analyze the scene
analyze the scene
To accomplish this assignment – you will need to list all the shots in the sequences for reference. Please provide this list as an appendix at the end of the paper.
FYI – These scenes have several shots – ALL MUST BE LISTED (for these sequence there is over 35+ shots)
Using your observations from the scene answer the following questions about the scene you choose in a 7 to 10 page paper:
Section 1
What initially drew you to this scene?
What is the purpose of this scene? (Do not summarize the entire movie–just be specific about the scene)
Does the scene have any surprises?
What does the scene reveal at the end?
Section 2
Describe in a couple of sentences the color scheme of the scene
How is color used to further the purpose of the scene?
Is the scene tightly or loosely framed? How is framing used to communicate the purpose of the scene?
Are the actors recognizable?
Are the actors cast to type or against type?
How are the specific actors in this scene used to further the purpose of the scene?
Was the scene shot on location or on a set? How does the setting convey the purpose of the scene?
Overall, how do you think these elements influence the scene?
Section 3
Is the lighting high key or low key? How does the lighting influence the meaning of the scene
Is shallow or deep focus used (or a mixture of both)? How does the use of focus play into the meaning of the scene?
Does the scene primarily have long shots, medium shots, close-ups, or a combination of all three? How does the scene use those camera angles expressively?
Are low, high, bird’s-eye, or dutch angles used in this scene expressively?
Overall, how do you think these elements influence the scene?
Section 4
What style of editing is used in this scene?
Are there any transitions in the scene like (lap dissolves, wipes, superimpositions)? If so, describe how they are used to convey the meaning of the scene.
Are there any match cuts in the scene? If so, describe how they are used to convey the meaning of the scene.
Are there any jump cuts in the scene? If so, describe how they are used to convey the meaning of the scene.
Is there anything unusual about the scene’s editing? If so, describe why that unusual technique effectively conveys the scene’s meaning.
If the scene follows conventional editing technique (continuity editing), describe why that technique effectively conveys the scene’s meaning.
Section 5
What mood does the sound create in this scene?
Is there any spoken word in this scene? Is it loud, quiet, tense or subdued? How does the dialogue convey meaning? If there is no dialogue, why is that an important choice for the scene?
Describe sound effects (if any) used in the scene. How are those sound effects used to convey the meaning of the scene? If there are very few sound effects or if the sound effects are very naturalistic, describe why that choice effectively communicates the meaning of the scene.
Is music used in the scene? Is it diegetic or non-diegetic or both? How is it used to convey the meaning of the scene?
Section 6
Wrap up with the information you have observed and how these elements helped convey the meaning of the scene.