The Aviator is a 2004 drama/adventure film directed by Martin Scorsese. It conveys its genre to the audience using mise-en-scene. The combination of the desert-like setting, nostalgic lighting, acting and props like the cockpit and its controls are all vital for the creation of the movie so that the audience will understand its genre and plot.
The movie is set in the 20th century, and the scene focused on is the 'Fastest Man in the World' scene in which Leonardo Di Caprio is flying what appears to be a newly built aeroplane. The deep canyons and wide desert landscape are emphasised, especially when Di Caprio crashes his plane. The setting is complimented by the bright lighting and bold shadows from the people standing next to the runway which gives the audience the illusion that it is mid-day. The props were very important in conveying the genre. Di Caprio's plane, and its inability to take off in the first few attempts created tension, and the fact that there were several camera shots of the fuel meter also contributed to this. The stopwatch, too, was an important prop for adding to the tension created by the fuel meter. The camera changed from plane to stopwatch which helped convey the speed of Di Caprio's plane and the fact that the time limit wasn't revealed to the audience made the scene indeed, very tense. Di Caprio appeared to be rather tense himself as he wrestled the joystick but this was juxtaposed when he crashed his plane and appeared to be smiling when it was revealed that he had set the record.
'Fastest Man in the World' was a good example of the effective use of mise-en-scene in the adventure genre. The wide desert landscape, bright lighting, effective props and style of acting were all valuable elements for the conveyance of the genre.
The Aviator
Bright lighting- day time
High contrast
Simple colours used (browns, earthy colours)
Bold colours
Stark, bland. Plane: gray and silver
Spacious, large area for aircraft. Plenty of room
People were standing
Plane- open (no canopy)
Plane- neat, cramped controls everywhere
Dial broke when flying
Excitement, tense (music was building)
Adventure
Runway where planes would take off
Adventurous, dare-devil
Character is adventurous
Juxtaposed details in cock pit compared to long shot
Low angle in cock pit to make him look vulnerable, fighting the joystick
High contrast
Simple colours used (browns, earthy colours)
Bold colours
Stark, bland. Plane: gray and silver
Spacious, large area for aircraft. Plenty of room
People were standing
Plane- open (no canopy)
Plane- neat, cramped controls everywhere
Dial broke when flying
Excitement, tense (music was building)
Adventure
Runway where planes would take off
Adventurous, dare-devil
Character is adventurous
Juxtaposed details in cock pit compared to long shot
Low angle in cock pit to make him look vulnerable, fighting the joystick
The Legend of Sleepy Hollow
The Legend of Sleepy Hollow is a 21st century supernatural thriller film directed by Tim Burton. This film is provides excellent examples of mise-en-scene in the setting, lighting, acting and props. The part of the movie which was focused on was the scene where Johnny Depp and the boy and girl were around the tree in which the headless villain lives, and the scene where the family was in their house in the village. The forest was indeed very spooky due to the dark and blue lighting and the lightning flashes in some parts. However, in the house, the lighting was very warm. It was slightly yellow which gave the audience the impression that the people in the house were protagonists. The actors in the house scene also acted very calm and happy. They showed positive emotions, especially to their child. In the forest scene, the atmosphere was very spooky and the characters appeared very serious. However, as Johnny Depp started hacking into the tree his character was juxtaposed as a very hesitant and almost comical character. On the other hand, the children behind him were very tense and rather disgusted at all the blood. The headless horseman appeared as a very powerful character and the horse reflected this too. Props used in the segment included fake heads which looked realistic as they appeared to be decomposing, the forest and trees, a sword, lantern and skeleton. The elements of mise-en-scene were all important in creating the genre of Sleepy Hollow, as well as portraying the chilling story to the audience.
Sleepy Hollow
The lighting was generally very dark, especially when the main character was hacking at the tree with his axe. There was also lightning in the scene which gave the movie an eerie feeling. In the forest, the lighting in the forest was dull and blue which was very effective. In the village scene, the lighting was warm and slightly yellow which gives us the impression that the family are protagonists or possibly neutral characters.
