TASK: compare the four sequences and comment on how the micro-elements are used to introduce genre, location, characters and the story. What type of audience are they targeting? [400 words]
1. THE SPIDERWICK CHRONICLES:
Sound: a chime sound effect is used to create mystery and an almost magical atmosphere. A lot of bass is used in the background drums. A large unsettling roar is heard from within the house but the source is not shown. Orchestral non-diegetic music is being used.
Editing: As the camera pulls away from the window and into the trees the title of the film gradually fades onto the shot blurring out the background. A caption has been added at the bottom of the shot stating ’80 years later’. Captions and title are both in gold. Cuts are used for transitions to create a continuity style of editing. The pace of the shots in the opening scene is quite fast showing the various different odd objects and drawings in the room. The pace of the shots is then slowed down as the family arrive at the house and get settled in. As Jared is looking around the room the pace is very slow and it gradually speeds up as he gets closer to finding the book in the chest.
Camera Work: Close ups on the words and drawings that the man is doing suggest they’re important. A low angle is used on the house as the family pull up in their car to show the house in a sinister intimidating way. Point-of-view shot is used as something in the bushes is watching Jared. A panning movement is used when Jared is looking around in the secret room.
Mise En Scene: lighting: artificial candle light used to light up the room. Very low naturalistic lighting is used. Flashlight is used as Jared is looking in the room. Location: it’s set in the middle of a forest in an old creepy looking wooden house. The three children uncover a dumbwaiter that had been sealed with plaster suggesting that it leads to somewhere secretive and hidden. Costume: the man in the opening scene is wearing a weird eye piece and old fashioned clothes. The characters are all wearing very casual clothes. Simon comes across as very intelligent by wearing button up shirts and his hair neat whereas Jared is very laid back. Props: insects, lizards and other things are kept in jars and bones are presented neatly with old handwriting written on various labels and scraps of old off white paper. An old looking tarnished key is shown. Salt placed around windows. Large quantity of honey, oats and tomato sauce stored on shelves. Jared finds an old looking chest and sealed book that appears very secretive. Colour design: cold colours used such as blue, adding a mysterious atmosphere to the house. Body Language: the man in the opening scene appears a little agitated and slightly in a rush, he begins to look fretful. The children argue with each other, gives the impression they fight regularly.
Audience: possible age range of 7 years and up. It’s a family entertainment so it has been made to keep adults engaged in the film as well as children.
Genre: Adventure, fantasy and family entertainment.
2. NANNY MCPHEE:
Sound: a chime sound effect is used to create a magical atmosphere. The scene opens with a man talking over the clips like he’s telling a story. Slightly medieval music is played as the camera moves closer to the house. Orchestral music is used that changes dramatically to emphasize the atmosphere and emotion of what’s happening in the scene and the presence of different characters. The music dramatically changes when nanny McPhee arrives at the door.
Editing: captions and lettering are coloured gold with a glowing outline to appear magical and the letters are a little out of place to suggest it’s a playful film and to show the children’s mayhem and un-organisation. The title ‘Nanny McPhee’ appears onto the screen by different letters moving into the middle with gold dust behind them. Continuity editing is used.
Camera Work: An extreme long shot is used to establish the location of the film. A point of view shot is used as the letterbox is opened and a shot of Cedric is seen through it. Close ups on nanny McPhee’s warts, snaggletooth and monobrow are used to emphasize her appearance and eerie presence.
Mise En Scene: lighting: the general lighting of the film is very naturalistic and the rooms in the house are lit up by daylight, even the artificial lighting appears natural. Location: it is set in the countryside, on a farm which gives the film a very friendly and comfortable environment. Costume: as the film is set in 19th century England the clothes of the characters are quite old fashioned. Props: the man telling the story at the beginning states that the story starts with an empty chair, the empty chair represents that there used to be a mother in the household. The walking stick of nanny McPhee is very significant to the story and the character of nanny McPhee as it is magical. Colour design: very bright and bold colours used, such as pinks, greens and yellows to suggest a lively, fun environment. Body Language: Cedric comes across very agitated and unsure of how to deal with his uncontrollable children. The body language between Cedric and Evangeline is a little awkward as it’s clear they have chemistry together. Cedric trips over something at the top of the stairs and falls all the way down to the bottom, it’s presented as humorous by ‘slapstick’ comedy which is targeted for children who’re watching the film. The cook, Mrs.Blatherwick comes across as very disciplined and as someone who feels like they’re in control when really they are not.
