When we watch a tv show or movie, we are looking at the Mise en Scene. The Mise en Scene is everything that the audience can see on screen. Some main areas in Mise en scene is setting, lighting, costume, and staging. In this blog post, I am going to analyze the show, Community.
SETTING:
The main setting is at a study room in the Community college, Greendale. The walls are blue with posters hanging all over them. There are many bookshelves with books in them. And to the right, there is a main desk with 8 chairs. This is where the main cast sits during every study session. This creates a family and homey feeling because of how comfortable they are in this space.
LIGHTING:
Throughout most of the show, three point lighting is used. Three point lighting allows us to see the characters and the background perfectly and the balance of lighting between them is the same. This creates a normal atmosphere because it is regular, everyday lighting we are used to seeing. This also shows how one of the characters, Abed, is the one filming the video.
COSTUME:
The costuming of the characters gives insight on their personalities. For example, the third person in the front row, Annie, is wearing proper clothing with her hair clipped up to the side. This implies that she is the more studious and well put together person of the group. The person in the top right corner, Pierce, is wearing a 70's style outfit with a long sleeve button-up and a vest over it. This insinuates that he is old fashioned.
STAGING:
For the staging, I would like to focus on this one scene.
This scene uses a mix of over the shoulder, medium, and long shots in order to show the different characters as they all have a conversation. One shot that stands out is at the 0:11 mark when there is an insert shot of the food Britta brought for the Halloween party she threw. Simple cut transitions are used when moving from one shot to another. When the camera moves, it is usually a pan followed by a zoom out. An example of this is at the 0:05 mark in the video.
When you watch a TV show, the title sequence can speak volumes as to what your show is about. It can tell you the mood, genre, feeling, and so much more, in just a short amount of time. In this blog post, I am going to go over 5 TV title sequences and how it contributes to the mood and feeling of that show.
The first title sequence I will analyze the sequence from the show, BoJack Horseman. This show is about actor, BoJack Horseman, who had a starring role in the hit sitcom "Horsin' Around" in the late 80s and early 90s. Throughout the show, he battles depression, addiction, and maintaining relationships with those he cares about while also trying to stop hurting them. The title sequence is a great representation of that. In the beginning, you see BoJack waking up, where he then goes through a sequence of him walking around, looking dead into the camera. The places he walks around varies per season, but he he is still looking straight at the camera, going through the same motions. This is a representation on how people in his life come and go, but he still stays the same. However, in the final season, season 6, we see a shift in the title sequence. This is because he tries to better himself and make changes that he was too lazy and scared to do. You see him reflecting on his past mistakes as he tries to move forward, however he cannot. This is represented by him still walking through similar motions. It is constantly said by different characters that you can work on yourself, but you cannot change who you are. The title sequence perfectly represents that. The title sequence also shows that this is a serious show that will deal with serious topics and is more of a drama rather then a sit-com.
Another title sequence is from the show, Arrested Development. This show is about how Michael Bluth, son of the wealthy man who own the Bluth construction company, has to now take over the company after his father was put in jail. However, this is not easy because the rest of his family is dysfunctional and get in Michael's way. Unlike the title sequence in BoJack Horsemen, Arrested Development directly tells you the synopsis of the show and the different characters directly. It introduces us to the different family members and who they are in Michael's life. This gives us an idea as to what type of person they are. For example, Michael's mom, Lucille is in overly dramatic poses. To the audience, this tells us that she is a materialistic and self centered person. Additionally, you can tell this is not going to be a serious show and it is going to be more comedic and to not be taken serious.
Total Drama is an animated series about 22 teens in a game show competing for a chance to win $100,000. Every episode there is a different challenge in order to avoid being voted off by the other competitors. In the title sequence, we can tell that the setting is at s summer camp and that is not hygienic. We get introduced to all the characters. Some of the relationships and dynamics that are in the show are in this title sequence. For example, you can tell that the people on the surf board in the beginning of the title sequence like each other or are in some type of relationship. Similar to Arrested Development, the title sequence also gives us an idea of these people's personalities. Based on the title sequence, it is to be assumed that this is a comedy. One give away is that one of the characters fart.
The next title sequence is from the show, SpongeBob SquarePants. This show is about the yellow sponge, SpongeBob SquarePants, who lives in the underwater city of Bikini Bottom. Here we see him go to work, boating school, and go on other adventures. In the title sequence, we can tell that SpongeBob is a goofy and comedic character because of the visuals. This is given away in the theme song as well, "if nautical nonsense is something you wish" Unlike Total Drama and Arrested Development, we do not get introduced to the different characters in the show, we only really see SpongeBob. The pirate is not a character in the show, so he does not count. You can also tell that this is a children's show based on the bright colors and happy song.