Johnny Depp seemed very cautious and hesitant when cutting the tree. He was a weak character who appeared serious, but provided some comic relief in his acting. The girl and boy look very surprised to find the heads, and they are also shocked when the headless guy comes out of the tree. Johnny Depp is a very cautious character who seems quite observant of everything going on around him. The little boy and girl looked helpless, scared, shocked and innocent. They looked very vulnerable and curious as to what Johnny Depp was doing. The family was happy, loving, and oblivious to what was happening outside. They were most likely one of the innocent characters in the movie. The horseman was a very powerful character. He looked like he was a magical supernatural character because he was headless. The fact that he didn't attack Johnny Depp and co gives us knowledge that he had a particular target in mind.
Props used include fake heads, which looked realistic as they were decomposing. Other props include the forest and its trees, the sword, a lantern and a skeleton
The setting of the film was in the middle of a forest near an eerie looking tree. It also includes the house and the village of the family.
Editing
The rhythm of the film changes throughout the scene. It starts fairly slow. then gets progressively faster until the headless horseman comes out of the tree.
The time in the first scene is only slightly sped up. About ten or so minutes were mashed into three. However, this is not too noticeable as the events that are cut out are probably irrelevant.
Sound
The music in this movie gets louder and quieter to add a thrilling and exciting effect. The music and sound matches the events happening in the scene.
There is not a lot of dialogue in the first scene where the trio was in the forest.
There are numerous sound effects in the scene include hoof beats and a horses neigh, the axe hacking into the tree, the shovel, the heads rubbing against eachother, the branch snapping, the lamp, vines growing through the skeleton, blood splashing, when Johnny Depp is climbing up the tree, axe carving, match lighting, voices. Lighting and thunder are also used together to add to the creepy atmosphere.
Music created a dark atmosphere and added to the suspense of the film. Johnny
Cinematography:
The position of the camera was high when Johnny Depp was on the tree retrieving the sword.
Dark exposure (underexposed) in the forest
Johnny Depp seemed very cautious and hesitant when cutting the tree. He was a weak character who appeared serious, but provided some comic relief in his acting. The girl and boy look very surprised to find the heads, and they are also shocked when the headless guy comes out of the tree. Johnny Depp is a very cautious character who seems quite observant of everything going on around him. The little boy and girl looked helpless, scared, shocked and innocent. They looked very vulnerable and curious as to what Johnny Depp was doing. The family was happy, loving, and oblivious to what was happening outside. They were most likely one of the innocent characters in the movie. The horseman was a very powerful character. He looked like he was a magical supernatural character because he was headless. The fact that he didn't attack Johnny Depp and co gives us knowledge that he had a particular target in mind.
Props used include fake heads, which looked realistic as they were decomposing. Other props include the forest and its trees, the sword, a lantern and a skeleton
The setting of the film was in the middle of a forest near an eerie looking tree. It also includes the house and the village of the family.
Editing
The rhythm of the film changes throughout the scene. It starts fairly slow. then gets progressively faster until the headless horseman comes out of the tree.
The time in the first scene is only slightly sped up. About ten or so minutes were mashed into three. However, this is not too noticeable as the events that are cut out are probably irrelevant.
Sound
The music in this movie gets louder and quieter to add a thrilling and exciting effect. The music and sound matches the events happening in the scene.
There is not a lot of dialogue in the first scene where the trio was in the forest.
There are numerous sound effects in the scene include hoof beats and a horses neigh, the axe hacking into the tree, the shovel, the heads rubbing against eachother, the branch snapping, the lamp, vines growing through the skeleton, blood splashing, when Johnny Depp is climbing up the tree, axe carving, match lighting, voices. Lighting and thunder are also used together to add to the creepy atmosphere.
Music created a dark atmosphere and added to the suspense of the film. Johnny
Cinematography:
The position of the camera was high when Johnny Depp was on the tree retrieving the sword.
Dark exposure (underexposed) in the forest
Jeep video- Don't Hold Back
The rhythm of this video is fast paced, and synced well to the Potbelliez song 'Don't Hold Back'. The music is very upbeat and suited to the energetic feeling of the ad.
The editing has made the video look like it's happening very fast. It enhances the commercial because the variety of actors has made it appear that anyone can drive the car at anytime and any place, as a variety of landscapes and times in the days appears.
Graphic relationships include the cars and the drivers, and changes between the time of day.
The editing has made the video look like it's happening very fast. It enhances the commercial because the variety of actors has made it appear that anyone can drive the car at anytime and any place, as a variety of landscapes and times in the days appears.
