Category: Uncategorized

Blog Post #3 (WK4) – Sound

Miryssa

Blog: Discuss the framing and editing in the clip below (it’s an opening from an episode of the show Shameless). What is the scene communicating? What is happening visually? How does continuity editing help narrate the family dynamics? What are the visual anchors within the chaos of movements?  How can a family gather at the table, discuss plans and eat breakfast in under 2 minutes!?  No need to answer all these questions, just address what you see.

This scene captures the chaos of getting a family ready for the day, but with a twist. It opens with Fiona, the main character, wiping fog off the window. As the camera comes into focus, we’re positioned behind her, watching her reflection in the mirror. Fiona turns around, and the camera shifts to a front view, following her as she moves through the house, waking everyone up. The shot follows the 180-degree rule, and we’re now positioned behind Fiona again as she interacts with the rest of the cast. A door slams, and in a quick cut, we transition to the family sitting at the dining table for breakfast.

Breakfast is pure chaos. The electric bill is due, food and supplies are running low, and everyone is scrambling to eat. We see Fiona adding water to the milk jug, trying to make it last. The family then passes around a box, each person contributing money for the bill. Finally, there’s a match-on-action cut where Fiona catches a tossed cell phone. So much all in one!

Framing: Shameless

asanders24

The opening scene for shameless feels very chaotic, while at the same time purposefully showcasing certain information to lead the viewer to an understanding of its characters. The camera shots are typically close ups, with multiple things happening at once, which leads to a very claustrophobic feeling in some moments. We see characters running past the camera many times, which leads us to believe they are in a rush and enhances the stressful feeling. The camera also moves around during shots, which adds another layer of movement to the chaos. Continuity is used to help keep the story together and keep the viewer from becoming confused. If these clips were not filmed the way they were, the story would be incredibly difficult to follow. 

While things are going on in the background, the camera focuses on specific things like items or characters. With doing this, it is able to quickly convey relationship dynamics between the characters, their current situation, as well as information about each person’s life.

For example, many of the shots highlight the family’s financial situation. Even without dialogue, you can see issues such as the broken washing machine, the kids passing cash around, things like that. We also get information like who is likely the parent figure in the house from the way the camera follows the character around the house as she completes tasks. 

Overall this scene does a good job at using continuity to maintain a solid storyline and convey information even during chaotic moments. 

Blog Post #2 (WK3) – Editing for Continuity

Miryssa

Blog Post:
This is an exercise to illustrate how continuity editing and framing are used to make a space and build a narrative. Select one of these scenes from Duel.

What kind of continuity edits are used to build the scene?  Try to use continuity terms:

  • 180 degree rule
  • 30 degree rule
  • Cut in / Match on Action (from wide to close-up or reverse)
  • Motivated POV shot
  • Shot Reverse Shot 
  • Empty frame
  • Graphic Match
  • Parallel action/ Crosscut

Describe how the arrangement of shots make a believable space. How does the framing focus attention to narrative detail? Discuss the role of sound in supporting the spatial relationships made in the cuts. If possible, comment on how the continuity editing in the scene (the spatial and temporal relationships from shot to shot) builds the tension of the story. What narrative information is revealed and concealed in the scene through the cuts?

In the opening scene, the way the shots are arranged really helps set the stage and build tension. Let’s break it down!

180-Degree Rule and Setting the Scene: Right from the start, the film uses the 180-degree rule to keep things clear. The camera stays on one side of the imaginary line between the car and the truck, making sure we understand their positions and relationship. We begin with a wide shot of the two vehicles, then zoom in on the driver of the car. His calm, collected demeanor is immediately clear.

Contrast Between Characters and Vehicles: Next, we get a shot from behind the car, showing what the driver sees. This is where the truck’s imposing presence really stands out. It feels like a big, intimidating machine compared to the calm driver. This contrast sets up the tension between the two and makes us feel the weight of the situation.

Building Tension: As the scene unfolds, we see the driver’s frustration grow. He’s trying to figure out how to get around the truck, and the shots keep cutting back to his increasingly annoyed face. There’s a shot from the front of the truck with the car close behind, highlighting just how uncomfortable the situation is. The camera then zooms in on the driver, focusing on his irritation.

New Setting and Growing Tension: When the driver finally pulls over and gets out, the scene shifts to wider shots around the payphone. We see him using the payphone up close, while cuts between the truck and the driver add to the suspense. The way the camera moves and the shots are framed keep us on edge, highlighting the driver’s growing anxiety.

Role of Sound: Sound plays a big role here too. The noises of the truck and the payphone interactions add to the atmosphere and help us feel the tension in the scene.

Continuity and Narrative Impact: The editing keeps everything flowing smoothly, making sure we understand the spatial and emotional shifts. The cuts reveal the driver’s mounting frustration while keeping the truck driver’s intentions a mystery, which only adds to the suspense.

In summary, the combination of shot arrangement, framing, and sound in this scene does a fantastic job of building tension and drawing us into the unfolding drama.

 

Blog Post #2 – Dual Framing/Continuity

Jackson

For the scene from Dual I decided to cover the framing/continuity is this scene below, the ending of the movie:

Duel (1971) ending (with roar) – YouTube

The main shots that I want to cover and break down is the first few scenes, cutting between the two cars accelerating towards each other until they crash.

Majority of the shots are comprised of close-ups or medium close-ups, focusing on the main character’s face along with his car with clashing shots of the Truck. While the shots on our protagonists are mostly level with him, the shots of the Truck are taken from a much lower angle. To show just how bigger of a threat and imposing the Truck is. It’s something to be afraid of and show how unfair of a confrontation this is.

There is also more wide shots cut between the close-ups as we get closer to the crash, showing the entire vehicles as they close in. To show their speed and direction, along that 180-degree line. With the shots closing in on the cars when they get closer, more medium close-ups and close-ups. Until they finally do crash and it cuts to a wide shot again. To really show the destruction and fireball caused by their clashing.

As the two flaming cars fly off the cliff it takes much wider shots and long shots to really show the slow chaos of it falling off the cliff. With similar shots to before to really show the destruction and brutality of the scene. Medium close-ups to show the cars breaking and bending and even full close-up shots to show specific details of things breaking.

Blog #3 Shameless

Zach

This scene communicates the chaos of this family of 6-7 people. Visually, you can see the cramped space they are living in and their poverty. The visual anchors from what I can tell are the mini-wheat cash box, the milk jug, the baby, and the mom. The way the cash box is moved around and how it’s passed around shows just how tight money is. As for how a family can make plans in under 2 minutes, it is pretty standard to me since my family can make plans in under a minute sometimes. The continuity is on full display, with the location of all the objects being where someone placed them.