Hustle
In the clip of Hustle our initial view of woman conforms to the starotype of the good-looking business woman. The medium close-up two-shot shows the woman entering the shop whilst smiling, this conforms to the conventions of a strong business woman. The man stands in the fore-ground portraying male dominance.
An old woman speaks to the shop-owner in regards to a dress, this highlights to the stareotype of females having a love of clothes and fashion. The old woman wears a red cardigan foreshadowing the future danger in the scene. The man wears a suit with a pink tie which connotes to his feminine qualities. The cuts through dialogue are fast paced highlighting the male dominance. The tilted close-up of the older woman conforms to his male strength.
The woman exits and the business woman is confronted by the male, signifying his confidence within the scene. This also gives the audience a feeling of insecurity towards this character of which the director intended. The woman asks about clothes which fits her to the stareotype of the feminine characters loving fashion. The non-diagetic music has begun signifying the womans scheme and forshadowing the downfall of the male character. The director intends to bring us into the hustle as he plays the non-diagetic music to highlight the fact that this is a grift. The scene is closed with a man passing the camera and a horizontal fade is used which is a semiotic to the male characters sinister prescene.
The scene re-opens with female diaglogue. The woman saying "oh yes" conforms to to females being used as tools of a sexual nature. The female character is blonde which connotes her weakness and the superstition of them not being clever, this superstition is used as a decoy towards the shop-keeper as blonde hair connotes vulnerability.
The black dress with what looks to be diamonds are a semiotic to elegence and wealth, this fights the starteotype of the maler character being the person that holds the money. The woman also doubt about the fact that she buying a dress for £3000, this sets up the grift. There is non-diagetic music playing through dialogue at this point highlighting the womans pivital role.
The pan upwards of the womans body demonstrated beauty which conforms to the idea of exploiting woman due to their sexual appeal. The man standing beside her signifies the fact that he is very much luring her in to spending money as he see's her as weak. The director shows this through the shop-keeper following the woman around and always being in the shot with the female character.
The next scene shows two men in the stareotypical environment of a bar/pub, this signifies friendship between the two characters. There is a medium close-up two shot of the two men which connotes to their involvement in the scam, as well as the non-diagetic music playing through the scene in which the director uses to link the two story-lines.
The men conform to the stareotype of being masculine by drinking, yet class is portrayed through the costume of suits and ties. This links the upper-class status of the male characters and the female in the other scene, this puts them on equal levels which subverts from the common idea of men being of a higher status.
The scene is quickly cut back to the shop setting, this is a signifier to the mens involvement of the scam.
There is a medium long shot of the woman frantically searching her hand-bagf, of which the hand-bag conforms to femininity. There us a fast paced cut to the male character as dialogue is used. The woman claims she cannot find her ring, which connotes to the female obssession with jewellery. The woman shows fear as she speaks of what would happen if her husband were to find out, signifying the females victim status in the family.
The close-up of the man symbolises strength, whilst the fast-paced cuts signify the frantic nature of the scene, also highlighted by what is seen to be the 'damsel in distress scenario'. The non-diagetic music highlights the scheme is under-way and keeps the audience calm as the music is light and up-beat.
The music cuts and the female directly addressed the camera, after the man re-assures her that he'll find her ring, this conforms to the male hero, yet contrasts to the ideology of a hero as the male character was once trying to fool the female due to her stareotypical weakness.
The woman offers a reward as she leaves whilst the man stands in shock. This dennotes to the idea of mans greed. A new male character enters the scene, the shop-keeper is shown in close-up birds-eye view, portraying the new characters power over the shop-keeper, this also foreshadows the fact that the new character will find the ring.
We see the scheme fall into place as the director intended, there is a close-up of the mans hand as the ring falls from his sleeve. The camera pans to follow the man bend down and appear to pick up the ring. The non-diagetic music plays through the entrance of the new-character signifying his involvement in the grift and connoted the fact that the male shop-keeper is not in authority anymore.
The shop-keeper seems to bow down to the new character as when he finds the ring the shop-keeper follows him around the shop, highlighting the new male characters strength over the feminine shop-keeper.
Spooks Reprentation Essay
The clip of "Spooks" we were given holds some key representational features, the different use of the representational features highlight the inequality of females throughout the clip.
Tension is built throughout the scene using both diagetic and non-diagetic sound. We first hear the diagetic sound of a helicopter, this sound is harsh and abrupt, this signifies the man’s power throughout the scene. The director intended to cause an understanding of a damsel in distress through the diagetic screams of fear, this also builds suspense and connotes the idea of the stereotypically weak female who is in need of a male hero. The sirens of the police cars signify the frantic nature of the scene and give the audience a sense of fear as they don’t know what the outcome of the situation will be. The high pitched sound of the sirens contrast to the helicopter which connotates to the contrasting power of the male power to the female power.