The last title sequence is from the sit-com, Full House. This show is about Danny Tanner's wife dying in a car accident and to help him out with his 3 daughters, his friend and brother-in-law move in to his house, making the house, as the name suggest, full. The title sequence introduces us to the different family members that live in the house. We get a general idea as to who they are. For example, you can tell that Danny Tanner likes to keep things clean, something shown throughout the show. You can also tell that this is a close family and they care for each other. Additionally, the title sequence shows that this is a light-hearted and feel good show.
In conclusion, title sequences tells the audience about what the show is going to be about and plays an important part in the story telling.
Based on the movie we analyzed, we had to make a mood board based off of it. A mood board is a collage of images or samples that covey a mood or feeling about a particular topic. Since I reviewed Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Rodrick Rules, that is what my board is about. I picked to make it about the character Rodrick in particular. The mood board is below.
As you can see, Rodrick is a grungy person. He wears dark clothing and makeup. His room is also filled with movie posters and looks a little messy. He is also apart of a band.
In class, we have learned how important sound is in film. Sound immerses the audience into the film, delivers information, and so much more. To show our understanding, our teacher gave me and my classmates the opportunity to make a video of our own, however it had to be no sound, with no visuals. I worked with two of my classmates, Vivien and Ashley, to create a short video about someone waking up in the morning and what that entails.
The sound story begins with someone getting up in the morning, you hear them yawning and getting out of bed. You then hear the different parts of their morning as they get ready to go to school. They take a shower, brush their teeth, eat breakfast, get their backpack ready, and leave for school. The video is below.
One of the requirements were to films at least 4 sounds of our own. My group did more than the requirement. The different sound we made were:
- Walking
- Bathroom vent
- Shower turning on/off
- shower curtains opening/closing
- faucet turning off/on
- Yawning
- cabinet opening/closing
- opening/closing of fridge
- Getting milk
-getting/putting down the bowl and spoon
- Backpack zipper opening/closing
- putting pen/pencil/books/etc in the bag
Some videos of us making these noises are below.
In conclusion, this project was a bit difficult. For example, to film the noise of the vents I had to get up on my shower, get on my tippy toes, and record the fan noise for a minute. I lost my balance a couple times and almost fell. Another difficulty is that I had to do many retakes of the videos because either you could hear background noises in my house or I cut it off too soon. However, since I have experience with editing on iMovie, so it was easy to edit these noises together.
I was not the only one to have the opportunity to film videos on different camera shots and transitions, my classmates did some as well. I was able to pick 2 of my classmates and critique 2 of their videos on camera angles, and 2 on camera transitions. My opinions about them are below.
Vivien Tang
Camera Transitions-
1. Video 5:
This video depicts a girl on the phone, then it dissolves into her fights someone else. This video evokes an intense feeling because of the quick transition of her talking to then her fighting. Since it cuts off at the end, it makes you wonder who won. It also makes you think about why they are fighting.
2. Video 1:
This video shows of the garden in our courtyard in two different shots and perspectives. The tilt allowed me to see the landscape. I like the calm feeling you get when you watch this video. The music is also nice, adding to the calm feeling in this video.
Camera Angles-
1. Video 5:
This video shows a bee crawling around a purple flower. You really feel connected to nature when you watch this video because of the flower, bee, and the slow pace of it. The slow pace also gives off a calm feeling. The extreme close up allows us to see what is going on better.
2. Video 1:
This video is a low angle shot of a tree. Since we are seeing the tree from a lower angle, it makes the watcher feel inferior and powerless. This also implies that we are seeing this from a short person, animal, object, etc's point of view.
Ashley Marshall
Camera Transitions-
1. Video 5:
This video shows the subject talking to a tree. This makes the audience confused because of the obscurity of it. This also needs the audience curious, wondering why she is talking to the tree. The smash cut reveals that she is talking to the tree.
2. Video 4:
This video uses a wipe to show the subject is coming closer to the camera. This gives the watcher a scared and creepy feeling. There is also no audio so it adds to it.
Camera Angles-
1. Video 1:
This video depicts the subject on the phone at the top of the stairs. Since she is on the top, it makes her seems powerful. Her looking over the ledge also adds to that.
2. Video 4:
This video shows a girl looking up. The video gives off an ominous feeling because we do not know what she is looking at. Since it is a high angle, it also makes the subject seem powerless or less powerful.
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules is a movie about a middle schooler, Greg, and his life. Throughout the movie, he builds a relationship with his brother, Rodrick. Many camera shots, angles and transitions were used to execute the movie.
