.D's and records have declined due to the increase of download sales, but I believe the Music Industry is even stronger now, due to the increase in people listening to music thanks to recent technology advancements for music devices, for example, 10 years ago you wouldn't have the option of downloading music to an iPod or phone, but now you can and therefore you make an effort to music everywhere you go.

Mise En Scene

Production Design: 
The overall look of a film that illustrates the setting and visual style of the story. Includes the design of the sets, location choices, choice and supervision of props. Close collaboration with the DP and the Director concerning color and mood are an important part of this job.


Location: Any place a film is being shot that is NOT a studio set.




At 11:12 we can see an example of a scene being shot outside a studio. This is used to give the audience a different place to view so that they don't lose interest and it also shows a change in scene.

Studio: A constructed set built in a studio (sound stage)




At 3:50 we can see a studio as this is a set that was constructed just for this scene. This is effective because it is built to look like a hotel and has that feel, also it is easier then to have equipment move around in.

Set Design: In film making, the space that will be recorded containing all the elements in the mise-en-scene usually designed by a set designer in collaboration with the Production Designer. The term is used for both built studio sets and dressed locations.


Costume: A style of dress, including garments, accessories, and hairstyle, especially as characteristic of a particular country, period, or people.




At 0:05 we can see a very clear example of costume design. This is used effectively here because the audience can visually see from their outfits that they live in the early 1900's and are middle class people.

 Make-up: When cosmetics are applied to an actor in preparation for a role. Touch-up is when the make-up is reviewed or corrected before a shot.




At 0:09 there is a very good example of make-up. Here we can see a person turned into a sister of a humanoid cat by make-up which would get the actor really into their character, therefore they'd be able to play it more convincingly. 

Properties: Commonly referred to as a prop, is an object used on stage by actors to further the plot or story line of a theatrical production. Smaller props are referred to as "hand props". Larger props may also be set decoration, such as a chair or table. The difference between a set decoration and a prop is use. If the item is not touched by a performer for any reason it is simply a set decoration. If it is touched by the actor in accordance to script requirements or as deemed by the director, it is a prop.


Lighting: The use of various light sources, both artificial and natural, to achieve some aesthetic or practical effect while illuminating a scene.




At 0:20 there is a scene in which there are two characters walking down a character. The character on the left is said to be a trouble maker and they producers used dim, dark lighting to reflect this. This is very effective because as the audience we get this feel from not only the actor's performance, but also the lighting.

Colour Design: The characteristics of different illuminations that change the appearance and temperature in a photograph or video. 

Sound

Diegetic Sound: Sound whose source is visible on the screen or whose source is implied to be present by the action of the film: 

• voices of characters 
• sounds made by objects in the story 
• music represented as coming from instruments in the story space ( source music)

Diegetic sound is any sound presented as originated from source within the film's world 

At 0:0 A Diegetic sound is used. It is accompanied here by a voice over and a non-diegetic sound. I believe it was used here to bring the audience back into the drama and to focus on what was going on on-screen and not just on what was being said.

Non-Diegetic Sound: Sound whose source is neither visible on the screen nor has been implied to be present in the action: 

• narrator's commentary
• sound effects which is added for the dramatic effect
• mood music

Non-diegetic sound is represented as coming from the a source outside story space. 



Non-Diegetic sound is used at 0:41. It is used along side the use of a voice over. This is very effective here as the narrative is speaking about how they never pass up celebrity guests, which means they must get rid of other normal guests, so the non-diegetic music played gives the audience a feel that there is a scheme being concocted here. The brass sound of the music gives us a sense that  the scheme is also very sneaky. 

Synchronous Sound: Sound that appears to be matched to certain movements occurring in the scene, as when footsteps correspond to feet walking.



At 1:42 a synchronous sound is used. I believe this was used here to just match everything up and to make sure the audience was aware of what was taking place.

Asynchronous Sound: Sounds which is indigenous to the action but not precisely synchronies with the action.


* I need an example *


Sound Effects: An imitative sound, as of thunder or an explosion, produced artificially for theatrical purposes, as for a film, play, or radio program. Often used in plural




At 0:00 you can hear the sound of the tardis travelling. This is sound effect is the sound the tardis makes when it's time travelling. Therefore it creates drama in the scene and the audience are made aware that there is going to be an adventure coming up in the following scenes. 

Sound Motif: A sound effect, or combination of sound effects which are associated with a particular character, setting, situation, or ida through the film. The use of sound motif can help shape a story that requires many characters and many locations and help unify the film and sustain its narrative and thematic development.