As the screams build there are screeches of a car’s tires which convey the idea of tension that the director intended. The high pitched car tires signify the idea of a weak female as the helicopter almost imitates the female’s screams. The buzzing of the helicopter foreshadows something bad to come with its low un-comforting tone. The scramble of people getting out the car is a signifier to the fast paced tone of the scene, this also keeps the audience interested and want to fallow to story as the suspense here as dropped as they are soon to find the outcome of the situation. The dialogue builds in volume which builds tension as there is conflict between characters, there is also non-diagetic background music flowing through scne, this keeps the flow of suspense a constant. As the dialogue volume lowers and the character hands over his gun, there is a diagetic sound of the second character checking that the gun isn’t loaded which demonstrates the end of this characters time in team that is seen in the clip, there is a sence of disjointed due to the patturn of stance of which the man leaving stands further away from the other characters . The lack of bullets in the gun connotates to the amount of time the character has left of his career.
Editing is vital to the clip, the clip begins and cuts between the charactacters involved in the car chase, this demonstrates the fast paced theme going through the clip. The facial expressions of the characters demonstrates shock and the men seem to be hiding fear to promote their power, this is a very masculine feature and contrasts towards the woman who screams in fear.The camera soon cuts to a shot of the helicopter, demonstrating the main protagonist of the car chase. The tracking fallowing the car highlights the speed of the change and potential dangerous outcome, this demonstrates the male power as the drivers of both vehicles are male. From this point, the editing used is repetitive. As the police officers close in on those in the car, quick cuts are made. These continue as the different characters are talking. This adds to the tension caused by the characters, who are arguing over the situation at hand. The cutting also cuts in time for when the characters talk, which shows their distressed faces, adding to the tension of the clip.
The clip ends with a fade highlighting the depressing ending and the potential end of a big character and part of the programme, the fade highlights the female influence on the end of the clip. From the start of the scene we see the dark sky highlighting the pathetic fallacy and foreshadowing bad things to come. The lack of colour in the setting highlights the negative mood. As the costumes in the scene are all dark and dont have any distinct colour this demonstrates the tension in the scene between the characters. The costume in the scene are also rather smart signifying importance and strength in society. From the costume the men seem very right wing of society.
Nick Fortella
Life On Mars - Moving Image Analysis
In the clip of Life On Mars (season 2, episode 3) I have chosen 10:25 - 11:11 with the representational issue of racism.
In the first scene we see DCI Hunt approach a few Irish workers in a workers yard with DI Tyler. Hunt speaks to the Irish poeple in a stareotypical Irish accent, mocking them and directly addressing them in a confident way. This signifies the idea of Hunt thinking he is better than the people in the yard. The shot is a mid-long shot which pans with Hunt as he walks which denotates to his dominance and power in the scene. The facial expression of Hunt if fixed as disgusted and aggressive. The clothing Hunt wears of a beige crombie and shirt and tie signifies power and the time the programme is set, in which the police were known for being inpolitically correct (in which in the case of Gene Hunt is true). The background of the scene depicts heavy machinery and workers yard canteens highlighting this is a lower-class working place, in which Gene Hunt uses to his advantage as a signifier for the stareotypical lower class "paddy". The scene displays a checkered sleve from which behind is appears Gene Hunt as the camera pans, the checkered sleve connotates to the lower class of the Irish worker. There is a faint sound of people conversing and gravel being kicked, as Gene Hunt approaches the talking fades highlighting the importance of the character. The camera cuts which denotes to the short-temper of Gene Hunt with the Irish in question.
The next shot is of the back of Gene Hunt and the side of Sam Tyler, this also displays the workers in a comfortable, yet unnappealing looking audience. Some of the workers wear checkered shirts of which on one is sleeveless which highly connotates to the idea of marxism with the lower class. The long hair of the Irish men denotates to the lack of hygein they are said to have stareotypically and this gives the audience the impression that these people are not the sort of people you would want to be seen around. Sam Tyler wears a leather jacket with denotes to the fashion of the time. This is an extreme long shot showing many different characters. The use of Gene Hunts back to the camera signifies his need to not be seen as he is highly recognisable. The camera shows a dirty peice of digging machinery of which connotes to the un-hygienic Irish characters. The camera pans to follow Gene Hunt and Sam Tyler which denotes to importance and high status. The dialogue is spoken strongly by Gene Hunt of which is up-front and clear about asking if the Irish workers "know anything about the missing dynamite" of which you hear a slur of profanity and moaning which is a signifier to the lack of interest and the closed nature of the Irish workers.
The next scene displays a medium two shot of Sam Tyler and Gene Hunt. Sam Tyler seems to be concerntrating on something and is looking down, this immediately pulls the attention of the audience towards his face. Gene Hunt is using a car phone of which is an item of the time the programme was set. Gene Hunt seems to have an aggitated looks on his face as he has dialogue he calls in to "base".
