Bayley Siddall (2016) AS foundation Portfolio : February 2017

Sound

The overall sound is very upbeat yet creates tension for the audience, meanwhile, it seems slightly comical along with the m.e.s it’s a little too upbeat for the situation at hand.

Editing

Again is extremely fast pace jumping from one shot to another, building up the tension as no background information has been added as of yet, so the audience is still left wondering.

M.E.S

We can quite clearly tell that these men are being chased considering they’re running away from the the guys behind, also the semic codes we take away from the clothes they have on gives me the impression that they are probably extremely low in the social hierarchy, typically low life’s up to no good. There seem to be many dull colours included within the background, which would connote there life to be quite vanilla. I would also suggest this is set in a city from the mass of people we can see behind waiting for the double decker buses, which also suggest low-income people, the same as the two shown in the foreground.

Camera angles and movements

The use of the medium/establishing shot again supports my conclusion above, that the context behind where it is shot has a great impact on the way the audience is responding towards it. As the opening shot includes these 2 men it wouldn’t be far-fetched to assume these have a great impact on the TV programmed as are probably the main characters.

Sound

Within a matter of seconds, a man with a flat toned expression in his voice begins some dialogue, instructing people to ‘choose family’ ‘choose friends’ and so forth. Not only does the dialogue carry on but so does the soundtrack overlay. These factors together carry on building up the tension and keeps the audience wondering what will come of this.

Editing

Nothing too different to the previous slide, but it does jump between each shot, showing the pace the men are running, we can tell they are moving fast as the shot seems slightly distorted and flat. This could then show representation as to the inconvenience and fast pace life you have when living in a city.

M.E.S

From this angle, we are able to see the dirty ground, scattered with litter, showing that this area isn’t well looked after. Again the colours are very dull and boring signifying that life can get mundane in a city environment, but also show that the city is full of crime and isn’t a happy environment.

Camera angles and movements

The camera keeps moving steadily with no rugged movements despite being in a fast paced environment. The low shots with not much of an angle could show that these men are not relevant in the community and could be considered ‘scum’, as this shot shows no powerful participants; that would indicate they are not a valid member of society.

Sound

we hear the shrieking of a car breaking as this man begging to run in front of a moving vehicle, and proceeds to get hit. He then stops puts his hand on the vehicle stand there for a second taking in the situation. This scene also includes ambient sound from the surrounding people who are still being chased.

Editing

The multitude of jump cuts within the short amount of time we had fallen over gives the camera a real shaky feel to it and makes the audience feel as though they have just been hit also. This then gives the scene a natural and rawer feeling around the intensity of the actions that are occurring.

M.E.S

Along with the camera angles from this scene and the small reflection from the glass window we are able to get a more detailed look towards this man's face which seems dark and tired. The redness under his eyes is alarming to the audience as makes them wonder what is going on in this man's life. However, the whole shot seems very dark with a lot of brown colours again adding worry and mystery to all our minds.

Camera angles and movements

This wide shot through the car window gives the shot a real and slightly distorted feel to it as they are looking directly at him. As he is the main focal point in this particular shot we can tell he is important to this film as the other carry on running down the street.

Sound

As well as the sound that has continued from the beginning, a sort of cheery beat, due to the events in the scene, the intensity of the feet hitting the ground is overpowering any sound that was previously overlaid. Clearly, this is to show the faster pace and bold storyline of the film.

Editing

Other than the fact of having cutaways of the previous shot coming in every now and again. I believe this it to create a sort of a point of view shot as he watches them run away. It shows the discombobulated friendship the lads have with each other.

M.E.S

The m.e.s contrasts the other couple of shots before, the streets are clean and not many motorists about. This could be because it’s a suburban area of the city. The darkness under the bridge gives it a dull and gloomy scene. In fact, the archway is very central, along with the 2 men underneath; who are in fact perfectly in line with the middle of the shot. This could suggest they have a big influence in the movie and the overall shot has a big cinematic influence.