At 8:37 a sound motif is used. It is used here to draw attention to the particular character. It creates a dramatic effect and lures the audience in. It captures the audiences' attention. Therefore the speech the character delivers gets the attention and importance it needs, whilst focusing it's power on the character to give him the respect and authority his character has. 

Sound Bridge: Sound which is sustained from one scene into the next. A sound bridge is used to extend a piece of music on the soundtrack or a sound from the story world over an edit. A sound may begin within a particular scene but does not end when the next scene begins.




At 4:10 a sound bridge is used to show an alarm bell going off between the shot of the girl in the toilet and the people outside on the phone talking to her. This is used effectively here to link the two scenes together and helps maintain continuity. This would make the audience aware that the  scenes are linked and are both happening at the same time.

Dialogue: Conversation between two or more people as a feature of a book, play, or movie.




At 0:07 the shot shows the dialogue between two characters. This draws the audience's attention to the characters speaking and therefore they're conversation is more poignant, and gets the importance as it is the conclusion of the episode.


Voiceover: A piece of narration in a movie or broadcast, not accompanied by an image of the speaker.




At 0:41 a voiceover sound is used. I believe it is used here to narrate the audience and inform them about what is to come. I believe this a lot more effective than the character just speaking to the camera, as this keeps the drama more realistic and less like just a tv show made for our pleasure.


Mode of Address/Direct Address: The use of a term or name for the person spoken to, as in securing the attention of that person; use of a vocative form.


* I need an example for this *


Sound Mixing: The process during the post-production stage of a film or a television program in which the collection of recorded sounds are combined into one or more channels along with adjusting the many attributes of the sounds such as the source signals’ level.




At 07:53 there is a lot of different sounds being mixed together, therefore we describe this as sound mixing. In this scene the effect sound mixing is used effectively as we hear the alien space ship sound, the alien's voice, the doctor's voice and sounds like the doctor putting on braces and the alien ship scanning things. With all this together we get a very wide range of sounds which indicates to the audience that this is building up to the climax and really draws them in.

Sound Perspective: A sound’s position in space as perceived by the viewer given by volume, timbre, and pitch.


* I don't properly understand what this means *


Sound Tracks:


Score:  A film score is original music written specifically to accompany a film, forming part of the film's soundtrack, which also usually includes dialogue and sound effects. The score comprises a number of orchestral, instrumental or choral pieces called cues which are timed to begin and end at specific points during the film in order to enhance the dramatic narrative and the emotional impact of the scene in question



Throughout this clip scoring is used. The music playing is dramatic and quick paced, so when accompanied with the voice overs and background noises, the scene becomes intense. As a trailer this draws in the audience and makes it very appealing. It is effective because as an audience this would be a series I definitely wouldn't want to miss. 


Incidental Music: Music composed to accompany the action or dialogue of a drama or to fill intervals between scenes or acts.




At 0:38 incidental music is used to create a reflect scene as the fire brigade put out the flames of the disaster that has just happened. This gives not just the characters, but also the viewers to reflect on the damage that has just happened.

Themes and Stings: A sting is a short musical phrase, primarily used in television shows and films as a form of punctuation—for example at the end of a scene, or as a dramatic climax is imminent. It can be played on a variety of instruments and performed by a group or orchestral ensemble.




At 7:30 we see this being used here as the sound signifies the change in scene and characters. This accompanies a transition and allows the audience to know there is going to be a different scenario about to take place. 

Ambient Sound: Ambient sound or ambient audio means the background sounds which are present in a scene or location. Common ambient sounds include wind, water, birds, crowds, office noises, traffic, etc. It performs a number of functions including:

• Providing audio continuity between shots
• Preventing an unnatural silence when no other sound is present
• Establishing or reinforcing the mood

At 11:12 we can hear the sound of birds in the little girl's back garden. This helps prevent an unnatural silence, but also due to the fact it's the only thing we hear, the audience is drawn to believe something is about to happen i.e the doctor appearing.

Editing 2

Dissolve: Dissolve is a transition in which one shot gradually fades out, whilst another shot simultaneously replaces it. The objective for this is to make the image or clip appear to seamlessly tradition from one to another in a fluid motion.





At 3:18 we see this being used. It is used here because it shows the reflective mood on what has just taken place, and helps to slow the scene down after the chaos that has just taken place. It is very effectively used here as the audience is given time to take in what has just happened and see the aftermath of what they have just seen.