The first time in the movie we see Greg and Rodrick's relationship in the roller skating rink party Greg's middle school was having. When they get to the rink, a cowboy shot is used to show that Rodrick does not want to be there, and throughout this scene we see how Rodrick entertains himself. While in the rink, Rodrick comes up with the idea to bet Greg to roller skate with the girl he crushes on, Holly, at a specific time. A whip pan is used to show when Greg has to skate with her. When the time comes for Greg to ask Holly, romance music starts playing, so that made Greg very nervous. Right when he is going to ask Holly, Rodrick pays the DJ to play rock music instead of the romantic music. An overhead shot is used to show that Holly and her friends left, leaving Greg alone. A ground level shot shows that while people are leaving, new people are coming into the rink. It is later found out that these are intense roller skaters. In a dutch shot, you can see how Greg was getting knocked over by the skaters. The camera then zooms into Rodrick to show his evil smile as he was able to prank Greg. As shown in this first scene, their relationship is not the best.
The next scene also shows Greg's and Rodrick's relationship. This scene takes place during Sunday church. Before they go in, in a cowboy shot you see how there is chocolate on Greg's butt, making it look like poop. A close up of Rodrick insinuates that he was the one who put it there. This forces Greg to wear his mom's jacket on his waist to hide the stain. While the family was walking into the church, a low angle shows that Rodrick pulled the jacket down, revealing the chocolate stain. A zoom in shows a girl who noticed it and yelled "poop". This made Greg very angry and embarrassed. So angry that he jumps Rodrick, knocking him to the ground. You then see them fighting on the floor in an overhead shot. Again, you can see that Greg and Rodrick do not like each other, but this is gonna change.
Because of what happened at church, Greg and Rodrick are not allowed to go to the family vacation and will be left alone. One of the rules they had to follow was no parties, a close up insinuates that Rodrick will not listen to this and is going to have a party. Later that day, Greg and Rodrick prepare for the party and Rodrick tells Greg to go into the basement to get something. A high angle shows how deep and dark the basement is. When Greg goes in, Rodrick locks the door and Greg is locked in the basement, so he cannot go to the party. During the party, there are pans and aerial shots to show how many people are at the party and how they are trashing the house. In the middle of the party, an insert shot shows how their mom is calling. Rodrick makes everybody be quiet, so his parents do not suspect anything. A swipe transition shows their parents and their little brother, Manny in a hotel room. Greg and Rodrick's mom called to see how they were doing. Rodrick lied and said everything was fine and Greg was asleep. Another swipe shows how Greg jumps on the line, blackmailing Rodrick into getting him out of the basement. When Greg gets out, a dolly movement shows how he is walking around the party, thinking he is cool because "no middle schoolers see things like this" Throughout the party, Greg and Rodrick begin to hang out with each other and have fun. Dissolve transitions show all the different things they did together. Their relationship is beginning to get better.
Since all the teens trashed the house, they had to rush and pick it up before their parents got home. One thing they had to do was replace the door, because someone stained it. A match shot shows that the door has a different lock. Greg gets scared, but Rodrick said not to worry about it. When their parents and Manny get back, their parents do not suspect anything. However, a couple days later when Greg's mom goes to lock the door, she noticed how there was no lock. She asked Greg and said there were people over, but he lies and says that it was only a small get together. Greg's mom gets mad, but convinces his mom to not get mad because of how good his relationship has gotten.
A couple days have past, and an insert shot shows that their parents found a video of the party. Whip pans show the arguments that come up from this. Greg's mom finds out Greg was lying to her, Rodrick then gets mad at Greg for not being able to keep the secret, and Greg's dad is mad that his mom kept a secret from her. This ruins Greg's and Rodrick's relationship because Rodrick's punishment is that he cannot play in the talent show, something he wanted to do. However, this all changes on the day of the talent show.
When it's the day of the talent show, Rodrick found out that his band mates are playing without him in the talent show. This makes Rodrick sad, a close up shows him crying. To make it up to him, Greg tells his mom that he will help his friend with his talent show act, which is something that Greg finds embarrassing. A medium close up shows how happy Greg's mom is that he would risk his embarrassment for his brother and Rodrick is able to play When Rodrick finds out, he forgives Greg and their relationship is better than ever.
In conclusion, these different camera shots, angles and transitions play an important role in movies. Below is a video that includes some of the things I previously listed.
Similar to the camera shots and angles, we learned in class a few types of camera transitions. we have now been given the opportunity to try some of them. With the help of my family and my friend, I was able to make 5 videos. The types of transitions I used were fade, wipe, match cut, dissolve, and smash cut. The videos are below.
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