The camera cuts out lowering the tension of the shot and the pitch of the dialogue hightens. Gene Hunt uses the colloquial term "paddies" as reference to the low-class Irish. The setting of thr scene is "Millars Yard" which is also and Irish name signifying the Irish dominance over the setting. Sam Tyler is hunched over the car still with a concerned look on his face. The shot is medium long shot as it holds both characters. The camera shows Gene Hunts car as a Ford Cortina Mark 3 which was a iconic car of the time the programme is set. Dialogue of Gene Hunt continues and there is the diagetic sound of him putting down the phone which denotes to the end of his conversation and the beginning of dialogue from Sam Tyler. Sam Tyler then speaks from a politally correct point of view as he refers to the characters in question as "Irish workers", this connotes to his respect for the "Irish workers". The camera cuts to show Tyler's facial expression.
Tyler continues dialogue and has a concerned look on his face as he asks Hunt not to continue to offend the "paddies", this is a signifier to the stareotypical view of the short-tempered Irish lower-classed man. Dialogue softens with reason as Sam speaks which denotes to the audience that he is un-biased and cares about other people. In the background of the shot ladders and scaffolding is displayed highlighting the Irish workers influence on the scene and connotes to the lower-class workman.
The next scene abbruptly cuts with a loud diagetic sound. This shot fights the hagemony as we believe Gene Hunt may give in to Sam Tylers reasoning but instead approaches Tyler as the camera zooms in into a close up two shot of Tyler and Hunt as he shows his lack of reasoning towards the matter. Tyler avoids eye contact with Hunt signifying Hunts superiority and higher status.
The scene concludes with a close up of Tyler and Hunt in close up. Hunt looks directly at Tyler signifying dominance and high-status while Tyler looks past Hunt which denotes the fact that he won't be swayed to Hunts opinion. The battered building in the background with barred glass is a signifier to the Irish lower-class work and the prison of which Hunt intends to lock up numerous Irish workers to find out who is behind the car bombings. The dialougue here is powerful and memorable to end the scene and this is a signifier to Hunts power throughout. The scene after cuts to a shot of Tyler looking depressed and grounded by Hunts interrigation, dialogue continues from Hunt in which he refers to the place where the "paddies" work as a "sh*t hole" signifying the lower-class of the workers and the ideology of marxism. The camera pans to fallow Tyler as he leans in defeat and quietly corrects Hunts statement, signifying who has more intelligence out of the two.
Eastenders Clip Analysis
The establishing shot is a zooming long shot of Ben being chased by a group of bullies. Ben is wearing black, which is a binary opposite to the casual white that the victim usually wears. The main bully also wears black signifying that they hold importance in the scene. The first shot shows a telephone box in the background, which contributes to the semiotics of England. The red and white houses denotes to the estate that they live in. The camera then pans across the road to follow the bullies and Ben. They are running signifying the fast pace of the scene and the dangerous situation a character is in. The red in the background of the scene is a signifier of the danger to come. There is a diagetic sound of the bullies calling after Ben.
The next shot is a tilted long shot, which gives the characters identity in the scene; this finally shows Bens face in which is scared and in panic. The bullies faces are shown as vicious and angry, this signifies their violent disposition. In the foreground there are red and blue banners, which denotes to a market place. The red banners also are a semiotic towards the danger in the scene. The grouped bullies connotes to the closeness of the bullies as friends, this also states the collective anger towards Ben. The background of the scene is the grey to signify the bleak mood of the scene. The lack of interest towards the bullies chasing Ben shows Bens insignificance to the characters in the programme. The diagetic dialogue of the bullies shouting after Ben is denotes the anger portrayed in the scene.
The medium-two-shot of Dot and the little girl pans as Ben runs past. Dot shows an interest in what’s happening by watching Ben and the bullies running past. The Union Jacks displayed on the table in front of Dot is a semiotic to Britain, this is also a signifier to the stereotypical British setting you see in this scene.
There is a tilting medium close up of bread falling to the ground as the bully knocks it over. This is connotes to the bullies lack of interest in anything that doesn’t concern them, and is a signifier to their recklessness. This is a big point of the scene as this is the point, which allows Dot to get involved in the argument between Ben and the bullies, which is to come. There is diagetic dialogue of Dot telling the bullies to “…Stop right there...”
There is a close up of Ben reaching the door and diagetic dialogue of Ben shouting out to Abbie, as he cannot get inside. The red door is a signifier to the obvious danger to come. The diagetic scramble of shoes connotes to the struggle of the scene. The white walls signify the fact that Ben didn’t want to fight and signify the peacefulness of him.
There is a close-up of the main bullies face which shows his angry expression which denotes to his violent disposition. This then cuts to Dot and the little girl approaching with the diagetic sound of the bullies shouting at Ben. Ben then replies as a close-up of his face is displayed.