Fade In: This is when you gradually fade to a clip or sound from a single colour, usually black or white.




At the very beginning at 0:00 a fade in effect is used here. The screen starts out black and the then the shot slowly appears. I believe this was used here to set the scene and was effective as it got the audience ready and prepared for the drama.

Fade Out: Fade out is a term used to describe a transition effect where the image slowly disappears into a black. This usually indicated the end of a scene or the video.




At 0:29 a fade out effect is used. We can tell as the scene fades out to a black screen. I think this was used here to sum up the quick scenario that took place between the two characters and to also set the scene for the next scenario which moves to another place and another time.

Wipe: A transitional device in which one image slowly replaces another by pushing the other out of the way.
- I need an example - 


Superimposition: The exposure of more than one image on the same film strip. Unlike a dissolve, a superimposition does not signify a transition from one scene to another. The technique was often used to allow the same performer to appear simultaneously as two characters on the screen.
- I need an example -


Long Take:  An uninterrupted shot in a film which lasts much longer than the conventional editing pace either of the film itself or of films in general, usually lasting several minutes. It can be used for dramatic and narrative effect if done properly, and in moving shots is often accomplished through the use of a dolly or Steadicam.




At 2:56 we see a long take editing style being used as a way to drama attention to the scenario unfolding between the two characters. It creates a lot of drama and the audience get a feel that the two characters are fighting and that there is clearly tension there between the characters. Therefore it has been very effectively used.


Short Take: A shot of film or video that has a brief duration on screen, usually less than 3 seconds.




At 0:12 a short take is used very effectively. Throughout the start of this episode we constantly see very short interludes of clips. These are to show us all the significant things going on in the place at the time. Therefore the audience get a sense that all these things are going to be connected somehow later in the episode.

Slow Motion:  An effect in film-making whereby time appears to be slowed down.




At the very start of this clip, so 0:00, things appear to be in slow motion. I believe this is very effective because it is a very serious scene and by slowing it down we, the audience, gather a sense of fear and that this is a very crucial moment in this characters life as it determines whether she will live or die.

Ellipsis:  A narrative device and the most basic idea in film editing. Ellipsis concerns the omission of a section of the story that is either obvious enough for the public to fill in or concealed for a narrative purpose, such as suspense or mystery.





At 1:05 we see an Ellipsis editing style being used as there is a fight going on. Instead of just acting out the fight we see little bits and pieces of it and we, the audience, put together the whole thing, making it as violent or as non-violent as we want it to be. 


Expansion of time: Slower than real-time. For example, you might have a fight sequence that is shown in slow motion and/or from several different angles. An action sequence that only took a few seconds in real time might take half a minute on video.



At 11:33 an expansion of time is shown. There is a fight that breaks out in the classroom and to the audience this continues for a longer tine than it would in actual real life. This is effective because the audience who've been watching the clip has seen the increase in tension between the two fighting and the longer this fight lasts the more this echoes the previous threats made.


Post Production: The third and final major phase of the production production process. Common tasks during post-production include:

• Editing video footage
• Editing the soundtrack, adding sound effects, music, etc.
• Adding titles and graphics
• Colour and exposure correction
• Adding special effects
• Re-shooting certain scenes if required ("pick-up" shots)

Visual Effects: The various processes by which imagery is created and/or manipulated outside the context of a live action shoot. Visual effects involve the integration of live-action footage and generated imagery to create environments which look realistic, but would be dangerous, costly, or simply impossible to capture on film. Visual effects using CGI have become increasingly common in big-budget films, and have also recently become accessible to the amateur film maker.

At 0:57 we see visual effects being used as there was an explosion. This clip is full of visual effects. These are used throughout this clip to create a sense drama and distress as a serious of very unfortunate events take place. In this part though CGI is used to add the fire to the explosion which would be cheaper and a real explosion would have been too dangerous and people would've gotten hurt.

Editing

What is meant by transition of image and sound?


Image: An image transition is when two separate shots are joined together. The most common transitions used are cut, crossfade and wipe. A cut transition changes instantly from shot to shot. A crossfade transition merges the two shots together as it changes, some call this a fade. A wipe transition progressively replaces the first shot with the second shot.

Sound: A sound transition is similar to that of an image transition, as it is when two separate sounds are joined together. These are usually used in trailers and cutscenes. Like the image transition the most common sound transitions are cut and crossfade. A cut sound transition changes instantly from one sound to the other, whilst a crossfade sound transition merges the two sounds together as the change them i.e the second sound fades in, whilst the first sound fades out.