Camera angles and movements

The use of this wide shot/establishing shot is to help you view the community better, you can see from the other shots it's very diverse. It looks like a working class area as I would assume from the large building in the background. Surprisingly, the shot stays completely still despite the fact it’s a street chase. They may have chosen to keep it still to show the solidarity within the friendship of the 2 men, that even when they’re suffering life doesn’t shake them down.

Sound

The monologue from Mark Renton beings to play all throughout this scene on the football pitch. He talks quite quickly which then speeds up the whole scene, and not only does it show the fast paced opening sequence it also shadows that of a real football game, that every second counts. The scene finishes with the guys screaming when they finally get a goal past ‘spud’; I could read into this and suggest that even though they are full grown adults they still enjoy the little things in life. Which is what the actual meaning behind the film could be.

Editing

The editing in this scene is fast paced mirroring that of an actual football game, but this is no different from any of the other shots we have witnessed, so I’m lead to believe that the entire story is quick, much like the effects of heroin. I expect this is what the creators were intended.

M.E.S

The whole shot is dark as its night time. We can see from the background of the screen shot above the red light In the back ground and although its probably for safety reasons I expect the producers wanted it there to create a sort of ambiance, maybe foreshadowing the dangers to come.

Camera angles and movements

The camera angles in this scene are quite interesting as most of the shots are quite shaky indicating it's from someone’s point of view (someone on the football pitch with them) but at the end of most shots, it then zooms into a character and freezes while the sound carries on playing in the background. They then hold onto that freeze and insert a name (much like the one above) Obviously this isn’t unusual with it being an opening title sequence but the way they did it was quite unique.

Along with this scene, I would like to point out the shot at the end of the 3 women and a child being on the sidelines watching and cheering them on. I wanted to include this particular shot as I feel it gives sufficient insight of what kind of people they are all associated with.

Again we can see that it’s a dark lit situation with the slight red glow in the background as I’ve mentioned before but. The angled shot they have used is interesting, it's asserts their power. But what message are they trying to convey is what I’m unsure of. Is it the fact they are women and are trying to empower them? I would think this less likely considering it’s a male dominated film. Or the fact they are mothers potentially? I think it could be the fact they make their own decisions and do not get pulled into all the bad habits the other males get into.

Despite this, I’m sure you have noticed the baby on the left-hand side which I think speaks volumes as to what kind of people they are because we know from the street chase that they are bad men. The fact the middle girl is smoking also doesn’t portray the people in this film in a good way. Maybe worse it to come.

I realized when I came to doing these next few slide that it would be better presented as 1 since they all follow each other. So I figured id put them all together and you would be able to see what is happening through the scene.

Sound

Unsurprisingly, the monolog continues through the all theses shots. This actual voice is very muted and doesn’t seem to have much personality to it. This could be to suggest the effects of heroin and what it does to your personality.

Editing

Now the editing in this scene has been done particularly well to show the brutality of heroin. They cut between 2 different shots to make them fit into each other. Firstly, you can see both men beginning to fall. But when the man In the green falls it is then blended into the fourth picture seamlessly. In fact, it is done so well that until I slowed the scene down I didn’t actually realize how well it fit, and that is when you can tell it's edited well. But I believe it has been done so well to show how something can affect someone’s life at that very moment without anyone realizing.

M.E.S

The m.e.s is going to be focused on the pictures in the house mainly, since the football pitch has already been analyzed previously. All of these shots support the fact they are not in a good living situation, the walls have got holes in and they are covered in mold. I believe the holes in the walls are a depiction of what is going to happen to their family if they are to carry on down this road. Creating holes in their hearts, missing pieces of where they were previously. Not to mention the holes they have tattooed on their body from the drug use.

The lighting is particularly dark, with no source of artificial light, therefore suggesting they cannot pay for electricity. Moving on the natural light creates some interesting effects throughout, it shows the reality of his life, sadly being mostly darkness but with hits of lights giving the audience that sense of hope that he will get out.