Audience: Ages 7 and up. It’s a family entertainment so it has been made to keep adults engaged in the film as well as children.
Genre: family entertainment, comedy and fantasy.
3. WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE:
Sound: the soundtrack of the whole movie is very easy on the ears and pleasant, with the use of children humming and singing.
Editing: the classic Warner brothers logo and other logos have been edited to look like they have been drawn over by a child. Cuts are used for transitions that give the style of editing a more continuity feel to it but some jump cuts are used with the hand held camera work that give a different tone to the film. The title and captions scribbled onto the clip in white.
Camera Work: many of the shots are hand held to create a more disorientating, lively and imaginative atmosphere and a lot of point of view shots are also used to show how max would see it. A point of view shot is used as Max goes up to the window and can see Claire, his sister. Various different angles and distances are used to capture different scenes which make the film quite interesting and different to other children’s films.
Mise En Scene: lighting: the lighting is quite naturalistic overall .location: at the beginning of the film it is set in a little neighbourhood house and then ventures off into a magical unknown destination of max’s imagination. Costume: throughout the majority of the movie max is wearing a wolf suit. When he is not wearing a wolf suit he is wearing casual winter clothes like his mother and sister. The creatures don’t wear any clothing but have thick fur or feathers and lots of hair. Props: the wolf suit that max wears shows that he is a very creative and imaginative boy. As max is angry at his sister he rages into her room and rips up a paper heart glued together with lollipop sticks with his writing on it that clearly shows he had made it for her . Colour design: in the forest with the creatures the colours used are very warm, such as browns and oranges, showing it’s a comfortable place for max. Body language: max’s mother’s body language is very tense and agitated and she is clearly stressed out with her work and the behaviour of Max, she seems t relax when she’s alone with max as he tells her a story. Claire comes across as not that interested in her brother and what he does as she leaves him when he is crying and ignores him when he’s trying to show her his igloo. Max is very fun and playful and has a wild imagination which is shown when he tells his mum a story and when he makes up how he became a king to the Vikings. He is quite uncontrollable and lets his feelings take over him, an example of this is when he bites his mother and runs out the house because she asked him to get down from the counter.
Audience: the film is rated a PG for family entertainment but the director’s intent was to make the film about children for adults.
Genre: Adventure, Drama, Family entertainment and Fantasy.
4. NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM:
Sound: chimes are used to suggest mystery. Orchestral music is being used. The music changes pace and pitch showing the different personalities of the figures in the museum, for example when a clip of the giant Easter Island head drums are used the music comes across as very tropical whereas with a clip of the Mongolian figures the music is very big and forceful to suggest they are very forceful and aggressive people. Music is used to create suspense as the old security guard creeps up on Larry and spooks him.
Editing: The gold coloured title is quite bold placed as if it is really in the scene in 3D. The pace of the shots is quite slow paced in the opening scene and remains quite slow paced as Larry is being introduced to the museum. A continuity style of editing is used, with cuts for transitions. A fade transition is used to introduce the city scene.
Camera Work: there are lot of panning high angle establishing long shots of the various rooms and places in the museum.
Mise En Scene: lighting: the lighting is very artificial in the museum .location: the film is set in New York in the Natural History Museum .costume: the clothes of the characters are very casual. For the majority of the movie Larry is wearing his blue/grey security guard uniform. Props: the main props in the film are the models, statues and stuffed animals in the museum, including the giant bones of the dinosaur near the main entrance of the museum. Colour design: a lot of neutral colours, such as brown are used. Body language: Larry comes across as a very funny person as he makes a lot of jokes. Larry’s ex wife comes across like she’s annoyed at Larry for being unstable with his change of jobs and apartments. Larry’s ex wife’s new husband is shown as quite arrogant and is made out negatively to the audience. The security guard that shows Larry around the museum appears very mysterious.
Audience: the film is targeted at a variety of ages because it’s considered a family film with elements for all ages to enjoy.
Genre: Action, Adventure, Comedy and Family entertainment.
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