Why is editing so important?


In the film industry editing is very important and is one of the most important jobs.  By editing you can assure all the clips fit together, the way the actors look fits in with previous scene and the scene to follow, and if the continuity fits. Despite editing taking a long time, it is very important in making a movie look better.

Editing cuts:


Shot/Reverse Shot: This is when one character is shown looking at another character (who is usually off screen) and then the second character is shown looking back at the first character.



At 3:53-4 a shot/reverse shot is used here to show how two characters are engaged in conversation, this gives us a better look at the character's facial expressions as each take up a shot rather than share a shot.

Eyeline Match: This is when a character is looking into an off-screen space, so the camera must cut to show what they are looking at i.e an object, landscape or another character.



At 0:44 an eyeline match is used. We know this because we saw one character looking of the screen at something we couldn't see then cut to the subject he was looking at.

Graphic Match: This is where you want the focus of the next shot to be in a similar place as the focus of the previous shot. This makes will allow a smooth transition from one shot to another.

Action Match: This is when you match the action, movement, or motion of the subject in one shot to the action in another shot so that the action can continue or be completed.



At 0:39 an action shot is used. This shows the continuation and end of the action the character is making thus, creating a fluid action for the audience to follow.

Jump Cut: This is when two shots of the same subject are taken from two different positions that only slightly vary. This allows the subject to appear to have 'jumped' position in a disjointed way.

Cross-cutting/Parallel Editing:: In a cross cut the action will cut from one action to another to show the simultaneity between the two actions.



At 1:05-08 cross-cutting editing is used here as it shows a character beating up another character. This works here because the audience get a full effect of what is going on in this action and it makes the action seem very violent and painful.

Cutaway: A cutaway is the interruption of a continuous shot but showing a shot of something completely different. This is usually followed by another cut of the previous shot.



At 1:08-10 A cutaway editing is used as it shows a shot of one character beating up another, then a shot of two people running, then back to the previous shot. From this the audience get a sense that the two characters running are to get to the scene unfolding at the first shot without having to see them running the the same shot.

Insert: This is the method of inserting a new shot over an old shot with a clean beginning and end. You can do this whilst still keeping the existing audio.

180 degree rule

This schematic shows the axis between two characters and the 180° arc on which cameras may be positioned (green). When cutting from the green arc to the red arc, the characters switch places on the screen.

In filmmaking, the 180° rule is a basic guideline that states that two characters (or other elements) in the same scene should always have the same left/right relationship to each other. If the camera passes over the imaginary axis connecting the two subjects, it is calledcrossing the line. The new shot, from the opposite side, is known as a reverse angle.

In the example of a dialogue between two actors, if Owen (orange shirt in the diagram) is on the left and Bob (blue shirt) is on the right, then Owen should be facing right at all times, even when Bob is off the edge of the frame, and Bob should always be facing left. Shifting to the other side of the characters on a cut, so that Bob is now on the left side and Owen is on the right, will disorient the viewer, and break the flow of the scene.

In the example of an action scene, such as a car chase, if a vehicle leaves the right side of the frame in one shot, it should enter from the left side of the frame in the next shot. Leaving from the right and entering from the right will create a similar sense of disorientation as in the dialogue example.

An example of sustained use of the 180 degree rule occurs throughout much of The Big Parade, a 1925 drama about World War I directed by King Vidor. In the sequences leading up to the battle scenes, the American forces (arriving from the west) are always shown marching from left to right across the screen, while the German troops (arriving from the east) are always shown marching from right to left. After the battle scenes, when the weary troops are staggering homeward, the Americans are always shown crossing the screen from right to left (moving west) and the Germans from left to right (moving east). The audience's viewpoint is therefore always from a consistent position, in this case southward of the action.

Composition

Framing: This is the technique of drawing attention to the subject by blocking out other parts of the image with something else.

Rule of Thirds: With rule of thirds you get your shot and basically imagine it split into thirds so you have 9 parts. This highlights four placing points of interest, as seen below:

In theory you place your subject in the points of intersection or along the lines so that your shot becomes more balanced and the viewer can interact with the shot more naturally.



At 0:02 we see rule of thirds being used here as two people are based in the intersection points meaning the audiences eyes are automatically drawn to them. This is effective because it gives the characters the attention they need for the following scene.

Depth of Field: Depth of field refers to the range of distances from the camera at which acceptably sharp focus can be obtained


Deep Focus: A deep focus is when all of the shot i.e the foreground, middle-ground and background, are clear and sharp.