The colours are interesting as well, with most of them being red/orange it gives the audience the warning signs or danger to come. They contrast with the paleness of his skin showing the severity of his illness. We cannot forget about the darkness surrounding him, this shows a sort of bubble he is trapped in. His own mind.

Camera angles and movements

The camera angles stay moderately still and seem to split between medium and close up shots so the audience is able to see the details within and are able to establish a bigger picture to what is really going on, supporting any preconceived idea that may have already gotten from the other scenes. Obviously, the use of the medium shots is then to establish the location and the living environment I mentioned previously.

Sound

Again the sound is just about the same all the way through and doesn’t particularly fit this shot since it doesn’t really have any personality to it. All the meanings are hidden. Maybe it would have been better without music but I believe they added music to help you view some of the meanings they way they intended, less serious.

Editing/ Camera angles and movements

This particular shot is panned across before showing the next shot (below) its panned fast enough for you to read the writing and take the colours in before showing you what they actually wanted to showcase. Of course the pan couldn’t be slow considering the rest of the scenes were fasted paced so this seams to fit really well all things considered but, it goes past slow enough for you to realize it acts as a sort of symbolism to show the slow heart ache your about to face.

M.E.S

The m.e.s is clearly very green and it doesn’t have the usual connotations associated with green. But green is a positive colour, but the darkness of the green gives it a more sinister effect; with a hint of hope for the audience to eat up. It looks like a sad green kind of how the drug users feel, they’re happy when they take heroin but deep down they know it’s killing them. Maybe the producers wanted to mix the good with the bad. The writing it more intriguing to me. ‘WELCOME to Mothers superior’s’ the emphasis on welcome is not what you would expect to be outside a drug users house. And Mothers superior’s’ is this some kind of analogy for heroin? Or it could just be an AD promotion, since the film was made by an independent film company.

Sound

The sound continues to be diegetic sound tracks overlaid. But In this shot there is non diegetic sound from the baby making noises. Possibly because they have been left alone.

Editing

The editing is the same at the shot before it pans into this scene and quickly out showing you full view of another room. The editing and camera work was really quite smooth.

M.E.S

The m.e.s in this scene is very contradicting, with all the bright colours around the room it shines positivity. But with the unsafe room structures and lack of furniture you can clearly tell it isn’t a place for a baby to be. It is interesting that the lighting in the room is mostly on the baby suggesting the baby is the light in all there life’s and that’s what keeps them going, despite being drug users.

Camera angles and movements

The camera angles used I this are very interesting you feel as though you are on the babies’ level and can relate to the future heartache she will have to face due to her parents neglect. Obviously it continues the pan from the scene previous to this one into the next which I find interesting, clearly they all must have something in common.

Sound

The sound of course continues with the backing track but with some speech this time from another male. Surprisingly in a positive attitude, he seems quite upbeat which is confusing to the audience considering the horrible acts he is going to commit on his and other peoples flesh.

Editing/ Camera angles and movements

The camera has a fluid motion from the first pan all the way through and around into this shot were it goes from a establishing shot, over the shoulder shot and finally into a close up for the male bringing out the women’s veins. This is all to show the horrible process of taking heroin. But also with this movement makes it look so easy with one fluid camera motion and its all done.

M.E.S

Clearly know we can see the effects of the panning around. The colours continue to be bright like in the previous shot and again the dangerous wall structures show they are somewhere very unsafe. Its interesting the male injecting the lady is wearing a calming colour, maybe this is due to the intensity of the drug process. Or to help calm the audience in this distressing time. We can tell from the facial expressions on all the people that they aren’t particularly happy or ‘chill’ like you would imagine, in fact they look sad and tired. How you would imagine a drug user to look like. I suggest they have put this shot into the opening title sequence to show what is it come from this, death? Heartache?