The scene moves on and Abbie enters with a close-up showing her confused facial expression. Ben quickly runs inside the house and leaves Abbie outside, this is a signifier to the strength of Abbie’s character, she confronts the bullies with diagetic dialogue. The scene is cut to the bully is shown with a close-up in which there is the diagetic sound of the main bully speaking to Abbie in an aggressive manor.
The scene moves on and the diagetic dialogue heats up and rises in volume. Dot and the little get involved in the argument in which show the community cohesion and the unity of the estate.
Finally, there is a shot of and older man with a medium close up with the bullies in the foreground. There is a stern look on the characters face of which is a signifier to his anger. His diagetic voice signifies his defensiveness towards Abbie, and connotes to his anger towards the bullies.
WHAT IS WRONG WITH THE BRITISH FILM INDUSTRY?
Long shots can be used to show crowds with extras or body language
This is a mid shot of which can be used to show body language.
This is a medium close-up this is usually used either to show expression or can be used to show class status
This is a close-up, this shot is used to highlight a facial expression
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Main Image: This full bleed image shows the setting of this drama, as the photo shows the setting as dusk it gives the audience a sinister tone and makes the poster look most serious. It is obvious that this is London due to the few landmarks shown in the poster e.g. The London Eye, there is also a church in the background of the poster which gives the show a slight religeous theme.
The characters have very serious faces highlighting the fact that this is a drama show, the clothing they have suggest they are educated and wealthy as they are looking smart. The posture of the main character suggest decorum and intelligence, and as the other character stands slightly behind him you notice that this must be a side-kick like character in the show.
Mast Head: The mast head is bold and white which demonstrates the serious tone of the programme. The letters are decorated which smudges which demonstrate the idea of this programme having some rough situations.
BBC: The bbc logo highlights that this is a BBC production of which would make some people watch it due to the fact that they may just watch british programming, or may just enjoy BBC's programmes.
Actors: People who are aspirers may fallow these actors and may be interested in fallowing up on their work therefore may watch this programme. People may also like the idea of having a modern day interpretation on Sherlock Holmes.
The characters have very serious faces highlighting the fact that this is a drama show, the clothing they have suggest they are educated and wealthy as they are looking smart. The posture of the main character suggest decorum and intelligence, and as the other character stands slightly behind him you notice that this must be a side-kick like character in the show.
Mast Head: The mast head is bold and white which demonstrates the serious tone of the programme. The letters are decorated which smudges which demonstrate the idea of this programme having some rough situations.
BBC: The bbc logo highlights that this is a BBC production of which would make some people watch it due to the fact that they may just watch british programming, or may just enjoy BBC's programmes.
Actors: People who are aspirers may fallow these actors and may be interested in fallowing up on their work therefore may watch this programme. People may also like the idea of having a modern day interpretation on Sherlock Holmes.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
There are many tecniques used in this scene of "Hotel Babylon" to evoke emotion from the audience and keep the audience entertained.
Camera
The director also uses long-shots to show the wide range of immagrants held in "Hotel Babylon", this also builds tension due to the fact that so many peoples lives are at stake. As the director of this programme is a left wing person, he forces the audience to be on the side of the immagrants by leading you to think that they are vulnerable. The director also conveys emotion by using close-ups of the main female who had the biggest connection with the immagrants and finds out when an immagrant is captured, displays emotion and sorrow
Editing
The editors have used the idea of upstairs and in the basement to highlight the class difference, as the immagrant is cuaght upstairs he is taken away. The idea of the focus being set only on four characters keeps the audience intregues into what is going to happen next.
In the shot of in which the immagrants are entering the room in which they are hidden, there are bar like objects in the way of the camera, of which highlight the idea that if they are caught, they will go to jail and be deported the country of which they came, in contrast to the idea that they may be sent to jail, this may demonstrate the idea of the immagrants being already comdenmed to a life of working and imprisonment in the hotel of which the immagrants are hidden.
Sound
Sound is used o lot in this clip. From the entrance of 3 men from immagration there is a non-diagetic piece of music playing to evoke tension to the audience. This music is lowere in volume during the central dialogue.
The non-diagetic sound is hightened during times of tension in which the time that the immagrants hide to highlight the stuggle of their former lives and their determintaion to stay at the hotel. There is a diagetic sound of pots and pans in the kitchen to highlight the immagrants role in the hotel. The diagetic sound of keys locking the door demonstrate the idea that they cant survive outside of the hotel as they will be found by immagration.
Mise En Scene
There are many different colours which suggest danger e.g.
- The red carpet
-Red uniforms
-Grey bars in front of camera
.... These all contributre to the directors way of building tension, the direcotr also uses binary opposites with the police in white shirts, in which white is usually the signifier of peace and serenity, but as the police are violent and have discepline this does not match.