(Time 1:26) I believe deep focus is used here because it draws the attention to all the operating tools used. I believe this is effective because it shows how serious and intense the moment is.

Shallow Focus: This is the opposite of a deep focus shot. Therefore meaning instead of everything in the shot being in focus, only the subject in the shot is whilst things like the background etc. are all out of focus.



(Time 1:14) I believe a shallow focus is used here so all the audience's attention is at the character's facial expressions and therefore it is effective because we see the distress on her face.

Focus Pulls: A focus shot is when you change the focus during a shot i.e when you change the focus from one subject to another. This is very useful in capturing the audiences attention.



I believe a focus pulls composition is used at 3:45  to draw the attention from one character's speech to the facial expression of the other. I believe this is effective because we can see how the other character reacts to what is being said.

Camera angles and movements

Camera angles:


High Angle: A High angle hot is usually located above the eye level. This is usually looking down on the subject and the point of focus is taken up by the surroundings. These are usually used to make the moment more dramatic.



At 0:26 a high angle is used. It is used here because it is creating a dramatic scene. It grasps the audience and pulls in attention. Therefore I believe it is very effectively used here.

Low Angle: A Low angle shot is taken looking up at someone. Usually the camera is on the floor and pointed upwards. It is used to make someone seem powerful and dominant.



(Time 0:22) There is a low angle shot used here to make the Doctor seem like a very important person. I believe this was very effective here because the audience was able to look at the Doctor and straight away know he's powerful.

Canted Angle: This is where the camera angle is tilted to show off balance and instability. It is most commonly used in horror films and is mainly filmed using a handheld camera.

Camera Movements:


Pan: is a movement which scans a scene horizontally. It is often used to follow a moving object which is kept in the middle of the frame.

 

(Time: 3:13) This scene shows the camera pans to follow the character as he is moving across the scene.
The main subject is always kept in the middle of the frame.

Tilt: is the movement where by which the camera scans the scene vertically.



(Time 10:28) I believe this is a tilt movement because as the character ascends the ladder the camera follows him by scanning upwards, which gives a sense of how high the building is.

Tracking: A tracking shot is a movement sometimes used in action scenes, when the subject is running or there is a lot of the movements by the actual character. The camera is placed on a moving vehicle and moves along side the action following the moving figure.

+

Dolly (equipment): A Dolly is used to move the wheeled apparatus on which a camera is mounted toward or away from the scene. These are used in tracking movements.

(Time 1:43) Here we can see a tracking movement used because we are following the person running and we get a sense that something big is going to happen, due to this action.


Crane: This is just like a dolly shot, but in the air. A crane is a large, heavy piece of equipment, but is a useful way of moving a camera as it can move up, down, left, right, swooping in or moving diagonally. 



(Time 2:00) I believe a crane movement is used here so that we get a fluid left to right movement and are able to see how all the children in the scene are perfectly still and not moving.

Steadicam: This is a stabilizing mount for the camera which isolates the operator's movement from the camera, allowing a very smooth shot even when the operator is moving quickly over an uneven surface

(Time 0:32) I believe a steadicam is used here because we have a moving shot here and for the camera operator to get a fluid shot he would have had to use a steadicam mount.

Handheld:  Sometimes the action is moving too quickly or too unpredictably for the camera to be on a tripod. This means the camera operator simply holds the camera.

(Time 4:02) I believe a hand held movement is used here, to give a sense of urgency and panic to the scene, so that the audience can really see the distress the characters feel.

Zoom: Zoom is technically not a camera move as it doesn't require the camera to move at all. Zooming means altering the focal length of the lens to give the illusion of moving closer to or further away.

(Time 0:09) A zoom is used here so that the audience get an overall picture of Merlin and then gradually as the narrator starts to discuss Merlin we get so close we have an extreme close up of Merlin's face. Our attention is fixed on Merlin due to this

Reverse Zoom: A single shot which moves away from a particular subject. When done very quickly it can displace the audience, but it can also be used to show the wider picture or context of an image

(Time 2:53) A reverse zoom is used here to show the image of the whole house and so the audience can get a picture of the scene due to the prevailing tragedy which is about to take place.

Camera Shots

Extreme Long Shot - This is a wider shot that makes the subjects in the shot look small. This is used usually to show building or landscapes to let the audience see the surroundings or give a sense of distance.



