JCM212/mise-en-scene and cinematographic analysis
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Revision as of 19:53, 7 February 2018 by Jeremy Butler (talk | contribs) (→Post-quiz free-time activities)
Post-quiz free-time activities
- Start reading, for 2/28, the keywords:
- production, copyright, brand, censorship
- Connect to your study group's Google doc [create a new page?}
- Write another a seven-word (or fewer) review of the last film or TV show episode you liked.
Group in-class exercise: Identify stylistic elements in Shakespeare in Love
- Groups 4, 5, and 6 move to Group Study Rooms in the Phifer Learning Commons.
- Connect to your study group's Google doc (above).
- As a group, describe how select elements of mise-en-scene and cinematography (from lecture) are used in Shakespeare in Love to help construct the narrative. Copy specific questions from below.
- Identify each contribution you make by putting your initials after it. Use three initials if your group has students with the same two initials.
- For example:
- Exposition: The exposition of this Friends episode starts with Rachel and Joey discussing a previously established storyline (Monica and Chandler getting together). The exposition for a second, related storyline and this episode's main story is when we see Monica and Chandler at a work party and it's established that he has an obnoxious "work laugh." A third storyline is introduced when Ross is angry about his ex-wife getting married. (JGB)
Discussion questions
How do mise-en-scene and cinematography help to communicate the story in this short scene from Shakespeare in Love (John Madden, 1998)? (See video clip.) Or, in other words, how does mise-en-scene function to help construct the narrative?
- What narrative functions does the set design by Jill Quertier serve?
- How does it use "iconography"?
- What narrative functions does the lighting design by Richard Greatrex serve?
- Does it use three-point lighting (explain what three-point lighting is)?
- Is it high key or low key?
- What narrative functions does the "blocking" by John Madden serve?
- Does Shakespeare in Love use "composition in depth" in this scene?
- What narrative functions does the costume design by Sandy Powell serve?
- Considering the first two shots and Richard Greatrex's cinematography:
- Is the focus deep or shallow? What narrative function does the focus choice serve?
- How would you describe the framing (long shot, medium shot, close-up)? What type of camera movement is used? What narrative function does framing/movement serve?
- Is the camera angle low, eye-level, high? What narrative function does camera height serve?
- The theatrical version and the DirecTV version have different aspect ratios. Which aspect ratio is used for each? How did the DirecTV version alter the theatrical version?
Post-group work free-time activities
- Put on headphones and watch remainder of Shakespeare in Love (on Blackboard)
- Start reading, for 2/28 the keywords:
- production, copyright, brand, censorship
Individual stylistic analysis
Details here: JCM212/Stylistic Analysis
Bibliography
- Jeremy G. Butler, Television: Critical Methods and Applications (New York: Routledge, 2011).
- David Bordwell and Kristin Thompson, Film Art: An Introduction, 8th ed. (New York: McGraw-Hill, 2007).