Half-Term Assignment 1 (2 of 2)

Half-Term Assignment 1

 

Like the previous half, I will try to dissect the micro-codes from another media text, but rather from a segment of a television drama I'll try to analyse a short television advert of a videogame known as "Batman: Arkham Origins" (2013) . Please click this link to view: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=48MBXU2cTq8

The narrative is basically showing how the fictitious character Bruce Wayne's' mission to become a crime-fighting avenger began early in his life, moulded from tragedy, honor, and will power; representing him as a tragic hero. These events are shown as a montage which shows time moving forward. After watching the link, you will notice that each jump cut shows a  close-up/ tight frame of Bruce Wayne, showing the characters' importance and possibly to empathize with the character. Logos of the companies responsible for the creation and distribution of the game appear and disappear one at a time by gusts of snow, hinting the season and/or time of the setting.

 At the 00:10 second mark the screen is black but at the 00:11 second mark, the non-diegetic sound of a piano is being played, the rhythm and the tune is melancholic. At the same time we see a boy positioned at the center and the camera is focused on him, from our view the mother is presumably at the left behind the boy and the father at the right behind the boy; judging by their costume and hair they are part of the high class. The facial expression of the boy is happy but in few seconds something catches his attention, with a flash of light and a bang you can see the boys emotions quickly changed from happiness, to concern at the sight of the unknown assailant, surprise at the gunfire, and a mix of shock and fear at the 00:15 to 00:16 second mark as his mothers grasp is released and her pearl necklace falls apart and a smoking gun shell falls, signifying death.
At the 00:17 second mark, there is a jump cut signaled by the sound of another gun shot but it isn't diegetic, the child is positioned at the center looking directly at the camera, same age yet further on in time and a different setting. The location is now a dreary, rainy day with people clad in black suits using their umbrellas, a funeral.

One individual is behind the boys' left and he has his hand on the boys' shoulder showing sympathy and connection between these two, the boys' skin is almost deathly pale (matches with the event) and his eyes denote misery yet no tears. Another jump cut occurs signaled by the gun shot, the boy is now an adolescent and is being bullied by two other adolescent males, judging by their matching uniforms these characters are in a private school of some sort, or rather outside one by looking at the unfocused background. He appears filthy, disheveled and bleeding but as one of the boys restrains the main guy from behind and the other is about to attack from the front, the main character is looking directly at the camera still and his eyes show no fear. Two other shots involve training, one is him being defeated in some form of martial arts, presumably by the uniform and his shaved head with little expression of pain. The next is one is quite different, just like the previous shot the main character was sparring and his face shows hardly any emotion, but in this one the lighting is darker and he's wearing peculiar armour as he spars with unknown individuals and the tip of a sword barely cuts him.

 Finally at the 00:27 second mark the setting is in a dark urban area snowing down, still a direct close up shot of the same character as an adult but now as Batman. At the right side we see a fist approaching, throughout the entire advert the motions and movement has been similar to slow motion finally pulls up to speed when the fist at the right side punches Batman, the music stops and you can here hush distortion. Match on action editing has been used as the movement is continued and minor jump cuts of the villain pummeling Batman; as he staggers to his feet match on action editing is used again as the shot shows a medium close up shot of the villain laughing. The camera shot shifts back to a medium close up of Batman, his eyes denoting determination and fury; as he lunges the motion slows down again and fades to black. The melancholic music returns as the title merges from the dark and gusts of snow, a voice or lyric can be heard saying: "It's all still with me".

Those lyrics at the end of the advert possibly reflects on the character on how all the grief, training, and will power from the very beginning is still with him; to show that he intends to keep his promise to fulfill his goals.





Half-Term Assignment 1 (1 of 2)

Half-Term Assignment 1

For this half-term assignment for Media Studies I will attempt to dissect the micro-codes that I can detect from the scene of a psychological thriller-drama known as "Hannibal" (2013). Please view this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4M1yA6A2fLE 

Now after watching this link you can notice that there is no diegetic or non-diegetic sound playing besides the dialogue of the two characters presented, quite effective as there is a build up of tension and volume in the conversation. The viewer is 'all ears' to say, without any non-diegetic sound whether contrapuntal or fitting we are focusing on this private and serious dialogue. The lighting of the setting appears dim, not low-key lighting but dark to add a grim or weary atmosphere. Through the course of the conversation before the final few seconds you will notice that the camera shots are medium-close-ups of the characters and that they are shot-reverse-shots that allows some sense of being part of the conversation. Once the video reaches 00:38 seconds, a jump cut of a wide shot of the characters and setting appears allowing the continuity of the shots and conversation to flow. Through out the video, the 180 degree rule was not broken.

You will notice that in the course of these reverse shots of the characters that the character at the left (Jack Crawford) is focused on the character at the right (Will Graham) and the situation at hand, however we do know that Will is speaking directly to Jack but he isn't always making direct eye contact, giving the viewer the idea that Will isn't entirely focused, something is damaged within his character. Costume, hair slightly reflects on the attitudes of the characters, we can tell by Jacks' attire that he's involved in a serious and grim career involving in the capture of the villainous alongside with what few lines in the dialogue; Wills' appearance seems simple, fragile as if he may eventually break reflecting on how he argues with Jack, further showing Wills' deteriorating sanity. 