At 0:04 an extreme long shot is used. This is used in this particular scene to show the surroundings where the tardis lands. It is used in a comical way because the landscape is a bleak, cold and snowy place and in the following seconds the Doctor emerges from the tardis in a hat, Hawaiian flowers and wearing sunglasses. I believe this was try effective because this is used for the audience to have a bit of a laugh at the start of a serious scene and this is exactly what is achieved.
                                                                                                                                           


Close Up - A Close up is when a feature or certain part of the subject takes up the camera shot. Majority of the time a close up is of a person from their neck up. These shots are generally used to show emotions on the person's face.



At 3:06 there is a perfect example of a close-up used, as the camera zones in on Kat's face and we see her facial expressions showing a great deal of emotion. This is used very effectively here because, by having the close-up the audience can see all the emotions that Kat is feeling just from her facial expressions. Using a close up in a scene like this works a lot better than a medium shot or a long shot, because the audience can see the character's facial expressions more clearly and there is nothing else to distract them, as the shot is just of the face.
                                                                                                                                           

Medium Shot - A Medium shot is usually of a person from their waist up. It is used to show expressions the person uses, with not just their face, but with their hands, arms, shoulders etc.




At 00:41, there is a medium shot used. This shot is used here to show the character's expressions with not just her face, but with posture, her hands and arms. From this we gather that the character is being sarcastic because even though she doesn't say anything sarcastic, the medium shot allows us to see her sarcastic body language: arms folded and a sarcastic facial expression. Therefore the medium shot is very efficient when used here.
                                                                                                                                            


Long shot - A Long shot is at distance from the subject and a allows a broad view of the surroundings also, usually used to set the scene. When a long shot of a person, it is usually from their feet up and this is used to see the person's stance and body movements.



At the very start and at 00:30 a long shot is used as it has a view of scene and setting. It has a broad and zoomed out view and you can see the surroundings easier, which is very effective as it sets the scene perfectly for the show.
                                                                                                                                           


Mid shot - A mid shot shows some part of the subject or person in more detail, but giving the audience the  impression of the whole subject. It is used to give the sense of just a general conversation.



At 1:06 there is a mid shot used to show a two characters talking. I believe this is effective here because it gives the audience a sense of just a general conversation happening, like it would in everyday life. Due to this reason, the use of mid shot here fulfils it's purpose.
                                                                                                                                           


Wide shot - In a wide shot, the subject takes up the majority of the frame and is usually of a person, whose whole body is in the frame. This is used so the audience can see the subject completely.



At 0:09 There is a wide shot of the Ood from Doctor Who. I believe this is used at this particular time for first time viewers and even frequent viewers to see what the Ood completely looks like and how they present themselves. This could make people interested in the show and therefore I believe it was quite effective as a camera shot to lure people into the show and to show the overall look of an Ood.
                                                                                                                                           

Two shot - A two shot is a camera shot of two people side by side and usually at a mid shot angle. This is to establish a relationship between the the two people, and can be used in movement to show interaction between the two people without the audience being distracted by the background.



At 4:58, there is a very good example of a two shot being used in movement. It is used here to show that the two people are friends and know each other. By using it with movement we get a sense of real interaction between the two people and all out attention focuses on them, rather than if they were just sitting or standing there, because then the audience's attention could wander. Therefore I believe the two shot is very efficient in this scene.
                                                                                                                                           

Aerial shot - An Aerial Shot is used as a birds-eyes-view to show the landscape and scenario from above. So it is looking down on the subjects and buildings.



This is the title sequence for Eastenders and I believe it is an aerial shot because it shows the area in which the drama takes place and therefore the audience are able to pin point the whereabouts it is set and this can have great significance.
                                                                                                                                           


Point of view shot - This is a very simple shot and basically is of someone's point of view. It is established before the shot, just who's point of view it is. It is used to engage the audience into the scenario and make them believe that they are there and seeing this.



At 0:26 there is a point of view shot. This is used here because it means we are now in the point of view of someone who is in the building when the explosion has gone off. We, the audience, feel as if we are actually present and are involved in the drama, therefore it is very effectively used here.
                                                                                                                                           


Over the shoulder shot - This shot creates a sense that you are looking over the shoulder of a person and it allows the audience to engage more in the scene. The subject that is facing the camera should also occupy at least 1/3 of the shot.



At 4:30 there is an over the shoulder shot used. I believe it is effective here because it shows a conversation between two people and we feel as though we are apart of the scene because the camera shot looks real because that is what we would see if we were that position.