Graphic relationships include the cars and the drivers, and changes between the time of day.
Recipe for a horror movie
1x Village in the middle of nowhere
1x Sewerage system
1x Dodgy motel
1x Strain of deadly virus
1x Attractive male
1x Female lover
281x victims (who turn into villains by infecting others- biting)
1x Bucket of tears
A pinch of screams
10x Rats
Story:
The story takes place in a village in the middle of Mexico. The village has a population of approximately 300 people. A girl and a guy go there to study some of the natural wonders there, as it is home to some of the rarest flowers and 23 unique species of trees. They stay in the local motel. One morning they receive a knock on the door telling them to evacuate as far as possible because of a virus that has broken out. The town turns corrupt and there is looting everywhere. Sick people are dying on the streets, frothing at the mouths and coughing up blood. People are running away with tissues covering their mouths. However, the news got around to the Centre of Disease Control and the roads had been blocked and the area quarantined. There is no escape. The girl and guy panic and try and escape. They soon realise it's not possible. They run back in the motel and the girl starts crying. She is unsure what to do. They end up trying to desperately find a way to hide after they witness some of the horrible attacks on the non-infected people, making them the villains of the story. The only escape is through the sewerage system, where the disease was believed to break out. As they build up the courage to go through with the plan, they end up getting attacked by the infected rats. The disease soon breaks out all over the world and the entire human race is wiped out.
1x Sewerage system
1x Dodgy motel
1x Strain of deadly virus
1x Attractive male
1x Female lover
281x victims (who turn into villains by infecting others- biting)
1x Bucket of tears
A pinch of screams
10x Rats
Story:
The story takes place in a village in the middle of Mexico. The village has a population of approximately 300 people. A girl and a guy go there to study some of the natural wonders there, as it is home to some of the rarest flowers and 23 unique species of trees. They stay in the local motel. One morning they receive a knock on the door telling them to evacuate as far as possible because of a virus that has broken out. The town turns corrupt and there is looting everywhere. Sick people are dying on the streets, frothing at the mouths and coughing up blood. People are running away with tissues covering their mouths. However, the news got around to the Centre of Disease Control and the roads had been blocked and the area quarantined. There is no escape. The girl and guy panic and try and escape. They soon realise it's not possible. They run back in the motel and the girl starts crying. She is unsure what to do. They end up trying to desperately find a way to hide after they witness some of the horrible attacks on the non-infected people, making them the villains of the story. The only escape is through the sewerage system, where the disease was believed to break out. As they build up the courage to go through with the plan, they end up getting attacked by the infected rats. The disease soon breaks out all over the world and the entire human race is wiped out.
Location/setting
Villain
- Villain
- Deserted Town
- Desert
- Suburbia
- Ship
- Space
- Camp
- Island
- Swamp
- A house
- Forest/Jungle
Villain
- Zombies
- Faceless Killer
- Cannibals
- ETs
- Dark + Shady
- Psycho
- Powerful Person
- Scientist(s)
- Animals/beasts
- Damsel
- Sorority
- Usually female (SEXIST!!!)
- Students
- Group of People
- Foreigners
- Anti-hero
- Brave
- Good Looking
- Male or Female
- Eccentric Person
- Family Member
- Onlooker/Someone Not Involved
- Ghosts
- Spells
- Vampires/Werewolves
- Dreams
- Knives
- Cutting Tools
- Spears
- Wax
- Masks - costumes
Horror Films
Elements in a horror film:
1. The antagonists(s)
2. The protagonist(s)
3. Creepy soundtrack
4. Dark lighting on antagonist
5. Bright lighting on protagonist
6. Involvement with other forces: zombies, aliens e.t.c
7. Usually from viewpoint of last survivor
8. Overlapment with other genres. e.g thriller, romance
9. Makes viewer scared, disgusted or horrified
10. Shows that antagonist has much more control than protagonist(s)
1. The antagonists(s)
2. The protagonist(s)
3. Creepy soundtrack
4. Dark lighting on antagonist
5. Bright lighting on protagonist
6. Involvement with other forces: zombies, aliens e.t.c
7. Usually from viewpoint of last survivor
8. Overlapment with other genres. e.g thriller, romance
9. Makes viewer scared, disgusted or horrified
10. Shows that antagonist has much more control than protagonist(s)