Commentary for Desperate Housewives Style Drama

Commentary for "Desperate Housewives" Style Drama

Opening begins with a 'Birds'-Eye-View'/Establishing Shot of an unnamed city skyline in black and white as colored onomatopoeia text make a rhythmic  and catchy tune of the sounds, or a specific jazz song is playing while the colored onomatopoeia text still pops up now and again. The purpose of the shot(s) being black and white is so that specific colored objects that relate to the characters stand out. Note: Majority of shots are in black and white. The second shot is a wide shot of a bar (well-lit) as patrons (mostly men, middle class) are trying to have an enjoyable time as the camera slowly pans to the right. The purpose of having these men middle class and rowdy in this shot is to make these minor background characters relatable and to fit the stereotype that men can be irresponsible and amusement seeking. Aside from colored text of onomatopoeia still noticeable, one male person is colored or highlighted pink and the black and white sky turns blue and a multicolored rainbow can be seen without anyone taking notice. The reason for these bright colors on these objects is to convey one of my characters' sexual orientation in the story; although his clothing is quite similar to the background characters, his sexuality makes him stand out.
The third shot is a mid shot of a private study (well lit), the camera is positioned at the bottom right corner of the desk so we can clearly see the neatly place objects on the desk such as a computer, a family picture, etc. What becomes noticeable is that their is a smart looking suit and an emblem of a specific school colored in a dark blue, but their is also a bright blue apron which is reminiscent of a 1950's housewife apron hanging at the far top right with the suit. This is again hinting to one of my characters in the plot of this drama, a divorced husband who now not only takes on the role of being a working father but also juggles the tasks of his previous wife. The onomatopoeia sounds/words of a fire alarm activates as the camera zooms in on an opening door.
The fourth shot is in a familiar yet different area, a fixed/stationary camera angle of a man sitting on a sofa, watching television or presumably ignoring his wife and five noisy children amongst the chaotic noise and filthy surroundings of toys and bills in this almost-dimly-lit-room. The audience should notice that a police officers cap and a fire arm is lying on the floor, this would intended to hint that even though this man has a position of authority in society, he lacks authority and the responsibility which comes with it in his own home.
The camera is no longer stationary and turns a 90 degree angle of where the man is sitting into a POV and then zooms in amongst the static of the television screen which finally becomes the fourth shot, a mid-shot-birds'-eye-view of a poorly lit room. Here we can see a man sleeping over his desk which is cluttered with artistic materials bottles of wine colored in red (empty or not), lady magazines but their clothing and make-up revolving around the color palette of red and finally a piece of artwork of a split bleeding heart in red. The disorganized work desk could reflect on the person and his life, the stereotype of men and alcohol can be seen by the highlighted wine bottles as well as the idea of men being sleazy and desiring women materialistically or lustfully can be shown by the magazines. But with the color of red being known for symbolizing strength, passions and so on clearly being shown here, the main focus is the severed heart painting symbolizing the character here is missing something meaningful. The character himself sleeping over the desk has disheveled clothing, and appears that he wept a great deal.
The camera then zooms in to the painting until the only thing that can be seen is the color red, the camera pans out from the red to a new shot, a red button, as the camera continues to pan out we see that the red button is one of the eyes of a sad stuffed rabbit toy on a table located the left side. The only source of light is from a distant open room at the top right of the shot, time appears to pass as the walls peel, dust collects, the rabbit now has a red blood stain on the now-blue-button, the onomatopoeia is that of arguing parents, weeping, sounds of punching. The sounds grow louder, distorted, the camera zooms in to the bright room, almost going beyond and finally silence; the title soon appears in bold and black as a colored setting finally emerges from the brightness, the street where our characters reside.










A Beginner's Guide to Mise-En-Scene.

A Beginner's Guide to Mise-En-Scene.

Mise-En-Scene is a French term which translated in to English means: "what is put into a scene or frame"; it is the visual information caught in front of the camera which communicates to the audience. There are five basic elements of Mise-En-Scene.

1.Settings and Props

Settings are either designed or a suitable location which already exists is chosen over time. Settings can reflect or enhance the character's mood and manipulate the audience by building up their expectations and gradually or suddenly take a different turn for the best or worst.

2.Costume, Hair, and Make-Up

These three show where and when the setting of the TV show/Film is and the culture or society it focuses on. It also partially or fully conveys the characters' personality, their job, purpose, status, etc.

3.Positioning of Characters/Objects within a frame

A director can use positioning to indicate relationships between the characters and draw our attention to them, their setting and the props/objects.

4.Lighting and Colour

In Mise-En-Scene, lighting and colour has many uses such as making them look mysterious by shading the face or the body, to highlight important characters or objects within a frame, or to reflect the physical/mental state/hidden emotions( such as red=passion, blue=illusion, black=darkness, etc.)

5. Facial Expressions and Body Languages

Facial expressions can reflect how a character may be feeling. Their body language can also indicate how a character feels toward other characters and his/her relationship and the character himself/herself.